have a sip of tea - life at first from its valentine

have a pot of tea.

imagine sipping from a warm pot of tea.

when you take that first sip,

what type of tea did you imagine drinking?

is it light?

bitter?

sweet?

was the flavor,

a delicate blend of chamomile and honey?

soothing your senses with its gentle sweetness?

'cause in a world transformed by a pandemic,

a pot of tea became a sanctuary.

its warmth embraced us,

a refuge from realities.

throughout the pandemic,

our lives transformed in unpredictable ways.

in that tranquil moment,

dreams are woven into reality.

dreams intertwined with reality,

a tapestry woven with hope and hardship.

so did you dream a dream?

'cause we did.

ever wonder how one pandemic has changed all of us.

for the better or not,

it depend.

across digital landscapes,

crossing oceans.

we found solace in newfound friendships from corners of the world we'd never have explored otherwise.

new friendships blossomed,

transcending borders,

defying oceans.

oceans were crossed,

not just in miles but in experiences shared.

we navigated this uncharted territory,

how was yours like?

ours was wild.

our shared journey wild and untamed.

some said sometimes it takes ten years to get that one year that changes your life,

ours did.

let me tell you our story for CreateTogether.

and you can decide on what you think.

life at first from its valentine.

a cupid’s arrow pierces the heart,

bringing flowers and letters—roses, lilies, orchids, peonies—

each petals a symbol of the heart's beat.

it makes the heart race,

whether through a home-cooked meal

or a fine dining candlelit dinner.

across the world,

the day is celebrated,

but its meaning shifts with time.

for some, it is a day for couples.

for others, a commercial event,

a chance to profit from the heart's beat.

in korea, those without a valentine observe black day.

they sit with a bowl in hand,

jjajangmyeon’s dark sauce, a single strand.

the noodles twirl, the silence speaks,

a day for the solo, as the heart quietly seeks,

a quiet nod to singleness.

yet for many,

the day has faded into dust,

its significance dulled with time.

once special, now routine—

or, as the seasons change,

this special day no longer holds the same meaning it once did.

still, in all the legends of love and cupid's arrow,

has cupid ever had a romance of its own?

even in asian folklore,

the deity who ties the red strings of love

never seems to find love.

but as the tales of old remind us,

love's history isn't always sweet,

as seen in the tragic end of saint valentine.

in the original tale of saint valentine,

it met its end while writing

its first and last love letter—

its story lost to history, reshaped over time.

before cupid became cupid, valentine was just an ordinary saint,

one who restored sight to a blind gal and secretly wed unmarried soldiers forbidden to marry,

using its purple ring as a signal for those in need.

defying the sovereign's orders, it was accused of treason and condemned for its faith.

even when the uncrowned dictator, emperor perpetuo offered it a chance to convert and live,

it refused.

& so, for standing firm,

for staying true to its convictions,

it paid the ultimate price at the cost of its life.

by the next sunrise,

its life was taken.

the blade fell—

it was executed.

its head rolled.

eros, the god of love in greek mythology,

stands among deities with tangled, dramatic love lives,

yet its own story remains without a "happily ever after."

why is that?

ever wonder?

or maybe stories are just stories—

not destiny,

not certainty,

not forever,

not everlasting.

not every love finds its way to stay or meant to endure,

not every ending is happily ever after or a fairytale.

some are simply… once upon a time;

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#createtogether #haveasipoftea #lifeatfirst #lifeatfirstfromitsvalentine