Coffee Date No. 7
If we were going on a coffee date, I'd suggest someplace local. There are a couple of coffee shops near the university that I am just dying to try. Not that I don't enjoy a chestnut praline latte in a cheerfully controversial cup, but there is just something so poetic about holing up where the locals go.
If we were on a coffee date, I might share that I'm playing with the idea of launching a lifestyle blog in 2017. Then, I would laugh and shake my head, because my real lifestyle consists of too much ChickfiA and Netflix. I washed the same load of laundry three times this week. I've never DIY'd anything in my entire life because patience is not a virtue that comes naturally to me. And I rarely use my Ulta card. So, yeah.
If we were on a coffee date, I would share this liquid eyeliner that I am absolutely over the moon for (since we're on the subject of going to Ulta). This stuff dries down fast and seriously stays put.
If we were on a coffee date, I'd have to tell you that my friend Erin Loechner wrote a book and I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek! Reading Erin's words, having them in my hand, feels like going to lunch with an old and dear friend. I could sit with her for hours and feel like no time has passed at all. I absolutely could not adore her more. These pages are an invitation to take a deep and healing breath.
If we were on a coffee date, I would ask how you feel about the holidays. Are you missing a loved one, pining for someone to love, battling depression or anxiety? Which of your relatives is the hardest to shop for? Do you abide by the whole want/need/wear/read structure when purchasing gifts for the kids? Is there a movie that you watch every year? How do you divide your time between your family and your spouse's family?
If we were on a coffee date, I'd tear up when I tell you how much I love Advent. Growing up, my parents were not well versed in the church calendar, but as an adult, I've come to appreciate it. Advent in particular causes me to slow down and take notice. I want this awe and wonder to permeate every minute of every day.
If we were on a coffee date, I'd ask about what you've learned in 2016. I love the spiritual discipline of keeping an eye on how God is moving and keeping track of the things that he is teaching you. For me, more than anything, God has shown himself to be a faithful provider. He reminded me that more often than not, the greatest gifts come in the most unexpected packages. And he showed me the beautiful importance of leading with my limp.
If we were on a coffee date, I would ask how you do January 1. Do you make a list of resolutions? Do you outline core desired feelings? Do you choose one word to guide you through the year? I've tried all three, and am the self-proclaimed worst at simple goal setting. As an INFJ, I shy away from sharing my goals with others because I hate the idea of anyone seeing me come up short. I also have a love/hate relationship with accountability that makes it hard to involve others in my goal setting process. That said, according to Gretchen Rubin's quiz on habits, I'm an obliger, which, in a nutshell, means that I am more likely to keep promises to others than I am to keep promises I make to myself. So I'm basically ruined for resolutions and goal setting. And while I do have a handful of core desired feelings that I like to keep in mind, what has worked best for me is choosing one word to meditate on for the year. I'd ask if I was rambling and you would tell me to shut up and do the work, because that's what good friends do.
If we were on a coffee date, I'd ask how your heart is today. I saw this tweet the other day, and man, it is so true. We have the opportunity to honor one another with our fully attentive presence, and I want to be someone who does this well and without any hesitation.
What would you tell me if we were on a coffee date? I'd love for you to share either in your own post (don't forget to link up!) or in the comments below.