Idea of the Day, Nov. 15, 2014: Elevenses

“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

REFRESH with a break for “elevenses,” a spot of tea and a snack sitting comfortably unplugged, enjoying the brief luxury of time and taste. This is not a coffee or cigarette break and cannot be taken standing up!

According to Wikipedia, this civilized tradition started in the British Isles and had a brief heyday (before Mad Men took over) as a whiskey break in the U.S.

Called elva-kaffe in Sweden and las onces in Chile, its chief promoters in literature are Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. Purveyors of wisdom in the form of tea, milk, honey, chocolate and biscuits, those “bears of very little brain” are models for the break-deprived world.

Originally published on Ellen Girardeau Kempler’s “Slow World Scrapbook: Refresh Rewire Reboot” blog at littlegoldboat.tumblr.com featuring one new idea every day. Visit the Slow World Scrapbook to submit your ideas for getting beyond the bucket list and making every day count.