Reader, welcome to Afternoon Tea! As a self-confessed hopeless romantic and anglophile to the highest degree, it is one of my deepest sorrows that I am not one to regularly partake in the privilege that is afternoon tea. Although I often enjoy a cup of Earl Grey on slow afternoons, my chipped mugs and sliced bananas are poor substitutions for the Spode china and brilliantly colored petit fours that would abound in an authentic ceremony. As such, I invite you to a virtual celebration of the elegant pastime that begs us to appreciate beauty and focus on being present. Here, you will find a somewhat jumbled collection of my revelations, reflections, and that which I relish from the week. So please, brew a warm pot of tea, procure for yourself an array of scones and biscuits, and peruse with me what is lovely in life.
Thanking the Academy
What does it mean to thank the Academy? To do so is to extend a breathless word of overwhelming appreciation to a higher power, to a force second only to the Universe in terms of its ubiquitous and enigmatic presence. As such, here you will find my own earnest appeal to make my gratitude known – a profound and dreamlike thank-you to that manifestation which is omnipresent, alluring, and all-encompassing.
- You, for reading this post (and hopefully a few others).
- A week and a half off of school during which there was nothing to do but build stronger friendships.
- A largely safe and uneventful experience in the winter freeze.
- A Saturday night pizza and gaming party in the basement of my residence hall.
- Friends who tried their best to discourage me from drinking coffee – though doing so was probably as much in self-interest as it was my own.
- Coffee.
- Anne Hathaway in everything she does.
- The hours of fun that can be had doodling on whiteboards.
- Claiming the comfiest chair in the basement three days in a row.
- Newsies sing-alongs featuring the impeccable vocal stylings of Mr. Jeremy Jordan.
- Friends who are willing to forgo naps and mute ZOOM math classes to help film auditions.
- The delicious taste of ice cream after a terrible (and obviously short-lived) Lenten promise to go without.
- The adaptations made by brilliant theatre creators as they work to bring us art in times of isolation, and the chance to celebrate my friends’ participation in such revolutionary works.
- Long drives on back roads.
- Midnight quests for Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits (on weeknights, no less! What a thrill for a homebody like me!).
- Surprise visits from upperclassmen to my dorm – and the feelings of inclusion and adoration that come with such evenings spent scattered in a circle on the study room floor.
- Udon noodles! Oh, Reader, to sustain myself on a diet comprised of equal parts Mediterranean, Asian, and salad-based meals… as I choke down yet another dining-hall dinner, I can think of nothing more wonderful.
- The lovely IT support man who assumed the role of both technical consultant and life coach for the duration of our call.
- Professors who work seemingly tirelessly in favor of their students.
- Masks that are both comfortable, functional, and precious – such as those that are hand-dyed and generously gifted to me by my roommate.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things…
In an unending effort to live just as my icon, Ms. Julie Andrews, below you will find my own weekly compilation of that which brings me just as much joy as “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”.
- The pictures from Milan Fashion Week, which have been nothing short of awe-inspiring. In the midst of so many horrible realities, these artists are fighting valiantly to return a sense of beauty to the world, and their efforts are worth great commendation.
- Reader, I have been listening to three songs on nearly non-stop repeat for a week now: “Princess Bubblegum” by ilyTOMMY, “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers, and “Dream Sweet in Sea Major” by Miracle Musical. I credit my dear friends Miranda and Ethan for reminding me that there exists music beyond what is produced by Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.
- I have not opened a bag of Brookside Chocolate Covered Pomegranates in what is probably years, but I rediscovered the treats this week and am emphatically in love. Though I am often loath to consume highly-processed foods, I am also loath to allow delicious snacks to go to waste. Life is, after all, about balance.
- The joggers I did have not taken off for two weeks (not even to sleep and barely to shower).
- The stunning plate I saw on Nicola Bathie’s blog and now pretend is what I am eating off when I make dinner with my plastic Target tableware.
- I have never been one for coffee, but the Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew may be my newest obsession (and greatest expense). I just learned they sell a canned version of the drink and I may just need to run to Target and pick up a pack.
- The exquisite pair of slippers I saw on Instagram, and their much more affordable counterparts (these, these, these and these).
- A designer new to me – Jessie Zhao – whose headscarves are as unique as those of Hermes (let’s be honest: you can’t buy the silk without also buying the scribbles), and with whose leggings I am utterly obsessed.
- This dress, which I know is reminiscent of a Victorian child’s pinafore but I love dearly for the same reason.
Seven-Day Design
A word (or two) of wisdom to guide the upcoming week.
Immortal Echoes
- “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo
Evanescent Intentions
- This week, I will live with a sense of balance.
Is the above not the most beautiful quote you have ever read? The words have such a melancholy, heavy connotation – as if to see great things in ordinary stone was a deep curse, a burden for which Michelangelo alone was responsible for carrying. I always feel a shiver down my spine when I read those words, they inspire me to pursue great things.
As stated above, my intention for this week is to live with balance. Last semester, I was in a state of constant stress. Forever afraid I was not doing enough, growing enough, or working hard enough, I found myself straining to meet an intensity of work which was taxing and conducive to little genuine growth. I was motivated by fear instead of by joy; I did not ground myself in the exploration of learning, but approached each day as a check-off on the way to reaching a larger goal. I compared myself to others, I was trapped in an anxiety-ridden mind, and nearly every action I took to alleviate such stresses had the opposite intended effect. For when one seeks to ease her fears, she should not ignore them. When one desires to be rid of her confusion about her work, she should not force herself deeper into the belly of the beast, but allow herself the grace to walk through the uncertainty that inevitably accompanies growth.
I do not mean to say I had a poor first semester of college – on the contrary, I feel deeply in love with much of what university living entails. What is more, I know that these negative practices and feelings were driven by an overwhelming love for my work, a passion so earnest it is all-consuming.
But there is no joy in work that is squeezed from a person with brute force, and there is no love in that which is crippled by fear of failure. There is no authenticity in hiding from the truth of our experiences, and there is no bravery in numbing oneself to avoid a mess.
This semester, I have let go of much of the pressure I previously placed upon myself. I make it a goal to be intentional about my study habits, and spend more time in community with my ensemble. In making such adjustments, I have been brought a greater sense of peace, as well as an appreciation for each day as one part of a larger journey. However, there still exists a nagging voice in my head reminding me of all the valuable time I could be devoting to work, but instead have sacrificed in favor of folly. I do not believe these hours of silliness with friends are no longer well-spent, or even that they serve no purpose in my quest for artistic growth and development, but to acknowledge that I am no longer exhausting myself in pursuit of professional advancement requires a release of control for which I am woefully unequipped.
This week – and most certainly in the weeks to come – I am going to pursue balance. I want to re-establish a routine without imposing a sense of rigidity on my living. I want to push myself to pursue independent growth in a way that also allows for community-building. I know I will not be able to live fully into this intention this week, and I anticipate devoting much time in the coming months to redefining my interpretation of balance. It is a journey to which I look forward, and in which I will continue to be interested as I go along.
Reader, thank you for joining me for Afternoon Tea. I hope you have had the most lovely week – full of coffee, The Killers, and balance – and that the upcoming seven days will be even more so. A bientôt!
Love,
Lettie Anne