Perhaps I should explain why I ever started drinking coffee, because I am not a real coffee drinker. I mean, I do drink real coffee; I’m just not the type of girl that goes to Starbucks for frou-frou “coffees” that doen’t even have coffee in them. I am the bonafide espresso drinking, black coffee kind of girl (with an occassional substitution of a cafe au lait). In truth, I only began drinking coffee because I knew it was French and I wanted to find my inspiration in it.
I still remember my first cream-saturated and sugar-loaded attempt at coffee, bought at a local gas station the summer before I left for my first move to France. If the French drank coffee (which they did / do), then so would I.
Incidently, this habit has subsequently led me to worlds of self-discovery. With my newfound, sophisticated addiction to caffeine, I began to discover how extraverted I really am. Not only that, but I also learned at cafés to sit still enough to actually watch and absorb life. Thankfully, the full-time job I worked in France provided me with more free time than I possibly knew what to do with, so I made it my job to be a café regular at every café I came across. From Paris to Madrid, I transformed with each cup of coffee I sipped.
Coffee is not about where you are, it’s about who you’re with. Life is no different; each day that you live is an opportunity for inspiration. Whether your day is spent alone, or surrounded by people, allow your experience today to open your eyes more to your surroundings. As you slow down to watch and observe the small, beautiful details of life and of those around you, you will start to understand why I will forever cradle a cup of coffee.