I’m going to tell you one of my great love stories. It doesn’t involve any dates, but it does take place in Europe if that helps to up the romance.
While I was studying abroad in Italy, I started off every day the same way. I’d drag my tired, sorry self into a small coffee shop right across the street. The barista would greet me from the other side of the bar with this question:
“Un macchiato?”
“Si,” I’d reply.
With that, I’d get a fluffy mixture of milk and espresso that always got me in the mood to take on my classes. Some days, I spiced up the routine by treating myself to a delicious Nutella-stuffed donut or the barista would simply hand me my macchiato with no questions asked.But with rare exception, I made sure to start off every morning the same way.
At first glance, this appears to be nothing special. However, there’s something special to be found in the ordinary things. Some days, I showed up to that coffee shop feeling homesick, craving a brunch with my old friends or movie nights with my family. Although I loved my time abroad, I found that being away sometimes made me desperate for the familiarity of home.That’s how something as simple as a barista who’s memorized your order can make the great big world feel a lot more cozy.
Other times, I came in dragging a giant bag of stress, whether it be over a final or trying to apartment hunt far from home. The gears in my head would be churning so quickly that they were about to burst.But taking a small moment to just focus on a good macchiato instead of my worries could make those gears slow down.
There’s a lot of power in the small routines. It can take different forms, from wearing a face mask to going on a hike. Whatever it is, be sure to take a little bit of time to just focus on yourself and the world around you.
At least, take a moment away from everything that’s stressing you out. Make it a habit rather than something you only do in a crisis. Little self-care routines can make a huge impact on our well-being. Because the greatest love stories don’t have to be about two people. They can be about one person doing their best to take care of and improve themselves.
What’s more romantic than love for yourself?