My Industrial Resolution Is Neither Industrial Nor A Resolution. Discuss.

I have a love/hate relationship with?coffee.

The “love” part is the more obvious?of the two. When I take my first sip of morning coffee, usually from a fresh-brewed pot in my?kitchen, the corners of my mouth practically twitch into an involuntary smile.?I feel the caffeine’s warming glow touch my cloudy synapses and?gently blow the fog away with a compassionate mind hug.?I’ll usually have a second cup of coffee during my?morning?commute?to the office, or shortly after arriving, and then an afternoon “top off” just after lunch. My cut-off is 3 p.m.?– I won’t allow myself any coffee after this time (and?DEFINITELY not?after 4:00), because at that point?I worry about it?impacting?my ability to get to sleep on time later that night.

I’m the guy who?fills up the drip coffee?pot?when I arrive at the office (if I’ve only had a first cup by then). Sometimes?I opt for a quick coffee pod at the communal single-serve machine, or?my own off-brand?espresso-type single-serve pod machine I have in my office. I usually drink it?hot,?black, and in a mug … yeah, old school baby.?I also?enjoy the occasional latte, cappuccino,?espresso, Americano, café au lait, iced?latte, cold brew, nitro, macchiato,?Frappuccino,?Cafecito … you name it. Steamed milk, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk?– or “E”, “All of the above”.?Cold, hot, even room temperature.?Keep it coming.?Bitter, sweet, fruity, floral, smoky, or herbaceous.?Coffee is an experience?– one that just happens to coexist with being an incredibly efficient?delivery system for the caffeine that keeps?my mind sharp and my momentum strong. I love it!

The “hate” part?is coming to grips with?the fact that I’m basically addicted to coffee.

I hate how I feel when I delay that first cup. I hate being grumpy and?I hate?snapping at my family if I haven’t had my coffee.?My understanding family gets this, and?my pre-coffee terseness?has become a shared inside joke that can?sometimes?help snap me back to good humor?when pointed out.?I hate knowing that?I’m going to get headaches, for real, if I wait too long to have it. When I fast on Yom Kippur?each year, the worst part of that experience is not the hunger or the thirst, but rather the?inevitable?caffeine-withdrawal headaches that?encroach upon what is supposed to be a day of spiritual self-discovery. I hate the?thought that everyday consumption of caffeine may be having a long-term impact upon my health and longevity, even though the science still seems to say it is largely OK.?Basically, I hate anything that?demonstrates I’m not in complete control of my destiny – especially?an activity?in which?I willingly indulge three times a day.

So, as the New Year rolls around, and discussions inevitably?turn to what our “New Year’s Resolutions” will be, either on the home front or in the “back-to-business”?workplace, getting control over my need for my daily caffeine fix seems like a?logical?place to start. The only problem?is, I don’t really want to. Not even a little bit. Nope, I resolve NOT to have such a resolution in 2023.

I rationalize this by thinking “I have bigger fish to fry”. There are other issues, both at home and at work, that demand my attention – I can’t afford to make this goal (is it even a goal?) a priority. I want to stay?productive and?keep my glowing personality. I don’t want to risk Mr. Hyde coming out at the wrong time if I stop taking my potion.?But every time I give this?topic?serious thought, I hate it. Rationalize it away though I might, I still feel like I’m kicking the can down the road to deal with?later. Because, at some point, I’m going to HAVE to deal with it (right)?

If you’re looking for closure in this closing paragraph, spoiler alert: You aren’t going to get it.

Because I’m not going to find closure on?this issue any time soon. Here’s what I AM going to do – I resolve to be a kinder, more tolerant person this year. I?resolve to be patient and accepting, in my business life?and in my personal life, along with moving the ball forward and making progress. The thing is, I need to be?all of?these things for?myself, in addition to being this way for others. For the moment, I’m going to accept my?own complicated?relationship with coffee, even if it is ultimately a character flaw. I’m going to be non-judgmental?towards myself for now, and I’m going to focus on making progress?on some of those closer-in opportunities. THIS is the New Year’s Resolution I’m?going to stick?with, and I’ll invite each of you to hold me accountable for that. And MAYBE, just maybe, I’ll slip in a cup of decaf?every once in a while. No promises.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful 2023. May you accomplish whatever it is you resolve to do. And may your resolutions be consistent with your values, your vision, and your purpose.

As always, whatever you’re going?to?be:?Be Outstanding!