I love to drink coffee. Love it. I only drink decaf due to complete insomnia if I consume caffeine, but I love the taste and the ritual. I like to buy coffee, but I also like to make it at home or at the office. Wherever, whenever, if there's coffee to be had, I'm likely to want to partake.
Over the years, I have suffered some amount of angst about this. The cream I put in it is bad for me! I should be drinking water instead! Or green tea!
Today, on my drive to work, I finally made some peace with my love of coffee. "Screw it," I thought, "So I like coffee. Yeah, maybe tea is better for my health, but it is no substitute for coffee. I'm done with the coffee guilt. There are better uses of my time. [ed: There's the revelation.]"
The guilt never stopped me from drinking coffee, at least not for very long. But it was nice to get to work and make myself a BIG cup of coffee and just enjoy it, guilt-free.
(Calling this a "revelation" seems rather grandiose, but letting go of guilt—even on this small scale—is a big deal for me.)
Moi
- Snickollet
- I'm a mother and a widow, and a whole lot of other things. Here, though, I tend to write about parenting, grief, and their intersection.
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12 comments:
I so completely hear you on the letting go of guilt thing; it's definitely a revelation to realize that there are better uses of your energy. I think you've put me in the mood for a coffee!
Good for you! If coffee makes you happy and gets your day off on the right foot, then enjoy! It could be so much worse.
Yes, could be a worse addiction, like smoking or doing hard drugs! Let it be and move on.
I know exactly what you mean about the revelation -- I had one over the weekend about cleaning my house. I realized I either need to pay somebody to do it or quit worrying about it ... it's not like somebody's going to show up with a clipboard to evaluate me.
Yeah for you is right! I'm all for the tossing away of guilt, if I could just get better at it on a personal level, but KUDOS to you!
I think we all have to allow ourselves some "guilty pleasures". Whether it's a slice of cheesecake after a nice meal, or a cup of coffee with cream and sugar, doesn't matter. We all deserve a treat. It's not like you're binging on horrible things. And you make allowances for the things you do indulge in. Being healthy doesn't just mean your physical well being, it's your mental well being, as well. So enjoy a nice cuppa, and have a biscotti on me. :-)
Plus, I've seen research showing that consumption of moderate amounts of coffee (one or two cups a day) can be healthy! I can't remember exactly what the effects were, but there's been more than one study along these lines. Kind of like the ones done on alcohol, it shows that the saying "Everything in moderation" is a smart one. But it's a great revelation regardless! Another relevant saying might be, "Don't sweat the little stuff."
I live near Seattle, and it really is true that people tend to be very coffee-happy here. When my husband moved out here from Ohio (obviously prior to our being married), he was shocked to see the amount of coffee we consumed, sold, bought at little stands along the road, etc.
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I exercise, eat healthy, etc., so coffee has always been allowed. The only reason I've switched to decaf and more frequently, green tea, is because the caffeine is not good for the whole blood pressure thing.
- A
Good for you! I have the same response to caffeine, which means I am a decaf girl too. People tend to think it is crazy, but I think it is really the ritual that perks me up and not the caffeine. Or at least that is what I tell myself!
Yay! Enjoy that coffee
Yeah for you! I had a similar revelation about watching TV. I watch maybe 1 hour per day and, yes, I could be doing other things during that time, I enjoy it and need to quit feeling guilty about it. It makes me happy and really isn't bad for me. How many things can you say that about? :-)
Coffee has been associated with a lower risk of both diabetes and Alzheimers (assuming you don't go crazy with the sugar). It's good for you! Enjoy it.
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