Positively Positive

Okay, let's just start this off with the confession: I have a really hard time being positive, seeing the glass as half full, not complaining, etc.

I have to fight to view things in the right light. My default, go-to, response to life in-general and the things that come my way has always had this negative-bent. For years, I bolstered this attitude by arguing that I was simply being 'logical'. Not really sure why I came to this conclusion, but I knew it was right. 

Over the last two years, I've had the privilege of being surrounded by people who are the definition of positivity. I mean, it used to feel over-the-top to me. I would wonder how they could be so happy and always look on the bright side of things? I had pretty much decided that it was great for them, but I would always have this negative cloud looming over me. I kind of enjoyed the negative - there was something satisfying to me about always pointing out what's wrong or missing, made me feel more valuable, like I was this expert that could find the bad in everything (wow- what an awesome power to have, haha).

Over time, this perspective, this mindset, lost its luster. Sometimes you're totally content with your way of living until you find something better, then the old is totally unacceptable. For example, my favorite ice cream used to be Bluebell's Peppermint. It was only available during the holidays, you know, the pink one with the little mints sprinkled throughout. Yum. But then a month or so ago, I had Jeni's Backyard Mint. Never will I eat another. It's unreal the difference! 

Taken one morning from my apartment,
trying to stop and enjoy the little things

That's what started happening with my outlook on life! I began to reject the Bluebell for the Jeni's! It wasn't easy all the time, and my mind fought it so much (how weird it felt to me- what is this happy response that ignores all the bad things going on?!)

Then one day I woke up and it was all different. I found myself encouraging others to look on the bright side - when did that happen?! I have to mention that I read this fabulous book that my friend Christine recommended called One Thousand Gifts. If you struggle with being grateful, this book will change your life. If you're already pretty grateful, it will also change your life.

Then I also read (again, at Christine's recommendation) Cold Tangerines- a book that was instrumental in my changed perspective. It's all about celebrating and enjoying the little moments in life, the small blessings that we ignore, like an ice-cold tangerine. THAT IS A GIFT! And there's so many more things like it that we just let pass us by unnoticed.

Then I read Bittersweet. Phew. Possibly my favorite book. Shauna kept that awesome, positive perspective, but then she brings in the reality that life is just plain bitter sometimes, and there are hard things.
This is the tagline for the book:

                     “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. 

                       And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

By Matthew Taylor Wilson

I began to want to have that attitude toward whatever came my way. It made sense. It was logical to my mind now. So this positive outlook doesn't neglect the rough things in life- it for sure embraces them. It looks them straight in the face and looks beyond, with this great vision of life that is bigger than what's happening right this moment, and the understanding that the things that happen to us all happen for a reason.

The other night my hubby and I were relaxing at the pool, enjoying the very last bit of summertime. It had been a stressful week and the weekend was half over, so we both needed a little energizing and decided to each name 10 things  for which we were thankful. real things. Next thing you know, we are laughing, smiling, and happy. Something happens when you focus on the positive, and it's a good thing. Try it. 

The Neighborhood Coffee Shop

Famous Chocolate Croissant from Rush Patisserie

I have a new favorite place to be. The kind of space that makes you just feel happy with life. You're glad when you arrive there and feel energized when you leave. Here's why:
A local coffee company, Oak Cliff Coffee, just recently open up a coffee shop here on Davis St. They've been around for awhile, rocking the wholesale coffee world. All of us Oak Cliff Coffee fans and followers have been anxiously waiting for the opening of their first (and most probably, only) coffee shop - Davis St. Espresso.

 So here's the deal. This isn't your average coffee shop. They're doing a few things differently...

1. No Wifi or plugs for computers. I couldn't believe this when I heard it! Reason? Go to their coffee shop to talk to other humans instead of being GLUED TO A SCREEN! Guilty, anyone? *raises hand*

2. No to-go cups - only for-here mugs (you can bring your own cup, though). When I heard this on the first day, I was thinking NO WAY! How will I ever survive?? What about when I need coffee in a hurry!?
They have chosen to do this for the same reason as #1- trying to get you to slow down and enjoy the coffee with others instead of always consuming in a hurry on your way to the next thing. (I've discovered that bringing your own thermos in emergency situations is, in fact, not that difficult.)

3. Only open 6am-11am Tuesday- Friday, 7am-2pm Sat. This one I'm not sold on- I want to go there 24/7. Probably for the best that their hours aren't more abundant- saves me money.

So, at about the 1 week mark of the shop being opened, I had already been there, ahem, approximately 8 times (mainly for work, you know, gotta have those meetings!). I can't stay away. Something about the place is contagious and addicting. I love #1 and #2 now. At first, it made me all kinds of uncomfortable because it was 'different' - interesting how quickly my mind was changed. The concept that they have, though totally counter-cultural, actually works! They wanted to create a place for people to come hang out with other people and enjoy an awesome cup of coffee, and that's what it has become.

Van Buren

I haven't even talked about the coffee yet, what is wrong with me! It's so amazing, so good, so delicious! They have a steam punk coffee maker where they brew your coffee to order. And then there's the espresso. :-D Best cappuccino around, I would say, definitely gives Oddfellows a run for it's money (I just felt blasphemous... Should I take it back? Okay, no more comparisons to Oddfellows!) But if you really want to get the whole coffee experience, order the Van Buren. It's a Cortado with a glass of mineral water and a little biscotti, all served on this cute brown tray. It's ascetically pleasing and a perfect mix of espresso and milk.

When I went to Davis St. Espresso on their Grand Opening day, I saw 5-10 people I knew from the neighborhood. The owner knew me by name and said hello. Then I overheard him chatting with another fellow about how he walked to pick-up the donuts that morning. Something stirred inside me. I've loved Oak Cliff since we moved here, but now, even more so. WALKED! I know I'm sounding like a crazy person, but I feel like I have moved to the coolest-urban-small-town-thing ever. I love that every single time I've gone back to the coffee shop, I've bumped into someone else I know, and that the baristas are the same two guys every time, and they know me too. There's something so right about that.

Davis St. Espresso. Check it out.

P.S. I blame this coffee shop for my recent high-consumption of caffeine. Sorry to all those inspired by my "I'm quitting coffee" campaign a little while back. How the mighty have fallen.