There was a time in my life, up to age 18ish, when the taste of coffee was foreign to me. I plowed through the day on sheer youth and positivity. The gateway drug was a java chip frappuchino. This was my only foray into caffeine dependency for a couple of years until the dark day when I fell in love with Peppermint mochas, then iced coffees…. By the time I was 22 I was a junkie. I recall one day near Christmas heading into my retail job at AE literally CHUGGING a handcrafted frappuchino and the exact phrase I told my coworker was “I wish I could just get this injected in to my veins”. So began the slippery slope…

Having the typical anxiety issues of a 20 something working in sales, coffee became my lifeblood but was also just sheer poison. A few times in the past couple years I quit cold turkey, found Jesus, so to speak, and was able to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed without my caffeine crutch. But, inevitably I would start back up, socially of course, then full blown coffee addiction. Lately I have been realizing that not only is coffee making me sluggish after the initial morning binge, but that I am buying at least 2 coffee drinks daily that I only drink about half of because I get too busy and caught up in my day. Soo to recap, lost money, crash and burn, and the evening panic/racing heart that can only come from that after work rush hour coffee.

Day 12, I am starting you off with coffee. Sorry, but I just enjoy it way too much, especially on a Sunday, where you are second only to a mimosa filled brunch with friends. However, today I will also find better energy solutions to plan and stick to for the next week to avoid all this java drama. I’m thinking my go to green tea, morning exercise, and a potential mirror dance party. Infinite possibilities, Day 12.