Tea and Tattoos: Unapologetically Me

I start every day with a cup of tea. Always black. Always strong. Always hot. I love a good Assam, and have come to love the wilted (as opposed to dried) teas of Pakistan, Turkey, Kenya, and Burundi. They just have an earthy taste different from that of traditional English teas.

If I am going English, I'm going Typhoo. A working person's tea that will put hair on your chest. Tetley's is too, ummm, weak. Yeah. I said it. And of course, Earl Grey is a standard that can't be beat. The more bergamot, the better!

But absolute favorite tea of all time is a rich, dark Pu'erh. A fermented tea from China that just sends shivers up my spine like a lover's touch. I would kill for some good Pu'erh in an apocalypse.

And forget herbals. A waste of time!

Yeah, I might be a bit of a tea snob. Deal with it.

You'd be surprised how much grief I get from people about preferring tea over coffee. Baristas at cafes, strangers behind me in line at said cafes, friends when we go out to eat, some family members and coworkers, strangers on mass transit in big cities sitting next to me while I sigh into a good cup of tea.

"What kind of coffee is that? You seem to be really into it."

"This, my good sir or madam, is tea! Coffee be damned!"

stranger scoffs

YUM!

And I could write a plethora of articles about my 95% veganism, 5% cheese is wonderful lifestyle. This one people do NOT understand. There are several reactions. 1. People are overly concerned about my protein intake. (I am an adult. I am responsible with my protein intake.) 2. People are overly concerned about what I might eat at a restaurant and point out every option on the menu to me. (I can read, people.) 3. People think it's a boring diet. (Oh no! You have to be very creative to eat this way!) 4. They tell me in no uncertain terms why they could never be vegetarian. (No one's trying to convert you, mother fucker.) 5. They ask me why I have chosen to be vegetarian, and then proceed to preach to me why I shouldn't be. (My favorite comeback to this one is asking them, "Because I want to be. Why do you eat meat?" That throws them off kilter.) Oh, the woes of alternative dietary habits in a meat-crazy world!

I also have a lot of tattoos, and I need more! It is a documented addiction. Now tattoos have become more mainstream of late, but I live in a conservative area. About once a month I get a weirdo that says, "Why would you want all those tattoos? You look ridiculous, and they'll look terrible when you're older." UGH

But the worst is when people ask, "So what do your tattoos mean?" insert eye roll here

Just so everyone knows, it is bad manners among the tattooed to ask about someone the meaning behind their tattoos. We nod in acknowledgement, and that's it. Please stop asking me what my tattoos mean! They are extremely personal, and I answer every time with something akin to "None of your damn business" but nicer.

And I can't stand most queer music. Or Billie Eilish. I said what I said.

So here are four things that make me me. These identities are core to my being. While they might seem trivial to some, they are very important to me, and when someone tells me I'm weird, demented, or crazy for my love of tea, veggies, tattoos, and decent music, I don't let it bother me.

Most of the time. I still have my moments. I am still human, after all.

I recently had two friends tell me they don't like the patchouli scent I wear. I immediately decided I wouldn't wear it around them again. But why the fuck do I care what they think??? If I like it, then that's all that matters.

But I got to thinking about it further. My default was to care what other people think. I've wasted so much time on what other people thought about what I should wear, how I should act, what music, movies, and books were acceptable, and what food to eat.

No more.

By way of example, the advertising industry has been force-feeding me skinny models as the standard of femineity and beauty since before I can remember. This impossible standard has led me to depression and unhealthy dieting to stay skinny. There's nothing wrong with my body. Sure it could use a tune up to stay healthy. Most of us could. I just recently started going back to the gym and am loving how I feel after a good workout! But there is 100% nothing wrong with my body AS IS. I am beautiful, sexy, desirable, and most importantly, healthy, even with a bit of a muffin top and flabby arms.

Are you loving the the recent move of advertisers to models of all shapes, sizes, colors, and gender presentations like I am??? I am sooooooooooo stoked about this!!!

I am going to be unapologetically me. Life is too short not to be. I have too much to do and too much love to give to care what other people think.

And you, my lovelies, every single one of you is absolutely amazeballs! Don't let anyone tell you how you should look, what to eat, what you should be into, or how to live your life. No one should define what makes you uniquely and wonderfully you! Your opinion is the only one that matters. Let the scoffers scoff. Let the haters hate. Let them waste their energy on things they can't control while you go along your merry way and enjoy who you are, unapologetically and passionately, you!

Truth

Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-brown-ceramic-teapot-on-wooden-tray-m-gqDRzbJLQ?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash