01/09/2024: Goodbye Part 2

I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to come here again before I left town. I’m glad to have the chance to kill time in my favorite coffee shop today with my love. I got to see and say goodbye to my two favorite people here, who saw me come in every week this year - or most weeks of the year - and sit in the same place as I realized and chased my new dream. 

I wonder who will replace me when I’m gone. I know others must frequent this place often, but I wonder when the next inspired creative mind will come in, get to know everyone, find a usual spot and a usual coffee, and spend their time realizing their own creative dream. 

As everyone does, I came and went, off to my next adventure, and I know that others after me will do the same. It’s just interesting to ponder on who will come after me. What will bring them here and what will drive and inspire them to pursue whatever it is they’re pursuing. I hope that they enjoy their time - and their coffee - as much as I have over this last year. 

I hope someone else discovers this place, and is in awe of the atmosphere and is excited to thrive here as they achieve their goals. Maybe if I find myself back here in the future I will walk in and see someone who looks like me, someone who is on their second coffee with oat milk and who either has their nose stuck in a book or who is hunched over a huge writing notebook or laptop as they write and edit their next story.

Maybe they’ll be concentrating on a new sketch, a work of art. Maybe they will be checking in with themselves, their emotional and mental well being as they evaluate a plan for the year. Whatever the case may be, I can say that someone will surely fill my shoes sooner than later. People aren’t so different after all. We want similar things, and the things we go through are universal.

There will most definitely be others in my stead who embark on a similar journey. And I’m so happy for whoever that ends up being. This journey of self discovery has been the greatest journey of my life so far, and I wish more people could experience the things I’ve been through, the things I feel now that I never did before. 

I finally love myself, and now that I do, I’m finally able to be a better version of myself as I love others around me. I only want to exude kindness, because there was a time I wished someone could have done that for me and gave me hope for myself and my future. All of this to say, I’m so grateful for who I am now, and grateful to this coffee shop that played such a big part in shaping who I am today. I’ll remember this chapter of life as I embark on the next one.