The Warm Embrace of Coffee and Quiet Ambition
As I strolled through yet another city on a mid-week trip, I came across a cozy-looking coffee shop. Looking through the window, I saw a variety of people sitting inside. Most of them were looking at their laptops: reading, typing, and occasionally writing something down on a physical notepad. Other people were just enjoying today's newspaper.
I had my own laptop with me, tucked away in my backpack, and that made me curious. I knew people were working in places like these, but it never really appealed to me to try the same thing. Probably due to the fact that I've always had a full-time job, working out of an office and without the need or time to work anywhere else. But now that I was here, on a little holiday and with some time on my hands, I felt a force that tried to drag me inside.
And so I complied and entered the coffee shop.
While the autumn weather outside was still fine, I immediately noticed the nice and warm temperature in the shop. I walked up to the bar, gazing up at a long list with all sorts of coffee. Cappuccino, espresso, flat white, cortado, macchiato... Whatever you could think of in terms of coffee seemed to be available. As the strangeness of a place like this was already off-putting, I decided on my usual cappuccino to get back into my comfort zone and took a seat in front of a window overlooking a bridged intersection in the city center.
And then, I fell in love. With the coffee, sure. But also with the ambience, the aura that seemed to hang around in the shop. Everyone was working on their own unique things, but at the same time, every person was working towards some grander goal. A diploma at the end of a study program. A good result of a big work project. Or just finishing reading a long newspaper article. In a space like that, I felt there is just no way that I would be anything other than successful. I began to understand the attraction of these places. It's not about drinking coffee all day long, but rather about surrounding yourself with like-minded people and increasing your own chances of success.
So yes, I fell in love. And there is no possible future where I wouldn't bring my laptop on trips like these, as I know there will always be a coffee shop similar to this one that brings me another step closer to some ultimate goal.
And I like coffee. That sure helps.