I love coffee.
Psychologists have concluded that one of the best ideas for a first date is to go out for coffee or tea. This is because something happens when you are sitting across from someone, holding something warm and comforting between your hands and staring into the eyes of a person who is doing the same.
It's a connection of warmth and security, with an exciting "zing" attached to the end...kind of like a budding relationship.
Now I'm a coffee addict (one who needs to back off on the actual caffeinated stuff because I'm at the point where horrible headaches result if I don't get my daily buzz. ).
However, it started out as a kind of "pacing myself thing" and that's still mostly what it is.
Whenever I have some big task ahead of me I start the coffee pot going and wait and mentally prepare.
It's encouraging in a way...you're making youself do something you don't know how to do...the coffee is making itself....itself (which is way more difficult than anything I've ever tried to do, personally).
Sometimes, those pre-percolated moments can be really inspiring.
I think, if you have the good stuff, this can be way better than a Starbucks run in terms of getting things done.
However, there is something to be said for coffee-house culture. And for this, I don't mean Starbucks (not to dis Starbucks, I partake as much as any of my fellow American college students). But it terms of getting all you can out of the coffee- culture, go local and independent if you can.
As I write this, I sit in a new favorite hang-out which I've begun to love for so many reasons.
I've grown comfortable with the weird, ecclectic selections of music which somehow manage to suit all my tastes and changes suddently from from 1940s Louis and Ella to 1990s dance electronica to reggae music that I've never heard before, but still enjoy.
I look up and see the familiar baristas-one guy who looks like the lead singer of Iron and Wine and a girl with a sweet face, boyish hair, and super-feminine clothing.
I also am getting to the point where I recognize the "regulars" who looked at me at first like an alien invading their planet. I think I'm slowly becoming one of them.
It's a nice feeling to be "a regular". Technically, I'm a regular at my favorite coffeeshop in my hometown, but it's a little different because I barista there sometimes, and so I never feel totally like a customer.
However, when you are relying on coffeehouses to bring on the productivity, there's a different strategy involved. What you do is you get your mocha (not that I'm drinking one or anything), you slowly drink it while you listen to an online sermon or update your blog (not that that's what I'm doing.....), and then, when you feel more awake and are coming to an end of those pre-productivity activities.......it's time to get going, and start doing some serious independent research on childhood identification for the abstract that's due to the Southeastern Psychological Society...I mean...time for me to sign off. :-)
Have a lovely and caffeinated day (but don't go crazy!)
