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My mornings have become so routine that I go about them as though I\u2019m on autopilot. First, I
\nwrap myself up in my well-loved but very ragged robe and let the dogs out into the backyard so
\nthey can stretch their legs after a long night\u2019s sleep. Without much thought, I scoop whole coffee
\nbeans into the grinder, fill the coffee maker\u2019s tank with water, add in the now-ground coffee, and
\npress start. As the coffee brews and fills the air with notes of chocolate, espresso, and
\nsometimes even a hint of orange, I let the dogs back in for breakfast. While they eat I grab a
\nmug from my ever-growing collection, and by that time, the carafe should be filled and ready to
\nhave its first cup of the day poured. I have it perfectly timed.<\/p>\n
Except last week I found myself standing in front of an empty pot. I sniffed the air and
\nsmelled nothing. Had I timed the routine wrong? Forgotten to hit the button? No, I did everything
\nthe same way I do every day. The coffee maker broke. I muttered a couple choice curse words
\nand went about the rest of my morning. I felt off all day. I attributed it to missing my daily
\ncaffeine fix. The next morning, I carried out my routine, minus brewing the coffee as we had to
\nwait a few days for a replacement part for the machine to arrive. And again, I felt off.<\/p>\n
On the third day I dusted off our old French Press, certain that a little caffeine would help
\nthat unsettled feeling I\u2019d been experiencing. Though I enjoyed taking that first sip of coffee, it still
\nfelt wrong. My timing was off. I was off. As I went about getting ready for my day, it hit me. My
\nlittle morning routine, which I\u2019ve never given much thought to, sets the stage for my entire day. It
\nputs me in the right frame of mind, and when something goes wrong with it, I feel the effects of it
\nall day long. It\u2019s amazing how something so seemingly insignificant can actually be more
\nimportant than you\u2019ll ever realize.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m happy to share that our beloved maker is working again, and I\u2019m back to my morning
\nroutine, though now I\u2019m making an honest effort to really pay attention as I go about it. To fully
\nappreciate the quiet time to myself before my husband arises and the neighborhood begins to
\nwake up.<\/p>\n