What are your favorite things that bring joy? It could be a hobby, reading, visiting with friends, spending time with family, binging on a tv show or taking a road trip. All of those bring excitement, creativity or happiness into my life. One that has been more a recent interest, has been my love of coffee.

A few years ago, I was shopping at a store in town for my usual cooking spices. Yes, I love to cook! While there, the owner asked if I would like to try some coffee. For some reason, I said, “Yes, I will try some.” It could have been the fall day, but most likely it was due to it having chocolate and cinnamon. Let’s be real…chocolate and cinnamon…sign me up! My prior knowledge of coffee meant something you would drink with your dessert or at a diner.

At this particular store, they used the red grinding machine to granulate the beans as they packed some coffee for purchasing. As a child, my dad would enjoy getting a bag of coffee beans that you would grind at the grocery store. I still hear that crushing sound of the beans on the red grinding machine. I see the flaps you would close on the edges to package the beans to take home.

I tried the coffee and it has become a treat to look forward to during the week. Sometimes a friend will ask to go get coffee or at times I will get one as I am running errands. Frappes, lattes, espresso…I still need to look up what each kind consists of, but my top favorite currently is a peanut butter frappe. In the fall, I prefer hot coffee while in the spring I enjoy iced coffee.

At times in our lives, we prefer different things. Sometimes we like this or pursue this. At other times we pick something else to try. It’s important for us to take risks and challenge ourselves to try new things or opportunities. The past two years, I have really explored creating and writing. It all started when my mother-in-law, mom and dear friend Michelle gave me journals over the course of a year. Writing has always been something I have enjoyed. Putting words onto paper and transforming ideas into meaning, has been an avenue of pursuit. Through taking that risk of writing, that has opened creative and exciting doors to freelance.

Yesterday, my husband came home from running errands and brought me a peanut butter frappe. It was an unexpected treat, but one that was appreciated and savored. Lately, I have been focusing on the things that I enjoy such as decorating, exploring creative interests, and writing.

May we look for opportunities to try new things that bring happiness and connection with others. Be appreciative for the little things that are meaningful. Always be grateful for savoring each day…hopefully over a cup of coffee…whether it be an espresso, latte or frappe!