Tea, Tides, and Truth
A Story About Always Doing Your Best
The salty autumn breeze danced through the air, sending the occasional shiver down their spines as they nestled into their cozy sweaters. The three women sat cross-legged on a large plaid blanket, their steaming cups of tea cradled in their hands, warming their fingertips. Before them, the ocean stretched endlessly, its waves rolling in a steady rhythm, mirroring their deep conversation.
“I never thought something so simple could be so powerful,” Sophie mused, blowing on her chamomile tea before taking a slow sip. “But ever since I started applying ‘Always do your best’ daily, I’ve felt lighter. Less self-critical. Like I can finally breathe.”
Marissa, wrapped in a deep blue knit shawl, nodded. “Same here. I used to think my best had to be perfect—like I had to push myself to exhaustion to be worthy. But now I get it. My best changes from moment to moment, and that’s okay.” She gazed at the horizon, the sky painted in soft streaks of peach and lavender. “It’s freeing.”
Eleanor, the eldest of the trio, chuckled as she stirred honey into her Earl Grey. “Exactly. It’s like Don Miguel Ruiz was talking directly to me. I used to replay conversations, beating myself up on what I could’ve said better or differently. Now, I ask myself—‘Did I do my best with the energy and awareness I had at the time?’ If the answer is yes, I let it go.” She took a sip, savoring the warmth that spread through her chest. “I sleep better these days.”
Sophie smiled, pulling her thick socks up over her leggings. “I had a moment last week where I saw the shift in myself. At work, I turned in a project that wasn’t perfect, but I knew I had given it my full effort. And instead of obsessing over what my boss might think, I let it be. No stress, no second-guessing. And you know what? It was more than enough.”
Marissa grinned. “That’s huge! I had a similar experience with my daughter. I used to feel guilty for not spending enough time with her after work. But now, I focus on the quality of our time together rather than the quantity. Even if it’s just fifteen minutes of playing or reading, I know I’ve done my best if I'm fully present.”
The waves crashed louder as the wind picked up, tousling their hair. Eleanor tucked a loose strand behind her ear and sighed contentedly. “This practice has made me kinder to myself. And I find I’m kinder to others when I'm kind to myself. Funny how that works.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of the ocean wrapping around them like a lullaby. The sky darkened into deeper shades of amber and rose, the promise of twilight on the horizon.
Sophie lifted her mug in a toast. “To do our best—without guilt, without shame, and with all the love we have.”
The women clinked their mugs together, the sound delicate yet strong, like the wisdom they now carried within them.
As the tide ebbed and flowed, so did their conversation—filled with laughter, warmth, and quiet, knowing they were precisely where they needed to be.
REFERENCE: Ruiz, Miguel. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. Amber-Allen Publishing, 2001.’