A few days ago I observed an obscure scene that turned out to become a life lesson.

On a very busy day, when I had to organize a whole list of errands, I stopped and rested for a moment in a coffee shop to enjoy a wonderful latte macchiato and a piece of cake. At the next table I observed a woman who had 5 different kind of cups of coffee in front of her, tasting them all, one after the other.

I asked her if she did some kind of quality testing. She looked at me and just said:”No.” I must have looked pretty puzzled because she first gave me a smile and then an explanation I didn’t expect. She told me that she was always the kind of person, who ordered what other people in her company ordered in a restaurant. She always adapted to other peoples tastes or preferences and never really had an idea of what she preferred. Her teenage daughter told her the day before, how much she hated to see her mother not having her own opinion and that she never wanted to be like her …. These were very harsh words and I was just about to have empathy with this woman….

“I am very thankful” said the woman to me, “that my daughter was so honest and opened my eyes.”  My puzzled look was here again as I nodded. She told me that she is here today to find out which kind of coffee she liked the best. As she went on with her tasting she looked as if she drank coffee for the first time – curiosity and exploration were the two words that ran through my mind.

Where and when are you not making choices? Are you going with the flow created by others or are you choosing your own “taste”? Take a look at your work situation, your friends, your relationship, your sports activities or other areas. Is it time to step back and find your own taste?

Quotes

What we have to do is to be forever curiously testing new opinions and courting new impressions.

Walter Pater

I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.

Anna Freud

Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness.

Shakti Gawain