Ahakoa he iti, he iti nā te aroha

Ahakoa he iti, he iti nā te aroha.
It is the thought that counts.

 

This whakataukī has been sitting with me lately, 

settling into my bones like a warm cup of tea on a crisp morning. 

It has woven itself into my daily reflections, 

reminding me that the smallest things, 

when done with aroha, hold immeasurable value.

We live in a world that so often measures worth in big gestures,

grand successes, and loud proclamations. 

But I have come to know, deeply and truly, that it is the small things

 the quiet kindnesses, the gentle considerations, 

the offerings given without expectation - that carry the most weight. 

The things that say, 

I see you. I care.

I think about this a lot in my work.

 When I first started blending tea, it wasn’t about creating a business. 

It was about love 

– love for my children, love for our whenua, love for the ritual of slowing down and connecting. 

That love remains at the heart of PAUSE for Tea. 

Every can, every blend, every sip is an offering, 

a small moment of care extended from my hands to yours.

And it is the same in the way we navigate our relationships, 

our communities, our mahi. 

I have been the recipient of so many small, 

thoughtful acts that have lifted me when I didn’t even realise I needed lifting. 

A knowing glance, a message sent at just the right time, 

hands extended to lighten my load – these moments are gold. 

They are taonga.

In turn, I try to live this whakataukī. 

To give, not because I must, but because I can. 

To acknowledge, to uplift, 

to weave aroha into the small spaces where it might otherwise be overlooked.

Ahakoa he iti, he iti nā te aroha – It is the thought that counts. 

And I count myself lucky to be surrounded by those who 

live this truth every day.

With aroha always,

Timmy x

 

 

image credit: Colenso BBDO