Coffee

Coffee: 

I've written at length about my one cup of coffee for the day, tying it to both my yoga practice and my time writing, as well as how I often use it as a mindfulness tool to bring a sense of gratitude to my mornings. After my father's death I found myself contemplating our connection through coffee, with my mother too, how there was always a pot of coffee brewed, a ritual of being close together, a shared moment between us through certain points of life. It could just as easily been something else, another action of preparation and enjoyment. 

but for us, it was coffee. 

it's only one cup a day for me now, being better for me, and more so, a limited amount deepens my appreciation, causing me to be mindful of each sip taken and grateful for the role it's played in my life. There's never a morning that I don't note this significance, and really, I have no idea exactly why - there are infinite things that connect me to my parents, and other rituals I perform each morning that help prepare me for the day.  

but for me, it's coffee. 

it's an invaluable tool for writing, an aide in times of silence, reaching for my long used cup and sipping through my wait for words. This is my sign of patience, displaying my faith that words will soon appear and that I am content within the moment. It's as much as part of my writing as words are, a tool, and as I like to believe, used with a certain sense of skill involved. A mindful sip, taking advantage of the pause after a flow of words, is a reminder to ease myself of tension, relaxing in the silence, and that this too is an essential part of writing. There's no rush, I'm not reaching for ideas, but only sipping coffee, trusting that more words will appear before my cup is through. 

and they always do. 

~

Peace, Eric