With the release of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf''s newest Giving Journal, the folks behind Brew Your Best Year have come up with CBTL's Caring Cup, special events held once a month at CBTL to help you be the best version of you - physically, mentally, spiritually, relationally (I know it isn't a real word, but that's what they said), and financially.
The first exclusive event of the Caring Cup for the year was held at the 26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on a sunny Saturday morning. I really had no clue what I was in for that day, only the broad strokes - it was all about planning what I was going to do for the rest of the year. I guess not knowing was a good thing, since it made for one very enjoyable afternoon!
Since the event was at 10 o'clock in the morning, we were treated to a small buffet of sandwiches and coffee to wake us up before starting the programme. The morning session started out with vision planning from the super fun and very hyper PJ Lanot - restaurateur, actor, neuro-linguistic programming trainer, and all-around good guy - sought to have everyone envision where they wanted to be in life in 2016, and what their goals were to be this year in order to get to where they wanted to go.
Everyone seemed to take the exercise pretty seriously. Out came notes that were previously hidden away in notebooks and smart phones that were made at the start of the year, there were people writing their goals down excitedly and as detailed as possible (S.M.A.R.T. goals are easier to achieve), and a few people covering their papers, afraid of their friend or seatmate seeing what they had written down.
This short exercise had a timeline of only 3 minutes per goal, which was just enough time to filter out what really mattered without lollygagging around or over-thinking the short tasks.
Next, we had PJ's significant other, pretty Alessa Lanot - restaurateur, calligrapher, artist, and free-spirit - teach us about the basic rules of typography and chalk calligraphy. I found the crash course on serifs, appreciating the shapes and each letter absolutely fascinating!
Our activity for the rest of the afternoon was to pick one goal and turn it into a mini poster using chalk calligraphy. Alessa taught us a few tricks on how to work with banners and round shapes before we got started, but that's way too complicated for my meager art skills, so I took a backseat and watched.
After 15 minutes of planning, outlining, and coloring in, we all laid out our artwork on the long sofa for everyone else to admire and like! There was a little competition where everyone could like one chalk calligraphy piece and the three with the most likes would win a box of colorful sharpies! Admiring everybody's work and creativity was inspiring!! I was especially drawn to the one that said, "Write fiction."
I found the calligraphy and the thought that came with this tres adorable! And yes, kids these days should see less of the telly and get into arts and crafts more to get their hands dirty and their imaginations running wild!
I loved reading all the positive goals and inspiring messages that were shared. Congratulations to the guys that won! This special event has inspired me to rediscover my love for drawing as well as writing, and this was just the jumpstart I needed!
When mucking around Manila, get inspired! If it's a creative boost you need, check out Alessa's Calligraphy & Lettering Crafternoon happening on February 9 at Pino Restaurant in Bel Air.
Just mucking around Manila,
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26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
+63 2 720 9558
Ground Floor, Net Lima Building,
5th Avenue Corner 26th Street,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Open Daily: 7am - 1am
