But First, Coffee!

Can you confirm with me that you cannot survive a day without a strong delicious cup of coffee? Well, she cannot start her nights without one.

A date or a work call, finishing an assignment or hanging out with friends, coffee is everyone’s choice of taste and energy. In countries like China where the tea culture is stronger, the international coffee companies like Starbucks have glocalised (when global meets local) their menus just to fit in.

From a lazy morning to an angry boss, a difficult lecture to a casual seminar, a stressed editor to a messy barista, a tired mother to some counter stains, coffee has seen it all!! Maybe you are sipping one right now, waiting at a coffee shop for a friend or standing in a line to place your order ‘a hazelnut cappuccino’ or maybe you just finished your coffee a while back but are tempted to pour some more.

Summer or winter, busy or not, her double toned ceramic mug with a bamboo thread wrapped around the handle sits ready on a paired coaster with an affirmation note written by her, just to feel good. As she strolls in her comfy attire, soft and silky, at nightfall her apartment smells of strong rich aroma from the hot steaming cup of coffee which she prepares for herself.

With a gentle touch she unlocks her balcony door and steps out to enjoy the moonlit city in peace. With coffee cup in one hand and a cookie in another, she sits and wonders while the world calls it a day. As awake as she is, her thoughts finally rattle through and play with her extent of imagination, creativity and expressiveness. Gazing at the still streets she smiles and says, “No more hawkers, no more hawking. No distractions at all.”

Many who have known her over the years, understand the routine she has set, the creativity she entails, the quiet she waits for, the care she takes and the coffee she drinks. Her psychic abilities, well she has no one to confirm but her intuitive self has taken many by a surprise. She believes in the power of the night, for it gives her the freedom to create, to express, to focus and to write. Her words align with her thoughts and her imagination falls accurately with a curious code to crack. Her mind resents to lay back as the silence calls for her presence. The stillness evokes the possibilities as the peace prevails. The concerned often ask about what keeps her up all night? The thoughts. Many, wandering, unworried thoughts that find their way through her curious mind of artistry and humour. A monk once told her, “Never doubt the messages you receive at night. The signs, sometimes intuitions. They call for a deeper purpose. Try solving them on your own watch.”

As she sits alone with her thoughts, may I suggest, just let her be.

The more she stares into the dark sky, the more she realises that, “All that matters most in life comes with a cost to be paid. And it’s in that sacrifice we find our true treasures. People are sometimes too scared to let go of the temporary moments that the permanent ones sadly never seem to become real for them.”

The late cup of coffee gives her the energy to entice the night to not impede her mood. Casually she moves back inside, shuts the door behind her and pulls the chair towards her wooden table. Confident and clear, passionate and devoted, she grabs a piece of paper and time flies by.

Sitting straight on her chair, lost in the words of abundance, she looks at the window as the first ray of sunlight falls on her table and brightens up the words, “…to awaken with glint and glee.”

She drops her quill and wraps herself in a knitted throw and curls up under the covers. She wears a smile to bed. At dawn, her night commences until a hot cup of coffee wakes her up again.