TheCafeChronicles is Born – One Sip at A time

The story of what has brought me here, blogging, sharing some of my most challenging moments that have given me the most impacting life lessons. Let me take you through my journey that led to the birth of TheCafeChronicles!

My Story Begins..

I am a 20 year old college drop out, and I can confidently use the term “Quarter Life Crisis”, to describe the past year of my life.

May 2018, I dropped out of college. It was a sunny day, and my armpits were soaked as I rushed to pack up a year of my life into bins, and sprint off campus for the last time. I wasn’t in any rush, I had just been awaiting this day for months. “Freedom” by George Michael repeated in my mind as I dove head first into the passenger seat of my Dad’s car. I rushed home on Cloud Nine, eagerly awaiting my new stress-free life.

Things were great at first! But it didn’t take long for the harsh realization to slap me in the face ..“Oh Shit.. I’m on my own now.” There was no more skipping class in the hopes that my teacher wouldn’t notice. No more snow days, or copying homework right before class. No more extra credit, and no more “safety net” degree.

I was in the adult world now, where people know about taxes, stocks, credit, and insurance.. All the wonderful things our teachers decided to skip over in school. It was time to put on my big girl pants, whether or not I was ready to wear them. What if I don’t like these pants? Will they fit me? What if I’m uncomfortable? Are they in style? I’m gonna hate these pants aren’t I. These thoughts ran on a hamster wheel within my mind.

Quarter Life Crisis

Immediately after dancing off campus for the last time, I began working at a gym as a personal trainer. While I love my job, I always felt that I wanted to accomplish more and expand my career. I have this big picture in my head, yet I have absolutely no clue how to get there. I also add on the pressure of time, as if there is an hourglass with legs chasing after me to figure it all out.

My days would go something like…

• 6:30am – 11:30am Clients
• 12:00pm-1:00pm Workout
• 1:05pm-1:10pm Figure out the rest of my life immediately
• 1:10-1:23pm Realize I don’t have my life figured out and have a meltdown
• 1:23-4:55pm Repeat the thoughts of how I’m not the world’s youngest entrepreneur, I have no million dollar ideas, and time is running out faster than I’d like.. then have another meltdown
• 5:00pm-8:00pm Clients
• 8:05pm-10:30pm Wallow in self doubt, anxiety, fear, and pressure

Pressure Paralysis

Sure I would do things to help though! I would write down my goals, make vision boards, and meditate. Yet for some reason, the pressure of time would take a hold of my brain and force me to lay in bed.

While trying to uncover my life’s purpose, I was juggling so many tasks and goals in my mind that it would leave my body paralyzed with pressure. It was a matter of time before absolutely nothing was getting done, and all that was left was disappointment.

From there, I fell into a depression, feeling as if I was wasting my life, accomplishing nothing, and spending everyday in my head. I would let my fearful thoughts wear me out and leave me with a cluttered mind, a throbbing headache, a kinked up neck, and anxiety. I felt shame for my lack of productivity, and I hated myself for it. Eventually, I began to lose sight of what I enjoyed, what my skills were, and who I was.

Birth of The Cafe Chronicles !

Amidst my crisis, I spent my days in my favorite cafe. I journaled often, writing down my goals in attempt to give my life more purpose. I always imagined creating a blog, as I enjoyed writing, and I loved helping people even more. But for months, I could not think of a title. There was no inspiration in me.

Eventually, I had to take control of my life. So I did what I knew was necessary, and I told the hourglass to go screw itself. I realized all of my goals are going to take time, and my lifelong purpose is not going to come to me overnight. I stopped rushing to a finish line that didn’t exist, I stopped trying to accomplish 8 things at once, and I accepted that Jordin Sparks was right. One Step at a Time. [Or in my case, One Sip (of coffee) At a Time.] xD

As weeks went by, I began to title my journal entries. One random day, I found myself writing “TheCafeChronicles” in bubble letters. That’s when it clicked. I knew immediately, that this would become my blog title. And I totally fell in love with it.

I had a knack for relating to people along with a passion for helping them. That’s what led me to becoming a personal trainer who would write inspirational essays as Instagram captions. (I’ll be honest, speaking on camera gives me the heebie jeebies. My lips start to twitch, I get all nervous, no thank you. I’ll write my thoughts instead.) Whether it is a lesson I’ve learned, knowledge of fitness and nutrition, mental and emotional health, or an issue that we all face as humans, I want readers to realize that whatever they are facing, they are not alone.

Combine all of that together and voila, TheCafeChronicles is born.