My husband, Jonny – who reads this blog first thing in the morning and likes to see that I mention him – has a magnet on the refrigerator that says: COFFEE—YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD.
Which leads me to my FREE Starbucks pound of ground coffee giveaway beginning today, May 24, 2012, and ending June 4, 2012. You may ask: Why coffee? Why now? Why FREE coffee on a blog about living your best chapter?
Because, first of all, I would love to receive a free pound of coffee myself and my philosophy is always give unto others what you would like them to give unto you. (While we’re on the subject, the word unto started to look strange as I stared at it for too long. It’s an archaic word that just means “to” or “until” but sounds more imperative.)
Living our best chapter means spicing up our lives in all areas: food and speech come to mind. That’s why I chose the word unto instead of the more prosaic to. Speaking about food, do not ask about the cheesecake I’m supposed to be making for my youngest daughter which I wrote about in yesterday’s post, Are you an Eagle – Or A Spider. Tomorrow’s post will be about whether I yanked myself from my eagle tendencies. Oh, and Amy Capelli, who writes and illustrates her own blog here (Amy won Second Prize in Family Circle Magazine‘s Fiction Contest and you can read her story here) described herself as half-spider, half-eagle — or a speagle.
Sorry for the tangent. Getting back to coffee. It perks you up. People who are perky don’t get so depressed, which is one thing we’re trying to accomplish, right? While it is true that depression can be physiological (thank you, Robin), we can still do little things to make ourselves feel better. I came across this quote from William Cope Moyers in his fascinating book, Broken, about fighting against depression:
“When your brain conspires against you, maybe the only way to fight back is to dig deep inside yourself and find the spiritual courage to stay on course.”
And a recent The New York Times article referenced several studies that show that coffee has antioxidants which might help decrease cardiovascular disease and other ailments.
Some of my best friends — including 2/6 of our children — do not drink coffee. But I bet that even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you can still find someone who is and hence (another great word: one of my sons who’s studying for the SAT’s inspired me for that one) you can enter the FREE coffee contest and get someone you love a gift! Here’s all you have to do:
Like the Diana Bletter Facebook page here
Follow me (@dianabletter) on Twitter here
Tweet a link to my blog and use the hashtag #thebestchapter
Or type a comment below. Even one syllable. The word “Oy” is not included, unless you’re from Finland because someone told me that “oy” means “Incorporated” in Finnish. (Is this true? Any Finnish aficionados out there?) Comment and tell me what you’re doing to make today the first day of the best chapter of your life. You can share anything from deciding to make your bed — see my post here on Tool for Tuesday’s bed-making debate — to drinking a cup of coffee to taking a walk to doing a 5-minute timed writing exercise in appreciation of all you’ve got.
On June 4, 2012, I will use random.org‘s system to determine the #1 entrant (it’s random) and then I will announce the winner and send that person a FREE pound of Starbucks coffee. Yep, I will ship outside the USA.
Oh, the other reason why this post is dedicated to my husband, JONNY, is because 18 years ago I made a bet with him. I don’t remember what the bet was about. But the wager was that whoever lost would make the other person his/her first cup of coffee each day unto (!) death do us part. Moral: Never make a bet with Jonny. Even when you’re absolutely sure you’re right. You’re not. So this post is dedicated to him. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather make coffee for each morning, even at five a.m.
“When your brain conspires against you, maybe the only way to fight back is to dig deep inside yourself and find the spiritual courage to stay on course.” William Cope Moyers
DIANA BLETTER 
I love the story about how you lost the bet and have made his coffee every morning for 18 years- so sweet. And, mmmm Starbucks.
You are the very first to enter the contest! Yay!
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. I recently started drinking even more coffee when I read that studies have shown that it may have some extra benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes, although I don’t think I will drink the 4 cups a day.
I love the smell of coffee at any time of day — even 5 minutes before I go to sleep!
The best way to start my day is definitely with coffee very early when the house is quiet and i can just be with alone with my thoughts (or without them if the case may be). It’s especially nice when my husband is up because he brings me my cup and the refill too. (b/t/w I can understand why you would never make bets with Jonny once you learned your lesson.) ..
Yes, the first coffee in the early morning quiet is lovely.
Lol @ your bet, but at least it was a safe bet. 😉 And I agree, if it’s for your sweetheart, then it’s not a chore at all. 🙂
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When I was little, I stayed @ my grandmother’s big house. It wasn’t heated upstairs, but we slept under a huge pile of handmade quilts. The bathroom was downstairs, the morning was painful until I smelled the coffee brewing on her wood cooking stove. Then I would vault out of bed, rush down the stairs and dash into the one and only bathroom in the house. I’ve always loved the smell of coffee; especially in the morning.
That’s a great memory! Thanks for sharing it.
Of course I’m going to enter a contest for free coffee! ;-D
I’m already drinking a lovely cup of it, which is why I know today is going to be a good one! ;-D