My elixir,
Quick fixer
In you, let me linger
I write this on National Coffee Day, can words express what coffee mean to me? As I parked before coming into this coffee shop, a woman knocked on my car door and asked where I got my sticker of “Petrify the Patriarchy”. Although I couldn’t recall the exact site I purchased it from, she shared her admiration for my sticker and the message. And I realize this is one thing I enjoy about coffee shops. They are third spaces, where you can meet with members of the community, friends, or strangers and connect, or be alone connecting. It’s interesting that Starbucks are closing some of their locations, some first to go are ones that are solely for mobile orders with no seating. The lack of connection took away from the brand of being third spaces, and therefore some of those starbucks are getting eliminated.
And so with this being National Coffee Day, it’s not just about drinking coffee at home, but enjoying coffee with others and the lure of coffee shops (which is where I tend to write these blog posts from). They are places that serve as killers of distraction, intent focus, and fuel for creativity.
Coffee shops serve as my treat. I may not often buy drinks at the bar or the latest fashion accessory, but I don’t mind buying a latte. It’s worth it at the cafe to drink the creamy foam, sometimes beautiful artistic design, and linger with my computer or a friend in a chair with atmospheric lounge music as I write, or we talk, read, or people watch.
And so I cheers to you cafes around the world who have served as places to hold us in the midst of it all: the creativity, connection, study, boredom, and freedom to simply linger.
It Only Takes A Smile 