Serenity_in_a_Restless_Place

Serenity in a Restless Place It is said to be able to go through life with low stress and an open mind you must first find an environment in which it is able to wonder. The local coffee shop provides the perfect retreat for this. The hiss of a steamer, the bold aroma of espresso, the warmth of the sun beating through the bay windows, and the serene comfort of vanilla and caramel. These are the first of many things that begin to overwhelm your senses when walking into a Starbucks. A retreat is normally defined as a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy. But, in my case this bustling and noisy atmosphere is my refuge and retreat. I frequently find myself at Starbucks with a Caramel Macchiato in my hand just to “get away”. My mind indulges in the chatter of students as they meet their friends to study, the hickory scent of crispy bacon that mixes with the toasted smell of bread when someone orders an artisan sandwich, and the clatter of a laptop’s keyboard as the girl in the corner finishes her essay. I fail to realize how far my mind has wondered until the creak of the opening door snaps me back to reality. This small gap lets in the crisp air and scent of autumn as the leaves change from green to variances of red, orange, and yellow. My attention is drawn to the sidewalk, where people are bundled in light jackets and scarves to escape the dropping temperatures of the changing season, and then to the street full of bustling cars racing to their destinations without a care. As the afternoon becomes evening the store again starts to gather more people as they head home from work. The variety of customers widens as construction workers in their muddy jeans, nurses in their scrubs, and lawyers in their suits all gather together for an evening “pick-me-up”. Baristas scramble back and forth as order after order is taken. You can feel the tension growing in the air as customers are forced to wait because of all the confusion. A new worker slows down the process even more as he tries to learn exactly how to make each and every drink. As the evening stretched on fewer and fewer were left in the shop. A few students lounged in the corner cramming for the next day’s test, but most of the others had headed home for dinner or other activities they had planned for that evening. I stayed nestled down in the chair I had occupied for what I now realized had been all day. Soon enough I found myself to be the only person left in the café. I began to gather my things as the workers were mopping and cleaning up from the long day. I then ordered one last Macchiato and was on my way. In the car on the way home I realized how stress-free I felt because I just let my mind wonder all day. Now, I know that as a busy society we may not all have the opportunity to do this but just that one day made me feel great for a week. I can still smell the scent of crisp food and bold coffee, feel the warm rays caressing my skin, and see the cluster of people coming and going.