By Lois Hewitt

This is how weird I am…I never liked the taste of coffee.  It always tasted burned and bitter. Even when I took one sip, my stomach would scream in pain.  It was something I could not stand.

A while back I started a habit of having breakfast every single day. Even the mornings when I leave for work at 6:30.  It, at first, was just cereal but now it has evolved into a nice mix of different meals. The one constant has been a cup of coffee.

I thought I said I disliked coffee. I did. But when I figured out the importance of having a good breakfast with my husband and he must have coffee, I started to see it differently. It became a lovely part of the day. We eat, share a coffee and talk before setting off in different directions.

I learned to enjoy something I did not particularly like at first. I certainly was not forced to drink coffee, but I decided I wanted to to have that experience every morning.

Obviously, drinking a cup of coffee in the morning is not going to change anyone’s life. Or is it? 

It’s a perfect example of being intentional.  I wanted to share a cup of coffee with my husband in the morning, so I adapted.  Now when I wake, I have a small ritual to look forward to.

What does that have to do with anything?  Having and enjoying a cup of coffee showed me that a small thing can bring a great reward.  That is life changing, not the coffee per say, but the intent.

As I manuaver through life, I have a tendency to run through the mud and muck.  What I mean is I am easily bogged down by situations around me.  It’s like driving your car down a muddy road, even if you do not get stuck (which is a distinct possibility), you will come away with it (life) all over you.

Having common things that you practice everyday can help steer you clear of the muck. It can be a simple as reading a book, drinking water, taking a walk or having a cup of coffee.  It becomes a grounding activity and it brings comfort.

Personally, I have quite a few practices I try to do everyday. It is a bit structured but, for me, I keeps me from just doing nothing because I am overwhelmed.

My practices bring me focus as well as comfort.  I have lived in fight-or-flight so long, I forgot how to relax.  Starting to live differently is not easy.  It takes time and effort. Especially in the beginning when the practices are not a solid part of your existence.

I actually started with prayer. I wanted to be a prayer warrior. But had no idea how to start. Turns out it could not be easier…just talk.  Then learn to listen. Then it becomes a daily practice.

Some things I thought would be great for my mental health, were not.  Some things I never thought of before work the best.  Some things worked good for a time but became unnecessary. The process is ever changing. 

My goal is to be healthier and more stable.  My goal is to be more like Jesus. My goal is to be a better human being. 

Jesus came to the world to teach humans how to live. It must be an intentional activity.  It does not come easy to live in righteousness.  For me, maybe only me, sin comes easy.  I can sin and not even have to think about it. But to live a righteous life, now that takes me some effort.

I have found the little intentional steps will eventually lead to a more structured life that replaces the chaos and anxiety. Sometimes it simply starts with a cup of coffee.