The Spaces Between Sips of Coffee
Life is a highway for which I need coffee, coffee, coffee!!!
Most mornings I face a difficult decision: Do I want to drink hot coffee, or do I want to knit in between sips of coffee?
I love coffee. Black, cozy coffee. My coff-ilosophy is that if the brew isn’t good enough to drink black, it isn’t good enough.
Truth be told, I probably drink too much of it. Unless something comes up, I typically drink a whole pot before noon!
It’s no wonder I identify with Lorelai Gilmore. She is always decked out in fun knits with a cup of coffee in her hand!
Best line from Gilmore Girls: “Coffee, coffee, coffee!!!”
This collage is from Halloween 2017. I spent the day channeling my inner Lorelai—I donned a few recent knits and drank lots of coffee out of my fave witchy coffee cup! Plus check out the coaster I made with Halloween candies and resin! 🎃🧶🧙♀️☕️
Knits:
Dotted Rays by Stephen West; yarn—Bad Wolf Girl Studios Twisty Matte “Fall Fade Kit”
Rye by tincanknits; yarn—Knit Picks Felici Worsted “Wizard”
The Conundrum
My problem arises when I want to do anything other than watching tv or listening to an audiobook while I drink my steaming cup. Er, pot. And it takes some time to drink a whole pot of coffee! 😅😂
You may have noticed that I love to knit…
But I find that if I start knitting in between sips of coffee, I get too involved in the knitting and forget the coffee. It ends up cold before I can finish the cup!
While I could keep my coffee hotter longer with one of the insulated travel mugs in my cupboard, I prefer to sip from a “real” mug—the more hand-thrown, the better!
Some Perspective
And yes, I get it that this “problem” is intensely minor in the grand scheme of the world.
But I expect that I am not the only person in history to face small daily issues that end up feeling bigger than they are.
Especially when I’m spitting out cold coffee.
The Question
How should you manage your “space between sips”?
When you pursue activities that do not constantly consume time (like drinking coffee, watching shows with commercials, cooking that requires waiting time, etc.), how do you fill the spaces between the doing?
I find that it’s easy to waste that precious time. I sit on the couch and scroll on my phone. Or zone out. Or peruse online shops (viewing lots of products that I do not need).
The Challenge
I have tried to become more mindful of the wasted time in my days. I have a feeling this awareness is related to my journey into Middle Age. The time in front of me is contracting—making my remaining minutes more precious. The time behind me allows me the perspective to recognize patterns of my vices—large or small.
The Voyage
The song, “Life is a Highway” just roared to life in my mind’s ears.
Life really is a journey, and envisioning it as a road trip down a highway across the United States is so appropriate.
You spend the first third of the trip just trying to get through the mountains. Then about the time you hit Iowa, you end up with some long straight stretches of time to reflect on the past and look toward the miles remaining before your arrival at the final destination. Don’t forget the other range of mountains that awaits before you can reach those golden beaches.
The Spaces Between are not worthless, fit-to-be-thrown-away moments.
They are your life.
I need to fill more of my Spaces Between with the things I value—quality time with people I enjoy, activities that challenge or otherwise fulfill me, and—obviously!—knitting All of the Things!
And maybe not worry as much about cold coffee.
So how do you fill the Spaces Between?
Need a new knitting project or inspiration to fill in some Space? Check out Mountain Song Designs on…
Age and stage mean two morning cups are often my limit... a pot or more a day was in my past. The first cup is wakeup and email catchup. The second cup doesn't always occur but I like to do with morning knitting when I tackle the most enjoyable and challenges. Coffee isn't always hot but my first cup was.
Just want to pass on the Echo Lodge Mitts have been so fun. I am a toe up two at a time sock knitter (and other things) but not with these done with a self striping yarn. Loved having 3 things to keep track of at once (hand and thumb charts plus decreases). Plus haven't done lace for a while and this has been delightful. I will do the socks too eventually.