Finding yourself in a coffee shop

I recently found myself in a coffee shop.

And I don’t mean, “I happened to be in a coffee shop.”

I mean, “While in a coffee shop, I connected with something that makes me feel like me.”

Let me explain…

On this recent visit to said coffee shop, I had the opportunity to spend some time hanging out while I was waiting for my son who was nearby at an activity. The coffee shop was pretty busy, but thankfully there was a spot to sit, and I was able to do some reading and reflecting while I drank my tea. (I don’t actually drink coffee, thankfully they also sell tea!)

At one point, my thoughts were drawn to the observation that I was likely the oldest person there, as the staff and most of the other clientele appeared to be high school or university students. Thankfully, I didn’t let this turn into a negative self-judgement! Instead, it actually reminded me of being in university myself, enjoying working in a coffee shop, given the change of scenery it provided, sense of connection with other students, and often the opportunity to think a little differently about whatever assignment or project I was working on.

In the intervening years, I’ve still greatly enjoyed periodically reading or working on some writing from a coffee shop. During the early days of the pandemic when everything was closed, I clearly remember working from a coffee shop being one of the things I missed. Which, I used to think was simply because of the change of environment and relaxed atmosphere being in a coffee shop offers. While this is true, it is only part of the story.

Now I realize I also love being in coffee shops because it connects me with an earlier time and an earlier version of me. Going to a coffee shop really feels like I am putting more of myself into my schedule.

Obviously, going to a coffee shop isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) But we all have our own coffee shop equivalent.

Is there somewhere or something that helps you ‘find’ yourself?

Can you give yourself permission to put a bit more of this activity, and thus a bit more of you, into your schedule?