It’s been over a year since we’ve brewed caffeinated coffee here at home. At someone else’s house I’m happy to indulge, and there’ve been a few times on the road where caffeine saved the day. But mostly, I’ve been off it as a daily thing for one year and four months-ish. Well, at least until about five blissful minutes ago. This decision has been in the works for several weeks and the level of consideration I’ve leant to it is borderline ridiculous. At least it seems like it to me. We’ve got a pretty intense few months ahead, both work and life related, and I was starting to crave that medicinal boost one finds in a reasonable amount of caffeine. So I pondered and meditated and spoke to the gods. Then I talked about it relentlessly with Adam and Emily (I’m sure after the third time of bringing it up they wished I would just reach for the freaking jo already). I reminded myself that if it felt out of hand, if my nerves became depleted rather than sharpened, I know exactly how to gently yet effectively cut it back out. I’ll totally rule the brew! Heh. Says every coffee drinker ever.
Yesterday was the big day. I hit the co-op and poured a pound of Mind, Body, and Soul from the bulk bin, which was more satisfying, if only in a Pavlovian way, than grabbing those Breakfast Decaf beans a few doors down. I’m sure I’ll revert back to the boringly benign decaf at some point, but not today. Today is a celebration of the senses. This moment has been weeks in the making and painstakingly deliberated on. I feel like I’m in one of those super-enlightened relationships that have the ability to “consciously uncouple,” except I’m doing the far less enlightened and opposite act of consciously recoupling… with my morning brew. Because right now I'm in a no coffee no prana chapter of life, and a girl’s gotta pay attention to that. Bottom’s up.
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(The method of ditching caffeine that I linked to really does work, if you’re looking for such a thing. There is no reason to drop caffeine overnight. Go slow. Also, my reintroduction of caffeine is not because I’ve “slipped up” or anything like that. All jokes aside, I’ve mindfully chosen to reintroduce a small amount as a therapeutic method of sharpening the mental ax. But if and when that is no longer needed, I’ll be more than happy to boot the caffeine again.)