“I travel, therefore, I am. I love, therefore, I exist. I hurt, therefore, I am human. I forgive, therefore, I welcome peace of mind. I forget, therefore, I make mistakes. I learn, therefore, I do better. I write, therefore, I live twice.” - Stir Thoughts but Don't Spill the Tea, Thea Panes-Demetillo

 

Don’t you just love those tea or coffee sessions with the people who really get you? I can still remember how my friendship with Alleth, my best friend, has blossomed over the years. There was a time when our conversations were all about where to go for the weekend, where to travel next, what to do during our late-night hangouts, or which horror movie to watch. Then, the years passed, and our chats shifted to bigger questions like what are your goals? What do you want to achieve? Let’s find a place to live together if we’re not with someone. And now, our talks revolve around life, the future, insecurities, self-care, mental health, careers, home, land, healthcare, and family. Every conversation gets better as we grow. That’s how I feel about this book, these musings are so real and relatable, and they capture the essence of how we evolve over time.

 

“Stir Thoughts but Don't Spill the Tea” by Thea Panes-Demetillo takes you through her musings on life… relationships, self-awareness, social media, and even travel. It's a collection of thoughts that feel real and grounded, like someone sharing their own life lessons without being preachy. What I really liked about “Stir Thoughts but Don't Spill the Tea” is how it’s structured. There aren’t traditional chapters, but instead, you get these tea-and-question breaks. They’re perfect little pauses that make you think about your own life in a deeper way. It’s one of those books you can pick up whenever you want something light but meaningful.

 

The writing feels personal, like Thea is talking directly to you. She doesn’t sugarcoat things. There’s a mix of honesty, wit, and warmth in her words. Some parts will make you smile, others might hit close to home, but that’s the beauty of it. We all have that impostor syndrome, right? That voice that feels like it’s constantly pressing us down, making us second-guess ourselves. I love this line from #3, “Compliment is inspiring and criticism is brutal. I don't let the former get to my head. I don't let the latter mess with my heart. Point is, to not let them change who I have aspired to become.” I love that because it’s so true….compliments can feel nice, but criticism… Criticism can sting, but it shouldn't shake our confidence, shouldn’t let it go to our heads or change how we see ourselves. At the end of the day, you know who you want to be and what you’re capable of. People will have their opinions, but the only one that matters is yours. It’s all about staying true to yourself and not letting anything or anyone make you lose sight of who you’re becoming. 

 

Final thoughts? It’s a keeper! It’s simple, relatable, and might just stir up your own thoughts, exactly what it promises to do. It's great for those quiet moments when you need to reflect or when you just want to slow down and enjoy some "me time." And after you’re done reading, you will find that “Stir Thoughts but Don't Spill the Tea” is worth a second sip! Or even, a third?