Mugs of Motivation
How my neighbourhood coffee shop brought me back to life!
It’s surprisingly weird how you visit a place for the first time and then it becomes a part of who you are!
London is the home to innumerable coffee shops, from multinational chains to family-owned businesses. Whether it is an outlet of a renowned brand on the high street or a small, cosy one at the corner of a neighbourhood; coffee enthusiasts are pulled towards such places through an inexplicable bond.
I don't remember the first time I visited my neighbourhood cafe. But what I remember is its ambience, the welcoming hosts and of course, the lingering taste of the fuming hot chocolate with extra cream and marshmallows.
I am a regular at the cafe now. I keep popping in and out of the shop so much that the Barista now knows my preferred drink and the dessert to go with it. As a loyal customer of the brand, I do own the Loyalty Card which lets me receive bonus points on collecting metaphorical coffee beans on every purchase.
But that’s not all. That’s nothing at all.
The cafe has been my saviour. It has been the only place where I have found home amidst the faces of unknown people and the sounds of their overheard voices.
Looking for a job is perhaps one of the most frustrating and exhausting endeavours. The long list of companies you would like to work for, the unnecessary lengthy applications, the dreaded text of the cover letters — the journey is a long and tedious one. As an immigrant, grabbing a job that challenges and nourishes you is all the more difficult.
I still remember how my days used to look like during that time. Struggling with insomnia throughout the night, I used to fall asleep at dawn only to wake up half-exhausted and half-dead.
On some days, my energy levels were at their lowest point and it was during such times that I pulled myself out of my bed, out of my room and finally, out of my apartment to find out something that could break my monotony and the feeling of being inadequate.
The first day I went there, I was clueless about what to order. After going through their menu, I ordered my usual hot chocolate — something that made me feel safe amongst the numerous other drinks whose names I had hardly heard of before!
As the kind barista handed me the steamy cup, I sat on one of the lofty blue chairs with wide arms, sitting just beside the large squeaky-clean glass of the cafe. With the first sip, I felt comfort, I felt alive. I looked at the people striding down the road — some looked happy, some were upset and some faces looked confused.
I laughed in my mind to find out there were more souls in this world who were as confused as I was. I spotted a cute little baby in a buggy, looking at the orange sky and smiling. It was as if the little munchkin was looking at the universe and sending a smile to every living being on Earth.
And that was the day when the cafe changed my life — forever!
Since then, the store has been my home. I have spent hours there with my laptop, my favourite books, some tidbits and a notebook — all tugged in a cloth bag. As days rolled on, the store became more than just a cafe selling beverages. It became my happy place. The place where my mind felt safe and I could do things the way I wanted.
My work search continued. With rejection emails piling up in my inbox, the number of coffee mugs increased on my table. Gulping down the same beverage every single day gave me the much-needed adrenaline rush to keep on trying while holding on to the only two things that work when you are at your lowest self — patience and perseverance.
Every day, I saw hundreds of coffee lovers and cafe addicts crowding the place in search of that perfect cup! There’s something wonderful about meeting strangers. Strangers do not come with preconceived notions. So, you don’t have the fear of being judged. You can be unapologetically you!
From an elderly person requesting some extra tissues to a kid holding on to her coveted piece of walnut cake; a bustling teenager skating through the cafe to pick his chai latte to the middle-aged woman dropping in every day at her usual afternoon hours with her friends — I met people from different walks of life. And it was through random, free-flowing conversations with them that I learnt the art of living life to the fullest.
Every moment is random. And we human beings are playing just a small role in the large scheme of things. The interactions I had in the cafe taught me that nothing is permanent — not even failure. I understood what I was missing in the early days of coming into this city.
I was missing the experience of being a part of a community. I wanted to belong to something or someone. I found my tribe in the cafe enthusiasts at the cafe and eventually, I found my job too!
I shall never forget the teachings of the coffee shop. I am still a regular visitor and I no longer need to repeat my order anymore. I am thankful to the store and everyone who makes it a welcoming place. As a society, we need more places like these with real interactions and thriving friendships.
“I started this draft on 10th January 2024 and finally got around to finishing it. Thanks to Medium’s Draft Day. More here: MediumDraftDay.com.”
