Life Lessons at Starbucks

I have to confess that I like to indulge in a Starbucks Tazo Chai Latte about once a week. It’s a pleasant change from coffee and the spicy flavours remind me of my trip to India. Now I consider myself a reasonably observant person, so imagine my surprise when I recently noticed written on the side of the cup a few lines of philosophy under the heading “The Way I See It #142”. Wow. I’d never noticed that before. And I’m guessing that since this was #142, these little think-about-it tidbits have been around for a while.

too busy to bother

It got me thinking about all of things that we don’t notice in a day. We get so busy paying attention to details – the to-do lists, the schedule, the deadlines - that we lose sight of the big picture. We rush from one thing to the next, the day flies by and at the end of it we realize that we never got done what it is we wanted to do. We don’t notice the people we pass, remember the drive home or what was really important.

waking up to the possibilities

When we end up sleepwalking through the day, we miss all of the little delights that are there for the taking. Imagine going on a vacation and not noticing the scenery, or enjoying the cuisine or visiting the local attractions. What a disappointment that trip would be. If we awaken to the idea that every day we are travelers on our life journey, then there is so much more available to us along the way. Open yourself to the possibilities that exist when you take in the world around you.

• See what you might be missing. When you pay attention, you might be surprised what shows up. Actress Catherine Deneuve said, “Opportunities are often things you haven't noticed the first time around.”

• Make a commitment to be fully present, at least for some portion of your day. Pick an activity and make a conscious effort to notice what’s happening around you – and within you.

• Change your routine and look at the world with fresh eyes. Take a different route to work. Order something other than your usual at the coffee bar. Read a book or watch a film that is out of the ordinary for you.

• Often we do notice something and fail to mention it. Acknowledge another person’s effort – even if its their job. Thank someone for unloading the dishwasher. Say I love you.

Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” Take time today and stop and smell the latte.

Laurel Vespi, certified life coach and chief executive guru of stone circle coaching, ignites businesses & individuals to new levels of CHANGE. Laurel works with clients internationally, providing unconventional yet practical tips that make the seemingly impossible... possible!

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