Thursday, August 25, 2022

The Aeneid by Virgil


A heroic tale written 2000 years ago. Having learned latin in school, it's fun to read the bilingual edition and pick up some words here and there. Not being able to travel out of Taiwan, this book provided enough change of time, geography, language and culture!

But what stuck most is the presence of a hero. Aeneas is sometimes doubtful, but he remains wise and strong during his quest. When you are a tiny online business selling access to something demanding, you can relate to this story. You know that your fight is noble. But you have powerful foes: drinks full of sugar and artificial flavors! Or you compete with wine and alcohol for appreciation!

The temptation is great to exaggerate the characteristics of tea. The heroic seller resists talking about how tea can prevent cancer, burn fat as if tea were some kind of miracle potion. The truth is that there's no escape from death. Tea will not make you immortal. There's even no guarantee that you will be healthy and slim if you drink tea. A good diet and exercise are probably even more important.

What tea can bring is nice aromas, a good, lasting taste and a connection to a vast culture, traditions, crafts, nature... But all this won't be gained easily through a few clicks and by debiting your credit card. No, like a hero yourself, you will have to embark on a journey, practice, sometimes fail, learn, improve. It may take years, but it will be an achievement to be proud of!

Ave in pacem.

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