Dear Humans,

I was re-watching Karate Kid II the other day and it’s sort of famous for including scenes of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Hollywood cuts some corners and probably used it more as a plot device than to explore the true history and nature of the Japanese tea ceremony, but it was my first exposure to the idea of a tea ceremony as a kid.

I’m not much for tea, but I do drink coffee everyday (usually multiple times a day). And the other morning when I was preparing coffee I spilled hot water all over the place and burned my foot. I’ve made coffee thousands of times, but one time when I wasn’t paying attention I burned my foot.

There are many reasons for ceremony. But one thing ceremony does it make us pay attention to the mundane things we do everyday. And I can’t help but think if I had been a little more ceremonious—if I had been paying attention to my coffee making—I wouldn’t have burned my foot.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck