I initiated a bold experiment this morning. I made my second cup of coffee intentionally weak. That wasn’t what I really wanted. Truly, it was borderline disgusting.
The enterprise was surprisingly easy. The kitchen was dark and I didn’t want to take the time to turn on the light, open the cabinet, and retrieve a new coffee pod. Nope. I just reset the machine and ran hot water through the one I had used earlier. The water (I won’t call it coffee) was brown, but the flavor was absent.
Lest I sound ungrateful, let me hasten to say that I’ve had worse coffee. The difference this morning was that I ruined a perfectly good moment as a result of my intentions. Just 20 inches away, a fresh source of flavor was available and I just didn’t make the effort. And so now I’m punishing myself for this temporary, chosen insanity by forcing down the hot, unsatisfying liquid.
Makes you wonder about me, doesn’t it? But let’s talk about you — and me.
How many times have you decided to take a shortcut? What is notable about the times that you knew what should have been done and you just didn’t do it? A conscious decision to enter the moment less than prepared, less than rested, less than . . . well, you fill in the blank.
If you’re like me, those departures from all things good and reasonable count in the thousands.
Regardless of your station in life, your actions impact far more than just you. Your choice to be intentionally weak will matter. Such decisions are generally made from convenience and self-interest.
Being intentionally weak is not the same as being humble. Sometimes, the greatest strength you can ever exhibit is giving someone else an opportunity. That’s the answer to the problem of privilege in our society. Stepping aside to address your own privilege is the true evidence of your strength.
Practice intentional strength. Choose well.
(And with that, I take the last sip of my awful creation.)
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash