A Weekend Pleasure

Life seems to be increasingly stressful. (I realize that's not a profound statement...) As work stress and anxiety over the economy mount, I've decided it's time to take better care of myself. I'm not talking about the eating healthy/staying active routine; but rather the 'little' things in life that bring me a sense of calm. Those are the 'good things' in life.

For instance, on weekends, I will very often make a delicious Latte for myself. The ritual itself is calming.. carefully tamping down the espresso ground coffee, steaming the milk to a wonderful foamy consistency, carefully pouring in just the right amount of milk and froth.. the result, a stunning and beautiful cup of coffee that I can for a few moments just treasure. Using our jadeite coffee cups and saucers, (with coordinating blue napkins, of course) it makes a weekend coffee just a little more special. With that first steaming sip, I briefly close my eyes and tell myself, "you deserve this... enjoy it." And, I do.

In a fast paced world, it's essential to slow it down, take a step back, and do those 'good things' no matter how silly or unimportant they may seem to others. For me, the weekend Latte is one of those good things. A friend of mine said to me just this morning, "why not just run down to Starbucks?" He doesn't quite get it. The ritual of the brew, the smell of the espresso, the sound of the frothing milk, and the gentle noise of cup to saucer, is not something Starbucks can give me. It's just a little good thing for me, myself, and I. And, we deserve it.