You know how when you head to a coffee shop you can get whatever you want-every flavored syrup; cream, whole, skim, or soy milk; iced or frapped; tea; spices; anything. And you can get it in any size, temperature, cup that you might like. If you’re anything like me, I stand and stare for far too long before I get embarrassed that I’ve let the last 5 people in front of me go and I still don’t know what I want. So finally I give up and try to order something new and fancy and come out holding something whose name I can’t pronounce with more whipped cream on it than coffee in it. And I realize two sips in that I should’ve just ordered a latte.
These days, my life feels like that fancy cup of coffee. It’s too complicated, too elaborate to be exactly right. There are too many parts, and it took 15 extra minutes to make. It’s not what I wanted, and it’s certainly not what I needed.
But wouldn’t life be easier if it were more like a cup of black coffee?
I can’t help but wish my life were ready to go right out of the shoot, bold, rich, and worth drinking. I wish it would be that simple to pour myself out in the mornings and walk out the door feeling fully prepared and exactly right. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?
I’ve just started these 30 Days to simplify, but I can’t help but feel like black coffee might be what I need to strive for. I need to make it my goal. Not that I plan on leaving out my cream or butter tomorrow. But metaphorically (because that’s how us creative writing majors think) when something starts to feel complicated, when my thoughts start to grow too many extra parts, I’m going to think instead of black coffee. How can I turn this moment into something simple, like my black coffee?
How can I turn this crazy and complex something into it’s single and important parts.
This feels very important on the road to simple. It’s about breaking down what’s in front of me into the simplest terms. Defining the elements one at a time and deciding which is the most significant. What should I keep? And what is excess? Simplicity is about finding what’s necessary and being content with that. It’s about celebrating the roots.
How can I find the black coffee in the venti double shot mocha frappuccino with soy mocha drizzle, matcha powder, protein powder, caramel brûlée topping with caramel drizzle, frappuccino chips, vanilla bean, and whipped cream served with an extra wide green straw?
I’m looking for it, and I feel like that’s the right first step.
I have a friend who’s life motto is “Excess is never enough.” She always laughs when she says it yet choices she makes validate the truth in her statement…at least in her world. Often times I’ve thought about the differences between the two of us and I can’t help but see where I too let excess overtake my world. I love your analogy with the cup of coffee. I’m not one to ever order black coffee…just isn’t my thing. But I’ve also never been one to lean into the overly sweetened creamy concoctions either. I suppose it is all about balance. Right? Looking forward to reading about the next 30 days!
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I want my life to be more like black coffee . . .
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