Coffee

Saying Goodbye

/ Sloan / 7 Comments

I enjoy it. For me it’s more of a routine, it’s a ritual and an experience–a moment of silent bliss. Grinding the beans, pouring the hot water…waiting…pressing the grounds down to reveal a deep, rich, aromatic liquid. Coffee is a way to connect with my mind, check in and relax. It’s an opportunity to connect with someone else, it’s a tool to bring people together and get things done–or not. It’s a way to kill an hour before work or relax after a stressful day. The mug warms your hands and perks you up, as the steam gently rises it can fog your glasses and the smell takes over your senses and a feeling of joy can take over.

 

This is direct quote from my journal while sitting at Rowster’s in Grand Rapids this past Saturday. A conversation with my older brother is what inspired it. A conversation about quitting coffee. If you know me, you know I have a love for it. Hell, I have a tattoo that depicts my love for the stuff. So why on earth would I consider quitting?! My brother, who he himself has quit many vices and is a better person for it, thinks it will help me. Help me sleep better (kinda a ‘duh’), help me be more productive (I’m skeptical of this one,) help my moods, my skin and he listed many many other reason why I should quit.

So I’m going to quit coffee for three months.

I repeat. I am going to quit coffee for the time being.

They say (not sure who ‘they’ are…) say that it takes three months for a given substance to be ridded of your body. I’m going to journal about it, listen to my body, mind, soul and productivity. I’m going to attempt to blog (and not complain,) about it. I’m going to try and not take up any other addictions in this process. Right now my ONLY addiction is coffee.

An apology in advance: if you’re my facebook friend, REAL life friend or snap chat buddy I’m apologizing NOW for whining, maybe crying and probably sniffing your coffee if you consume it in front of me. I’m dreading the headaches and already missing my routine. If anyone has any good tea suggestions (decaf of course) I would love to hear them.

 

Wish me luck. Follow me on here and join me on this…sigh…journey as I say goodbye.

 

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Step Outside of Yourself.

/ Sloan / Leave a comment

My morning typically starts with coffee (let’s be honest, ALWAYS coffee,) my computer and  some sort of breakfast. I venture from my computer to a book or the gym, my yoga mat or the pool. Today I found my way to The Red Book and my journal. The chapter I just read is titled: Breaking the Rules: Healthy transgressions make the heavens applaud. Sera, the author…yes, we’re on a first name basis–talks about breaking out of the social norms in order to transgress, to change, to grow. Breaking social norms certainly is one way to mindfully mix up your life and move on and up, but breaking personal norms is too. I think, in many ways, probably more powerful.

She speaks of stepping outside of ourselves, outside of our normal habits and comfort zones and change it up a bit. Shutting off the TV and reading, drinking tea instead of coffee (no way, okay, maybe I’ll try it one day,) hitting on that dude at the bar, saying no when you are hit on by that other dude at the bar, quitting a kick-ass job that’s making you miserable. Ignoring that little voice inside of you that said “no” and scream “YES” back at it. Telling that voice to shut the eff up!

This morning I’ve been reflecting on my last few weeks. I’ve been scared and uncertain about my future. I told a friend of mine that I was “terrified” of an opportunity that is in front of me and he said, “Nope, no way, I don’t believe that YOU are scared.” I’m good at faking it, not so good at making it. I need to begin to see what others see in me. Another friend suggests I face my fear, challenge myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I need to get uncomfortable. My yoga instructors say “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Really–though, that’s the only way we can grow.

One of my goals is to silence my fearful voice that has gotten so loud in my head. I’m going to stop telling myself Well, Self, you failed at not stuffing french fries in your mouth yesterday, so obviously you’re going to fail today…where’s the ketchup? That voice is going to shut the eff up. It’s going start saying things like Look at you, you sexy woman! You CAN succeed, you CAN do this.

How are you going to change today? What are you going to do to move forward, grow, and improve?

 

Routine VS. ?

/ Sloan / 4 Comments

As much as I love tromping around the world, changing my location, exploring new places, I have learned in the last year that I thrive in routine. Even in Thailand I created a strict routine for myself during the week, it consisted of early mornings, early evenings and eating pretty much the exact same thing every week day. It seems boring, especially when you’re in a foreign country but a girls gotta do what she’s gotta do to stay sane. As I traveled the rest of SE Asia I was forced out of the routine and struggled. I couldn’t run every day, I couldn’t control my food intake, (yes this is part of the adventure, but for weeks on end this becomes stressful).  Being out of your comfort zone is great, but I think we can all agree that it’s hard.

           

I’ve been here in Deep Creek, MD for about three weeks now. I have a job, I’m training, and I’m helping coordinate a race. If I work at 10am, I get up at 6am and get to the pool, gym, trails…etc. if I work late I sleep a bit later and push my training forward a bit. I’m routine. The check in people at the pool recognize me, the gym people know me by name, the friend I live with knows what I like to eat—hell, he made a pot of coffee before I even got up this morning, (best surprise EVER)

 

But the question I’m started to ask is, is routine productive? Or is routine like running on a treadmill, not moving forward, but just getting really tired and bored (boring)? I try to set goals. In fact a friend of mine and I both have made a goal list: he is getting out there. Hitting the gay bar scene, getting out of his safe circle, pushing his limits and making himself uncomfortable. I’m…reading more. Thinking about writing more (and failing,) training (but obsessing,) and…that’s about it. I’m having a hard time identifying what I want.

 

If routine is comfortable but works do you stick in it? How often should you stray? When do you throw your hands up and fly across the world again due to not knowing?

 

Penang Island, Malaysia--the World

Penang Island, Malaysia–the World