Hope & the Next 10 Years

What're you talking about?

Hope Matters

Okay, so there’s this podcast I listen to, The Cxffeeblack Podcast. (Of course, I’m listening to coffee things. 😏) So, Bartholomew, the host, uses his platform to connect more deeply and converse with coffee growers and distributors, other roasters, and coffee shop owners across the African diaspora as well as Africa. A couple of months ago, one of the people he was in conversation with was talking about how he shifted fully into the coffee space and is doing all he does. His story began when someone in his life asked him one seemingly simple question.

What do you want to be talking about in the next 10 years?

You could hear the collective thought processing in whatever room they were in. As a matter of fact, I was on the same page in my car. Like, excuse me? What? A collective “Whoa!” for all of us and a needing to sit with ourselves. THEN, my pastor brought up something along these lines in her sermon a couple of weeks later. Hello, confirmation.

As someone who’s part of the process of hiring others and conducting year-end reviews, it’s customary for us to ask people what they see themselves doing in the next 3 years, 5 years. (Listen, I struggle answering this question on my review EVERY year, y’all. 🤦🏾‍♀️) But this? This question is different. It’s less about doing and more about what’s close to your heart.

Thanks to capitalism *eyeroll*, we think of everything in terms of having to be doing something to make money, to exist, to enjoy life. I’m not knocking making money, ‘cause honestly it can and does fund some fabulous things, like my coffee shenanigans. However, our focus has to be on more than that.

Since then, every time I think about this question, it leads me to take a closer look at the things I love talking about, the people I enjoy talking to, what gives me so much joy that I’ve done it for long lengths of time without realizing it. You know, things that, in the next 10 years, I could still love talking about. Those are the things I’m leaning into and hoping for as I move forward on my journey.

So, Hope Buddies, what do you want to be talking about in the next 10 years? Think on this, and let it propel you into more, deeper, and greater things.

Talk in hope. ☕️

Coffee Matters

Last week, I stopped by the local coffee shop I frequent. And on drip, they had a new seasonal coffee they’re officially debuting. Y’all know I asked to taste it.

When I tell you this is the new Christmas coffee for me…STRAIGHT FACTS! Now, they have another I typically wait for every year, but this one is a bit better if you ask me. And since you did ask by continuing to join me here every week, I’ll tell you. 😁

This one is Christmas Cookie. And unlike the others, there were no taste notes on the bag. So, you all are gonna get Parthenia’s original taste notes today. The coffee is reminiscent of an almond cookie with icing and sprinkles. The almond flavoring is immediate. As a matter of fact, you can smell it before you taste it. I can only imagine that a bit of Demerara sugar with milk, creamer or whatever you use, would make this chef’s kiss. Hope Buddies that have been here a while know I drink my coffee black with a bit of organic stevia. So, if you like to dress up your coffee, this is the one. Have your way!

It’s my new favorite Christmas coffee, and I’m looking forward to buying more this season.

What are you hoping and sipping this week?

I appreciate you taking the time to read this hopeletter about my life and coffee. Please share with a friend who could use a little hope or coffee recommendation.