I’ve recently stopped drinking coffee. It’s an experiment to see if that is what has been making my stomach unhappy.
But this is no happy experiment.
This summer I replaced my afternoon cup with green tea. I had been eating chocolate every day with my coffee and my pants were getting snug, so it was time. To curb the chocolate cravings, I stopped the coffee at the same time, hoping to delete the association. It worked. I even started to look forward to my daily cup of green tea.
But then my stomach started acting up. I tried eliminating other items from my diet, but nothing helped. Then it occurred to me that it could be coffee.
I love my morning coffee. I look forward to it every day, savour every drop. The thought of eliminating coffee from my morning ritual was disappointing, to say the least. But I thought if I replaced it with tea, I just might be able to do it.
I expected some adjustment, knew I’d get headaches, knew I’d miss that smell in the morning, that first sip that starts my day.
I did not expect the brain fog.
Lack of coffee made me clumsy and forgetful, sluggish and unproductive.
But slowly, slowly I am adjusting to a cup of tea each morning. My energy is beginning to return; my head is clearing up. Im even starting to enjoy it, a little.
It’s not coffee, but it’s a steaming cup of comfort nonetheless.
I hope you find comfort in your rituals, calm in your mornings, and clarity in change.
Today I am grateful for beautiful fall weather, getting stuff done, and caffeine in tea form.
Currently reading: Indelible, by Amelia Saunders.