01: The Art of Returning…
He took 720,000 shots to get one right.
Not a typo.
Photographer Alan McFadyen spent six years, 4,200 hours, and over 700,000 attempts to capture a kingfisher diving into water without a splash.
A single frame. Perfect timing. No ripple.
He kept returning to the same pond, adjusting his setup by milliseconds.
Because this wasn’t just about the photo.
It was about a promise he made as a child, beside his grandfather, watching the birds.
We want progress fast.
We rush, refresh, abandon.
But the meaningful work? It often hides in the repetition. The quiet. The returning.
McFadyen’s process mirrors what The Tea Mind invites.
Slowing down. Paying attention.
Letting transformation come from stillness, not speed.
In the end, it wasn’t just about the image.
It was about becoming the kind of person who could wait for it.
This is the part we skip.
But it’s the part that changes us.
If you’re in the middle of your own long attempt, don’t quit too soon.
You might be closer than you think.
p.s. today I’m enjoying the seasonal Toasted Caramel Cookie black tea to support me to focus.
02: Grit: The Power of Passion
In Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: The Power of Passion her research shows that consistent effort matters more than raw talent when it comes to sustained progress. I’m not lucky enough to be as talented as Alan McFadyen but the good news is grit can be developed. It’s about small daily steps and aligning your interest, practice, purpose and hope – not just raw drive.
Pick one project, habit or aspiration you’ve been returning to. Write down: What shows up if I commit to just one more session? One more return? One more frame? Then pause for tea and take action on it. Repeat.
Read now: Grit: Angela Duckworth
📷 Angela Duckworth
03: The Psychology Behind Motivation
This article by Jon Oyanguren Lopez unpacks how long-term goals and motivation differ from quick wins, and how small routines and intrinsic motivation feed the long game. Intrinsic motivation (doing it because it matters to you) tends to sustain longer than extrinsic (doing it for reward).
Read now: Medium article
📷 Alex Radelich on Unsplash
Sometimes, the wait is the work. And one quiet return can change everything.
Ways to connect with me 💬
DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/
Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x
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Inspiring post Erica, thank you ✨🫖✨