Book & Tea Pairing: The Upside of Being Down

The Book: The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotch

​​Before the coronavirus lockdown hit, I made one final trip to the bookstore to stock up. I had a few titles in mind, but I love browsing the shelves and discovering books I may not have come across on Amazon. The Upside of Being Down is one of those books that immediately caught my eye. Sometimes it’s hard not to judge a book by its cover. Especially when that cover is bright yellow. 

I figured I’d have a lot more time to read in the coming weeks, so I threw one more book on my ever-growing pile. And I was right – I’ve already read my way through the entire stack of books I’d designated as quarantine reading. I finished this book in particular in about three days. 

​The Upside of Being Down is part memoir, part self-help book and part business guide, written by Jen Gotch, the founder of ban.do. Jen chronicles her experience of growing up with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and anxiety, and her journey to better mental health as an adult. She recounts everything from the details of her relationship with her mom and her cross-country move to launching a business, finding a therapist and getting divorced. 

Jen describes herself as “genetically predisposed to optimism,” and as the founder of a brand that practically screams joy and optimism, that makes sense. What may surprise some readers are the struggles she’s faced on the road to success and her commitment to helping others conquer mental illness. 

While I’ve never been convinced that my skin is green or struggled with crippling anxiety, there were definitely parts of Jen’s story that I could relate to. The chapter about her relationship with her husband and subsequent divorce was so honest and accessible that I found myself reflecting on my own failed relationship with fresh eyes. 

Jen’s personality clearly shines through every page of this book, and its value lies in both the insightful reflection on her life with bipolar and anxiety and the uplifting conclusion that things can get better. She applies that philosophy to her company too. You can learn more about what she’s doing at ban.do to bring awareness to mental illness here and download free resources here. 

The Tea: Orange Cream Soother

Orange Cream Soother from Great Lakes Tea and Spice is a caffeine-free rooibos blend that’s delicious both hot and iced (and with vodka!). I’ll admit I was skeptical, wanting to believe this tea tasted like the orange creamsicle on the package, but trying not to getting my hopes up. I was surprised when I took my first sip and was transported to my childhood backyard, circa summer 1993. 

This is the perfect tea to pair with a book that’s all about optimism at its core. It’s also reminiscent of a simpler time, and who couldn’t use a little of that these days? As the days get warmer and I transition from hot tea to iced, this will be my go-to rooibos for sipping on hot afternoons.