A chandelier hangs from the ceiling of a cathedral, framed by ornate columns. Like caring for fine china, every detail in this sacred space is preserved with reverence—stained glass windows glow with colorful light in the background.
February 4, 2025

Inspire with Love

The St. James Tearoom

We have a saying at the Tearoom: we become what we love. What we love shapes us. More often than we realize, we make decisions based on the desires of our hearts, based on what we want—and usually, we want what we love. When something is done excellently, we often describe it as “made with love.”

A brown fleur-de-lis symbol, representing the definition of hospitality, is displayed on a light gray background.

Recently, I read about Victor Hugo. His novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame was one of his earliest works and became a sensation. Hugo adored Gothic architecture—its upward aspirations, spires, steeples, pointed arches, dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, and intricate stained glass. He intended this book not only as a masterpiece of literature but also as a call for historic preservation, driven by his deep love for the ancient cathedral. Don’t we all wish we could “bottle” and preserve everything dear to us?

Do you have something you love—something worth preserving?

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris stands majestically beneath a cloudy sky, framed by lush trees in front. A fence in the foreground, reminiscent of the delicate attention given when caring for fine china, is covered with numerous colorful love locks that add a touch of romance to the picturesque scene.
Notre-Dame de Paris – Photo by Clarissa Anello

“We must, if it be possible, inspire the nation with a love of its national architecture,” Hugo wrote in the introduction. David McCullough, in his book The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, revealed that Hugo especially loved the view from the top of Notre-Dame’s tower. He devoted one of the most appealing chapters of his novel to this view as it might have appeared in the 15th century. This inspired countless readers, then and now, to climb the tower and see it for themselves.

I was deeply moved by this—a testament to the great power of love: its ability to inspire people to strive for something greater, something meaningful and beautiful, and something larger than themselves.

How can we inspire people with love? What can we inspire in others through what we love?

Here at the Tearoom, we hope to inspire a love of our five Aspirations: Grace, Beauty, Civility, Gentility, and Excellence. These are the things we cherish, along with tea! We believe that tea is a way to exhibit and encourage these wonderful qualities. What might you love? What can you inspire in someone today with what you love?

Yours for the return of Grace, Civility, Beauty, Gentility, and Excellence,

Nataliya Higbie

A brown fleur-de-lis symbol, representing the definition of hospitality, is displayed on a light gray background.

“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.” 
–Josephine Baker

A brown fleur-de-lis symbol, representing the definition of hospitality, is displayed on a light gray background.

All photos provided in this blog are courtesy of Clarissa Anello.

The interior of a large Gothic cathedral with vaulted ceilings, tall columns, stained glass windows, and warm lighting—viewed from the central aisle facing the altar—evokes a sense of reverence and timeless elegance, much like the experience of caring for fine china with thoughtful attention to every delicate detail.
Photo by Clarissa Anello