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i can’t believe it! i am halfway done with my 40 days of fika project! on the one hand, it seems as if it has flown by. on the other, it feels like an eternity since that first visit to waking life. wow. and you know what? it’s a little hard to try to put into words all that i have experienced and learned. i’m not sure if i can really even try. i feel like i need to wait until the entire 40 days is complete before i try to process what this project has meant to me.
i must admit, it has become a little bit harder to keep going. but, that’s how pilgrimages and journeys are. it is so typical to begin with a burst of energy and excitement. eventually, that wears off and it becomes a bit mundane and really difficult to keep the pace going. but, then, there is always a resurgence of new energy, usually even on a whole new level. i’m waiting for that to kick back in. hehe.
for my 20th fika day, it just so happened that it coincided with my birthday, so i didn’t do my usual fika visit. instead, i thought it’d be good for me to pause and reflect quietly. to take a moment to mark the halfway point of this journey with a little ritual. so, i am drinking coffee from my sofa at home as i write this. i want to share with y’all the top four things that i’ve learned and the top four moments i’ve had. so, here we go…
top four things i’ve learned having fika:
1. comfort zones are meant for leaving.
get out! try something new. challenge yourself. just freaking do it. i promise you will come to realize that you are capable of way more than you imagined. for me, it has been about talking with people, meeting strangers, and engaging in conversations that inspire and uplift me.
2. explore the little hidden place that catches your eye.
go ahead. just look around and see what’s near you, and then go for it. go into that little door, or behind that tree. drive down that road you’ve never been to before. of course, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t put yourself in danger. at the same time, take a different way home. or just set aside some time to walk or ride in a new area of town. and keep your eyes peeled. who knows what kind of beauty you will find, or what amazing person you will meet. you never know when you may discover some little hidden cafe, pub, vintage shop, or secret garden that becomes your special place.
3. one can have too much coffee.
and i think i am becoming that person. for. real. i never thought it’d be possible to have too much coffee, but my limit has almost been reached. the thing is, i drink coffee at home in the mornings and sometimes later in the afternoon. and all of that is in addition to the coffee that i drink during my fikas. so, for the last 20 days, i’m only going to drink coffee during my fika project. no more coffee in the mornings at home. it’s only gonna be juice and water, baby. perhaps a tea every now and then. i think it’ll make me feel better physically. i’ll keep you posted.
i can’t believe i have a coffee limit.
4. community is the key.
the coffeehouses and cafes that have a special connection with the community are the ones that stand out in my memory. it may be that it is a place that works directly with the community or a place that has a great community vibe. but, just a hip, cool, warehouse-y cafe does not do it for me. i mean, it has it’s place, and it’s fun to visit, and i loooove the design of those places. but, so far, the places that evoke humanity and love for community – local or global – tug extra hard at my heartstrings.
on a similar community note, i am totally one of those people who loves to have a working fika, complete with my laptop, journal, and pens by my side as i sip my coffee. but, you know what i crave? companionship. 20 days of coffeehouse visits by one’s self can take a toll. i yearn to have someone sitting with me, to chat with and just shoot the breeze. i yearn for my love and i to silently sip coffee together. it’s not that i do not welcome anyone to have fika with me, it just hasn’t happened that anyone has been able to join me during the times that i am visiting cafes & coffeehouses. so, my goal for the last 20 days is to try to incorporate more mutual fika times with people. not every day, though, because it’s still important for me to be able to do much of this on my own and meet people.
however, i’m starting my new goal of meeting friends for fika… yes, next week i am going to meet the cool chick who is the designer and creator of the asheville blog, where this fika project is being posted daily. yay!
now, for the top four moments. that is a tough one. i do not claim to have a favorite yet. nor, do i expect for a favorite to arise at the end of the 40 days. truly each and every place has been unique and amazing. i’m sure i’ll have a few favorite recommendations, but you have to be responsible for finding your own fika place, based on what you plan to do and what kind of mood you’re in. i, for one, have a different mood every day, so i am most definitely a coffeehouse hopper. however, there are a few that have left a special place in my heart so far… these are not my favorites and they are not not my favorites. they are places that have touched me in some way. here ya go…
my top four moments:
1. most fun: Double D’s and the hippie vibe.
2. most like home: Panacea – the place where all is cured.
3. most touching: Firestorm – where everyone belongs.
4. most spiritual: Dobra Tea Room is my new sanctuary.
one more thing, i just want to say thank you, to each one of you my readers and followers, for keeping up with this little project of mine. you all are a very important part of my fika community. and i receive so much inspiration and support from your feedback. i am amazed and humbled that you would even take the tiny-est interest in following this silly, fun, crazy little journey of mine. i wish i could meet each and everyone of you for fika one day to celebrate!
