Greetings to my favorite Caffeine Gremlins,
Yesterday morning, my husband and I went on yet another coffee shop adventure. I know, I know…you’re shocked. How could I, the girl who treats caffeine like a love language, possibly have more to say about coffee? But listen, I’m doing this for the culture. For Providence. For the pastries.
In all seriousness, my caffeine escapades are one of my favorite rituals. They get me out of our little apartment, give me an excuse to wear something cute (because yes, I will dress up to sit at a cafe for forty-five minutes), and most importantly, they let me support local small businesses.
I love a good Starbucks moment, I’m not above a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew like every other gen-z/millennial woman quoting Gilmore Girls, but local cafes just hit different. They smell like espresso and ambition. The tables wobble. The latte art looks like it’s seen things. It’s perfect.
Seven Stars Bakery, a Providence classic
This week’s stop: Seven Stars Bakery, a true Providence institution. They’ve got several locations around the city, and yes, I’ve been a proud rewards member long enough that my phone basically senses when I’m within pastry-sniffing range.
The last time my husband and I went, it was late afternoon and the pastry case looked like a battlefield, crumbs, tragedy, regret. But this time? Late-morning perfection. I ordered a cheese scone and a lemon muffin, paired with an iced maple latte. Curtis went with a cinnamon roll and an iced chai.
We found a cozy table, inhaled our goodies, and for twenty golden minutes, life was good.
I told myself I’d save the lemon muffin for later, “a treat for future me,” I said. Five minutes later, future me was betrayed. I dismantled that muffin crumb by crumb like it owed me rent.
Next time, I’m absolutely getting another cheese scone… and probably stealing a bite of Curtis’s cinnamon roll. (For research purposes, obviously.)
(Note to self: remember to take the food pic next time.)
On forgetting to be an influencer (again)
I’ve been trying to get better at documenting my coffee shop adventures, but once again, I forgot to photograph the actual food. I did get a cute picture of my drink and the to-go bag though, priorities.
Photographs have become such an interesting part of how we live our lives. They’re proof that something happened. According to Leopold Kislinger and Kurt Kotrschal in Frontiers in Psychology, taking and looking at photos can actually soothe through connection. Looking at a picture of someone you love can reduce stress or even physical pain.
My phone lock screen is a photo of my husband from one of our weekend adventures, and every time I open it, I smile like a lovesick golden retriever.
But Kislinger and Kotrschal also note that our obsession with pictures can sometimes seem superficial, all about curating the perfect life. And I’ve totally been there. When I first moved to a new city and didn’t have anyone to take my picture, it weirdly made me feel invisible. I wanted the world (okay, my Instagram followers) to know I was doing okay. It wasn’t about vanity; it was about being seen.
Branding, but make it personal
In grad school, my communication professors talk a lot about personal branding, which sounds painfully corporate until you realize it’s just about showing who you are online.
This blog, my socials, even my slightly blurry cafe pics, they’re all pieces of that. My “brand” might not be all blazers and TED Talk lighting (though I do have too many photos of me in speech-and-debate suits from undergrad), but it’s honest.
It’s me, the creative, caffeine-powered, slightly chaotic version of me who finds meaning in muffins and marketing theory.
Photo rituals & quiet joy
If you want to bring more intention to your photo habits, try making it a small ritual. Take one picture a day of something that makes you feel grateful, your pet, your morning coffee, your messy-but-peaceful desk.
You don’t have to post it. In fact, don’t. Keep some photos just for yourself. Let them exist outside of likes and filters.
Because sometimes, the most healing moments don’t belong on a feed, they belong in your camera roll, waiting for you to rediscover them when you need them most.
Reflective Prompt
What’s your most healing photo right now?
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