Slow mornings and strong coffee

There is a version of my morning where I wake up and immediately reach for my phone. I know that version well. It is loud, it is rushed, and somehow it leaves me tired before the day even starts.

Lately I have been trying something different. I make my coffee, I put it on the windowsill, and I just stand there for a few minutes while the light comes in. The plant on the sill does not ask anything of me. The neighborhood outside is quiet. It is the least productive moment of my day and honestly my favorite.

I used to think slow mornings were a luxury for people with easier schedules. Now I think they are a decision. Ten unhurried minutes costs almost nothing, and it changes the tone of everything that comes after it.

So here is my tiny challenge for you this week: tomorrow, let your morning start on your terms. Drink something warm. Look out a window. Let the day introduce itself before you start answering it.

Smile, be happy, it is good for you. The coffee helps too.