Auf Wiedersehen, Kaffee

Here's the coffee situation in my house: I've got a Kitchenaid coffee maker that's been working hard for me for ten years now. I purchased it in Germany right after Bob and I were married. We've got a Breville espresso maker that makes beautifully crafted shots of espresso. Most recently, we added a Keurig one cup coffee maker to the family. With the right pod, it makes a decent cup of joe.

So why am I bidding adieu to my three loves? First, let me say- this is not good-bye. We're just taking a break, not getting divorced.

Here's the thing: especially since having children and writing my first book, I've found my dependence on coffee growing. This worries me. In other aspects of my life, I listen to my body. When I'm running, I've very in-tune with how my body is functioning. When I was having a baby, my body and mind were singular in their mission. But for some reason, I seem to think it's okay to ignore the signs my body is giving me on a day to day basis.

Just because these last three months have been exhausting doesn't mean I have the right to tune out what my body is telling me. Instead of finding/making time for rest, I've been medicating myself with caffeine.

So for the next 30 days, I'll be saying No Thank You to coffee. It's just a little experiment. I'm hoping to regain my focus and clear my thinking. My friend Katie said she did this experiment for 90 days and found that she actually had more energy. This seems counter intuitive to me, but I'm certainly hoping by cutting out caffeine, I'll have more energy. Fingers are crossed.

The hardest part of this exercise is that for me, coffee is a tender lover. I savor the feel of a creamy cup of  coffee in my hand, the warm nurturing feel of the first swallow. I relish the chilled bitter sip of an iced latte through my Starbucks straw. So for the next month, I'll miss the experience, but I'm happy to bid farewell to the jitters.

Wish my luck, friends.