That First Sip

What is the first thing that pops in your mind when you hear the word 'coffee'?

Do you think of cozy relaxing mornings, slow to rise, but the first thing you reach for is your espresso maker and a mug? Is it early morning commutes and the only thing you can think of to get yourself through it is your cup of joe with some tasty vanilla creamer? Maybe it's even your favorite cafe with your best girlfriend and a cozy cappuccino.

To me, it's been a little bit of it all. I cannot seem to miss a day of my morning coffee! However I drink it, whether I brew it at home, or grab a fancy latte at Starbucks, it has just been such a routine for me that I look forward to. Coffee also holds a place in my heart for all the wonderful talks I've had with my mom over a latte and croissant, or catching up with friends. 

We are such creatures of habit, are we not? I don't know about you, but sometimes I have trouble getting into the habits I actually want for myself! If you are a human, I can't help but think you feel the same way. Whether it be trying to get out of a bad habit, like biting nails or going to bed way too late, or whether it is finding the good habits you would like to stick to, I think we can all relate to some degree. 

Alright, don't think that I am saying coffee is bad for us. It actually can be good to have coffee! It can improve our performance, it wakes us up, and there is also great nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin B2, and potassium too! Of course, it is also delicious and tastes like heaven... but that's beside the point. 

But when we become so dependent on coffee that we cannot function, we begin to feel opposite effects like exhaustion, jitters, and lack of motivation. I guess what I am saying is, sometimes too much of a good thing can start to turn into a bad thing. This can happen to us with a lot of things in life, unfortunately. 

We like to get caught up in something comfortable. Something easy and what we are used to. Again, creatures of habit. Whenever we do something out of our routine and out of the ordinary, it brings discomfort, and then fear creeps in. It may sound like that time you tried out for the soccer team and you had no idea what you were doing, and you almost chicken out at the last minute. Or maybe you are asked speak at a work conference, and you have sworn off public speaking since the time you stumbled on your words in front of your high school graduation.

For me, my comfort zone is staying at Starbucks because I am still getting a paycheck, even though I feel trapped. It is withholding my talents and fearing rejection from sending local music teachers flyers for their clarinet students to take lessons with me, for fear I might not be the best teacher. It is even starting this blog, because nobody will read it and I have nothing to bring to the table.

"We like to get caught up in something comfortable. Something easy and what we are used to."

What is your comfort zone? Is it staying in school and getting your Master's because that is what the "next step" in your career is said to be? Is it maybe not confronting that friend who is still taking advantage of you and your things? 

Whatever it is, it is okay. We all have them. They are hard to get out of. But guess what? Satan does not want you to grow. He wants you to stay in that box. And he does not have your best interest in mind. So, if you are feeling like you are trapped, in a box, don't know how to get out, it is okay. God is in control. Say a prayer. Ask him to help you out. Ask him to take the situation and turn it for good, and ask him for an opportunity to arise. God will always have a way out for you. Isn't that amazing to think the God who created the stars and the mountains would do that for us? 

Now, this does not happen overnight (or it could!). But it does happen if you believe in yourself and if you believe that God has power over the one tempting you to stay in your habits and not move forward

Now, let's get back to coffee.

I have wonderful pastimes of coffee dates with wonderful people in my life. A cup of coffee has brought many of my friends and family and I closer! It is truly a beautiful thing to find a central spot and be vulnerable with others over a cozy cup. It is just like life, when we find something we truly love and we let it flourish. We let it grow and we cultivate it. So, let us cultivate and nurture what is good, true, and healthy to our minds, bodies, and spirits. Feed our souls what is good for us. As Proverbs states, "Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life". 

I am so excited to start this journey of blogging with you all. In this blog, I will be discussing my habits that I am trying to undo and replace with living my life for my Lord and Savior and finding joy in all that life puts in front of me!

Thank you for reading!