dealing with life
January 30, 2019
Another delightful Coffee with John this morning.
The takeaway: the world is vast, not only terms of geography but also in terms of possibilities, experiences, and in the stories we all carry. Explore the world around you, meet new people, take a drive to new areas.
The best part of Coffee with John: connecting with people and hearing their stories.
I recently came across a prayer on a book I was given. Part of the prayer goes like this:
“O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love.”
Connecting with people during my Coffee with John has been for me about understanding, loving, and putting aside my own preconceptions or expectations of what the conversations should be about and lead to – friendships, epiphanies, edification, salvation or whatever.
In that sense, the prayer resonates with me. It’s not about me, my circumstances or wishes. Not to say that I don’t have to remind myself of this each time I walk out of the door to meet someone over coffee. I do.
Still, the more I connect with people, I like to believe I am opening myself to be more resilient, understanding, loving and just more present.
The takeaway today: sometimes life gives you a free croissant. Take it and enjoy it.
From early this week. The takeaway: enjoy the spur- of the- moment. While visiting a family friend and doing errands on this particular day, Coffee with John just happened. Typically, I have to coordinate with people to meet up and separate a date for us to meet up for coffee. So it was nice that we just ran with the moment and the situation allowed for it.
I meant to post this last week but I am just running behind.
This session was particularly eventful for a variety of reasons. The main being that my friend surprised me with special Coffee with John mugs. See image below:
The image on the mug is that of my tattoo, a tattoo that I had conceived on my mind years, years ago but only got it done recently. I am not going to elaborate on the meaning as it is long but all I can say to you is that it has a lot of meaning for me.
Anyways, the takeaway, if I am remembering correctly what I had on my mind this particular morning meeting: learn from our friends.
My friend has always emphasized to me the power of asking for what you want. I am paraphrasing here but his motto is, “asking is free. If you get a no, so what!”
I am going to practice that more. Don’t be afraid. Ask for what you want.
I am a bit behind but this was from the other morning as part of coffee with John.
The takeaway: reach out to friends when having a rough time. Personally, I was moody and tired from sleepless nights, aggravating this sense of overall frustration that overcame me at the start of the week.
My coffee partner had his own frustrations and weight over his shoulders. We both felt much lighter and in a much better mood after Coffee with John.
So yeah. Get out of the house and meet up with a friend; it would do your soul some good.
Had another virtual coffee early this morning. This was my third or so and, as much as I have enjoyed them, there is this part of me that still resistant to the idea. Of course, once I have the virtual session, I can’t wait until the next.
The takeaway of today’s experience: listen and take the time to learn about other people. I have said that before but it’s worth repeating.
It’s fascinating to invest the time in others. The experience might humble and surprise you.
Always a pleasure to kick off the day early with a cup of coffee and in good company. The takeaway of today’s Coffee with John: laughter. Sometimes we just need to laugh at the absurdity of life situations.
The moment we are born, life throws this big cosmic joke on us: our own demise.
We take ourselves and our “accomplishment” way too serious, forgetting the joke. Life is much brighter if we have a sense of humor and don’t take ourselves too seriously.
The other takeaway: forge your own path, even if it means rebelling against all you know.
December 8, 2018
A great Coffee with John meeting yesterday morning with a wonderful, cool individual. Today’s takeaway: follow your happiness and well being with trust/faith that things will work out. This week I have spoken about perseverance and courage. Those go in tandem with trust/faith.
Coffee With John 