Coffee Break with the Barista
November 2009
As
I sat in a coffee shop in Clayton on a Wednesday morning, waiting for
my appointment to arrive, I contemplated success as I watched all the
successful-looking people walk in and out the door. Were they actually
successful or did they simply have expensive clothing and perhaps
good-paying jobs? Did they have even that? I began to contemplate my
own life, and whether or not those people would consider me successful.
It occurs to me that sometimes success isn't immediately recognized —
sometimes we don’t even recognize success in ourselves.
I recall
being asked recently to talk about myself — where I work, what I enjoy,
etc. It was interesting to me that the person to whom I was speaking
found my life interesting. Perhaps sometimes we become so focused on
what we’re working towards that we lose sight of the bigger picture. I
believe that’s what practicing gratitude is all about. Being grateful
requires that we step back from our immediate moment to take a look at
the bigger picture. I imagine in most cases, the bigger picture is more
gratifying than the smaller picture that is often zoomed in on our
lacking — our troubles.
So when I zoom out, away from the small
fragments of my life, like all of us, I can see that I’m successful,
too. However we define it, we all have ways in which we are successful.
For some, success is seen in a bank account. For others, it’s reflected
in the opportunities they provide for their children, or the ability to
enjoy and appreciate their lives. If you’re like me, there aren’t many
of us sitting around basking in the glory of OUR successes. So I’m
learning to step back and take a broader look, particularly during
those times when I feel that my life isn’t running as smoothly as I
would like, and feel proud of my accomplishments.
Along those
lines, Phylis Clay Sparks has written an article that inspires me to
pay attention to the things that truly help us to experience a more
rich and satisfying life.
Sometimes what we think of as a negative may actually turn out to be a positive in the long run. Kathryn Tristan’s article, Our Perfectly Imperfect World,
suggests that not only are our mistakes often not as bad as they may
seem, but they might just be a necessary part of living — of moving us
forward. I always find a gem or two in Kathryn’s articles. I hope
you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did.
If you read Haunting Alton in the October issue of Java Journal,
then you know that I had plans to spend the night in a haunted mansion.
In fact, I spent two nights in the mansion, and any doubts I had about
the existance of ghosts have been put to rest. The experiences were
definitely hair-raising, but having survived the two nights with only
positive experiences, I’m a little less apprehensive about encountering
ghosts. Read about my experiences at Mitchell Mansion and let me know
what you think. If you have had personal experiences with ghosts, I
would love to hear about it. Email a note to me at
info@javajournalonline.com.
Java Journal is pleased to
have Eva A. Hurst, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and the
director of the Washington University Center for Dermatologic and
Cosmetic Surgery, as a featured writer. In her article, she answers
many questions about over-the-counter anti-aging formulas. At age
forty-something, I’m interested in finding products that not only
protect my skin, but promote a more healthy appearance as well. Her
article provides some very good information about the products that do
actually work.
You’ll notice that I’ve finally made an appearance in Java Journal
as the chief barista. Since I’m not fond of being photographed (an
enormous understatement), I chose a photo that makes me feel good —
being with horses almost always makes me feel happy. I love all
animals, even the little mice that live in the hay at the barn where I
hang out with horses. It’s hard for me to separate my love for animals
from my professional life. I love both, and it’s nice when I can
combine the two, if only in this small way.
As always, I love hearing from Java Journal readers. Send me an email at marian@javajournalonline.com and let me know what you think of Java Journal.
Kindly,
Marian Rein