The Starbucks Commitment

Now that Christmas is over, and stock is fully depleted, Starbucks has reverted back to its “advice cups”. Now keep in mind, Starbuck’s has been in Christmas mode since October. I remember walking into my neighbourhood Starbucks prior to Halloween and being confronted by red holiday cups, and various Christmas desserts. Not that I am complaining about the Christmas goodies – I love sugar and fattening foods. Starbucks takes the cake on fattening foods. As I have mentioned, many UK retailers decided that beginning Christmas in October would combat the negative impacts of the Credit Crunch. Starbuck’s was no exception. When my Pimlico coffeehouse decked the halls in October, I was a little disgusted. Not that I dislike Christmas – I am just not a fan of overkill.

Ok – so the advice cups. Today’s advice is pertinent to my present life… “The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating – in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.”
Well that’s bull. Commitment has never liberated me.

First off, I am not opposed to receiving advice from my venti Café Americano. It’s deeper than a fortune cookie. I spend enough time and money here that I should be able to get something for free. Unfortunately topics of commitment are a bit of sore spot right now.

I think it has been fully established that I have commitment issues. I cringe at even having the word mentioned in my presence. I was ok with London, until I was presented with a contract that forced me to commit for 6 months – that was the straw that ultimately broke the camel’s back. Relationships? Would rather not do them. Long term job commitment? Not happy about it. Committing to a lease? No thanks.

There is still this part of me that refuses to grow up and realize that I can’t live according to my own plan forever. A friend suggested that I might not be cut out for a conventional job; there is a good possibility. The problem is that living according to my own plan doesn’t pay a lot of bills. Unfortunately I don’t know how to overcome this issue.

I committed to university; but it was an inadvertent commitment – I certainly didn’t think that I would spend 10 years pursuing higher education. Had I known, I likely wouldn’t have lasted. I committed to weight loss – but that was more a vanity thing, and again – I didn’t think this whole process would take so long. I am seeing someone – but it’s not a formal relationship – we see each other because we choose to (or at least that’s how I rationalize this non-committed-committed-non-relationship).

Maybe it is true – that “to commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.” My head is getting in the way of a lot of stuff. Yet I still see commitment as settling; it’s the moment that you become so exhausted with pursuing change, that you finally give in to sameness. Humans are inherently lazy. Commitment favours laziness. Laziness also favour monogamy, and if you want my views on monogamy, I urge you to read my Monogamy blog entry from June or July of 2008. Really, if you know me or have read my blog, my views on monogamy shouldn't shock you.

So really…all I am saying is that I hate my coffee cup today.

Procrastination

I actually dislike sitting in Starbucks to write my blog entries, and the other sundry of smaller things I end up doing. I could stay at home and do this without the obligation of paying for a caffeinated beverage. But there is something moderately liberating about feeling like I am actually doing something. I could spend the entirety of the day at home, unemployed, wallowing in my distress. Instead I am professionally dressed, interacting with society, with the full blown appearance of someone who is doing something…not someone who is wallowing in her unemployment. Plus I like coffee.

While here, I drink those “skinny” drinks that Starbucks has so dutifully endorsed. You know what I’m talking about - those beverages that are marketed specifically for the insecure individual, who is struggling with his/her weight and esteem. Truthfully these drinks probably don’t make a lick of difference, and are probably far worse than indulging in a full-calorie Coke. But the mind is fickle. We believe what makes us feel good. Today I have accompanied my Skinny Vanilla Latte with a Soy Banana Muffin (notice the capitalization?). Soy and banana must make it healthy! The pound of sugar on top…maybe not.

Maybe my life is fuller with Starbucks. For instance, the advice on the back of my coffee cup is deeply profound…utterly life changing: "The most important thing in life is to stop saying “I wish” and start saying “I will.” Consider nothing impossible and then treat possibilities as probabilities.”
Apparently these words were conjured up by David Copperfield. Why does a magician have a profound quote? Why not the Average Joe? Regardless, this was worth the trip to have my life changed by my coffee cup. And trust me, I presently have the time to ponder and implement that advice. Unfortunately “I will” takes money. Ahhh well…maybe the next coffee cup will be more feasible.

Alright, I’m running out of things to say about my unemployment, but really have nothing better to do that blog about something. Actually I am procrastinating a much larger independent project. I am not great with independent projects…because I procrastinate. While in university I procrastinated about any school-related work. During those periods, I could find tons of interesting things to do – I vacuumed, cleaned the toilet, emptied dresser drawers (cleaning was a vice), and blogged. There is a reason that my travel blog is titled “The Procrastinator’s Travel Haven”. When university ended, I started procrastinating about my procrastination blog. My inspiration for getting things done is about as useful as my body’s ability to metabolize food – my metabolism is lethargic and nearly nonexistent – so is my attention span for independent projects. But alas, it is time for me to shift gears, and start working on something a bit more productive. Until tomorrow…when I need to procrastinate again. Maybe my Travel Haven will eventually make it back in to my rounds of procrastination vices.