As a freelancer, the one thing I lack in my life is human interaction. I like to spend two afternoons each week at my local Peet’s Coffee & Tea just to hear other people’s voices. It’s also a good place to generate topics for blog posts.
The other day, I saw two women waiting for their drinks from the barista. The younger one was about 20, wearing a floral sundress and had a perky blonde ponytail bouncing behind her. The older one looked to be close to 90, thin and frail and walking with the assistance of a cane.
Their orders came up simultaneously: a small pot of hot tea and a giant mocha Freddo. For those who aren’t familiar, a Freddo is one of those Frappuccino-style frozen drinks, complete with a giant dollop of whipped cream on top. I must have looked surprised when the elderly woman picked up the Freddo. She gave me a big smile and shuffled past my table.
She gestured towards my large iced tea. ”Live a little, sweetie. Do the things that make you happy.” She winked, patted me on the shoulder and giggled a little bit as she walked away, slurping her drink.
The look on her face was pure joy. That got me thinking: how often do we do the simple little things that bring joy into our lives? Not big public displays of enthusiasm, just the things that make us happy. If I answered honestly, I’d say that I don’t do it nearly enough. So tonight, I’m shutting down the computer, curling up in bed and reading a book.