Inspiration from a Starbucks Coffee Cup
When you wish the world becomes brighter, so wish. – from a Starbucks coffee cup
Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.
I stopped by a Starbucks on my way to the office the other morning and was surprised, if not a little irritated, to see the coffee served in a holiday-themed cup. Red cup season has already started at Starbucks and Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away.
My irritation actually started a few days before when two adult-contemporary radio stations in the Kansas City area started playing Christmas music 24/7. I love Christmas and look forward to celebrating and sharing its traditions. But people, it’s only November 4! Let’s give the season time to get here first.
As I was standing at the counter adding some half & half and a couple Sugar In The Raw packets to my Venti Bold, I noticed several phrases were also printed on the cup. Withdrawing the wooden stirring stick, I held the cup closer to inspect the words. My irritation changed to delight. Inspiration had just completed a surprise attack on me and I didn’t even see it coming.
After returning to my car, I took a moment before jumping back into the day to absorb what this cup was telling me. The messages were simple ones, but can carry great weight if we allow their truths to shape and guide and lives:
I wish everyone could see how much we all have in common.
Rich or poor. Male or female. Black or white. It really doesn’t matter. We all feel, dream and love. Our paths to where we want to go may look different, but I think the journey feels the same.
We need to feel that the passion is real and know there is a purpose created for each of us. We need to know that what we are doing is making a difference. We need to rely on faith to pick us up when we feel discouraged.
We need to feel the touch of a tender kiss that tells us, “Everything is going to be OK,” even when we are afraid it is not. We want to leave this world a little better than how we found it. Yes, we do have much in common – and it is good to see.
When you wish the world becomes brighter, so wish.
Our ideas, our inspirations, make a difference. Everything we have comes from someone wishing for something a little better. Technology, medical research and even some of those $19.99 kitchen gadgets sold during 3:30 a.m. infomercials improve the quality of our lives. Wish for something today and see the world begin to change right before your eyes.
I wish for a snow day.
My children become television news junkies when the first snowflakes begin to fall. They listen for updated weather reports and, of course, wait for the latest school closings. Fortunately, their school district begins with the letter, “B.” Once announced, they rejoice and then set off to enjoy their unexpected day off.
We need snow days, too. These unplanned, unscripted days can serve as important ways to renew our spirit. One of the best things about being an adult is we don’t have to wish for snow to take a snow day. Pick a day in the middle of the week and trade your Outlook calendar for a day outside and enjoy the beauty that we are sometimes too busy to witness.
I wish grown ups could remember being kids.
Robert Fulghum got it right in his poem, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten. As adults, we have the tendency to overcomplicate life. Living a rewarding life isn’t that difficult, but sometimes we can make it harder than it has to be.
Allow the kid inside of you to come out more. Allow him to experience the world with wonder and hope. Allow her to stop going through the motions and play – play like a kid; play like no one is watching.
I wish every day was a holiday.
While every day may not qualify to be an official holiday, every day can be special if we choose to see it that way. The present day is the only one that comes with a guarantee. Enjoy the day, enjoy the people who you share it with and celebrate every precious second in it. Wake up with the eagerness we had as children on Christmas day and rush out of bed to see the gifts waiting for us.
I wish for extra whipped cream.
A little something special is nice. Too often we limit ourselves, almost deprive ourselves, from asking for nice things in our lives. Where is it written that we have to settle for what we get, rather than asking for what we want and then feeling worthy to receiving it?
Less irritation and more inspiration
I inserted the key into the car’s ignition and placed the coffee in the cup holder next to my seat. The surprise attack had accomplished its mission. With my irritation lifted, I started the car and was ready to begin my day, but with a little more inspiration this time.
The purpose of the attack wasn’t to convince me that it’s too early to begin thinking of Christmas, but to remind me that when we open our eyes, inspiration can be found any time and in any place, even from a Starbucks coffee cup.
Image Credit: The image used in this article is courtesy of ohdearbarb.
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10 Responses to “Inspiration from a Starbucks Coffee Cup”
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alex Blackwell and evelynlim, dreamreaper. dreamreaper said: Inspiration from a Starbucks Coffee Cup: When you wish the world becomes brighter, so wish. – from a Starbucks .. http://bit.ly/3GYpxP [...]
So many times I log on to your updates to find that you have written this article JUST FOR ME! I cannot begin to tell you how often your words of encouragement or experience has come just at the right moment. Thank you for continuing to inspire me and lift my spirit.
I love that quote that says” I wish everyone could see how much we all have in common.” It is really true. what we all need is the same and we all travel the same paths. Nomatter what. Our paths are all the same but it is what we do on the paths that matters. You can do it too,” it is meant for you.” God wants the ordinary you and not that “one extraordinary”..
@Maz: Your comment inspires me – thank you!
@Timothy: So true, there is great value in our “ordinariness.” Best wishes as you walk your path.
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You have a gift for finding the magic in simplicity – a shift in thought – and sharing the ‘new eyes’ with us. I do thank you. ~ Joie
@ Alex Blackwell.
I am glad you appreciate my comment. Best wishes to you too as you walk along your path. Life often is simple but we are the ones that add on the baggage that complicates our lives. Just as simple as it is to a child so it should be to us!!
Wow people, it’s Thanksgiving Day! I’m happy with my extra day off, and I am planning to doing something fun that’ll probably involve a moto trip and seeing something new in Montgomery Village I haven’t seen yet.
You write something new at Thanksgiving?
Just read this post and you said you were disturbed when you started to hear Christmas Music before Thanksgiving. I had to agree until I talked to someone who works at the station that started early here.
They said the response to lives that were changed during the holidays by accepting Christ because they could relate to the music gave them the idea to start early this year. Maybe they can reach more lost souls out there through the music we have all learned to love.
Hope this helps you the next time you hear Christmas music before Thanksgiving. It did me.
We need to do anything we can to bring lost souls to Christ.
@ Linda: This helps, thanks for sharing.