Most of the times that I leave my house to get coffee, it’s out of pure boredom. It’s rarely a need considering I have an entire espresso machine at home that makes a fire creamy shot of Bustelo. Yet, here I am. Maybe if I make my house look like these aesthetic coffee shops, I’ll stop spending the money for the scenery. It’s often worth it though.
One thing I will ALWAYS advocate for investing in is how you feel. A lot of how we feel is connected to where we are: mentally, emotionally, and physically. Today, I know I want to feel green, peace, patience, and vibrant. This little place called Rosecrans in the West Village did THAT.
I honestly just like to remind myself that I’m the main character of my own life. It’s so damn easy to feel small, behind, or stagnate especially in this big city of other amazing main characters. Regardless of growing up here, I’m so intimated by certain neighborhoods because I do not have that kind of $$. Sitting here next to the people who do reminds me that income and class can’t keep me from enjoying the things that I like.
I’m fortunate to be able to even sit here and have this experience, and I express my gratitude for that too. While I’m here sipping $7 dollar lattes, homelessness in our city gets worse and worse. A lot of millennials are in this weird place of being able to afford so much more than their parents could afford for them, but still not quite being able to afford this city to its fullest capacity. When does it end, bruh?
Being in aesthetically pleasing places (anywhere with greenery for me honestly) reorients me when I go down a rabbit hole of comparison and anxiety over whether or not I’ll be the one to break that generational curse of poverty. The four walls of your room may be your safe haven, but it can also be your jail cell. Get out when you can to refresh your perspective. Bring your own lunch and just sit somewhere. I left to buy coffee, but refused to buy food, so I made myself a little salad to go.
We’re often so enamored by other cities, countries, and places when the very ground that we step on everyday we take for granted.
Remember that it’s not always where you are, but instead it’s who you are in this moment.
