You can make great changes in your world by doing simple, small acts of kindness. Mother Teresa once said, "God does not command that we do great things, only little things with great love." Guisepi, from FreeTeaPary.org is a perfect example of Mother Teresa's words - and he's doing so, one cup of tea at a time.
Offering free tea came naturally to Guisepi. Back in 2005, he began sharing cups of tea and snacks to those who would pass him on the street. With his truck parallel parked, it was easy for people to congregate and have discussions while sharing tea with complete strangers. Before he knew it, people from different educational and financial backgrounds, races, nationalities and ages were having a peaceful time together.
Originally, he served tea while visiting new towns to meet locals in the community. This was something he could afford to do and he truly enjoyed it. Meanwhile, participants of these parties conveyed to Guisepi just how much it meant to them to be a part of something so special. They would leave the party with a feeling of oneness and inspired to share it with others in the world.
Today, tea is served out of his Tea Bus that he calls, Special Edna, which is a short, yellow school bus. Its perfect size allows him to parallel park on major streets and has better fuel economy than if he owned a larger bus. "Special Edna" is his home and he graciously shares his traveling abode with anyone who cares to have a cup of tea with him.
People around the globe have been offering free tea to others throughout history. Guisepi is continuing a tradition that spans cultures and generations world wide, and it is still welcomed by citizens as a warm gesture of the human spirit.
Along his travels, Guisepi has inspired many people to hold their own style of tea parties. One such man decided he would make a life dream come true and serve free stew to people in San Francisco. Guisepi believes that people can serve tea, coffee, stew, or even sweets. The kind of offering doesn't matter. The magic happens between the human interactions.
If you've never attended a Free Tea Party, I highly suggest you do. Either attending one of Guisepi's parties or hosting your own - it is truly an experience you'll never forget.
I was fortunate enough to experience one of his Free Tea Parties while he had his Tea Bus parked on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, California. I spent about 3 hours inside his bus, enjoying a hot cup of tea and endless conversation with people from all over the world. It was one of the purest experiences of humanity at its best - strangers living in the present moment, but feeling more like family.
I encourage you to let Guisepi's story inspire you to be the change you wish to see in the world. it's so easy to make a difference in the lives of others like a gift of a free cup of tea.
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