Inspiration in Everything
by Angela R. |
April 19, 2011 11:16 AM |
13 comments
Angela R.
Location:
Albany, OR
Favorite Flavor:
Very hard to choose but at the moment I can't get away from Chocolate Raspberry!
How do you have fun (hobbies, sports, vacations, etc.)?
Crafting, sewing, gardening, hiking, throwing the ball around, fishing, reading, jigsaw puzzles, baking, seeing American Landmarks.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you live in?
I enjoy so many things from the 40's and 50's I think this would be the era I would choose.
Three things you cannot live without…
My bicycle, my morning coffee, and reading material.
What holiday do you most look forward to, and why?
I enjoy Christmas as I always return to childhood at some moments every year. I also enjoy making holiday crafts, baking special desserts, and spending quality time with loved ones and friends. People are simply much more considerate and giving around this time of year.
When contemplating what inspires us, the flavor of coffee is probably not the first thing that comes to mind for many. However, after reviewing various dictionary entries the general consensus is that “inspiration” is the stimulation or arousal of the mind or emotions to a higher level of feeling or creativity. How does this pertain to my coffee you might ask? Well, I know I am not alone when I say that using my favorite flavor of Coffee-mate creamer tends to stimulate my senses and creates an elevation in my positive mood.
Now of course there are many things that inspire us, as artists will glean inspiration from an object of beauty that sometimes only they can see, from a single color, or perhaps a turn of a phrase. Musicians are inspired by love won, lost, or rekindled. And just as great poets, sculptors, authors and singers, we are inspired by the simple things in life. People are inspired by their families, friends, and neighbors. Inspiration comes to us through the kindness and generosity of strangers, religion, and the innocence of young children. Rolling waves of the sea, a perfect sunset, the sight of a deer herding her young, or a majestic mountain may be our natural inspiration at times. Of course there is also inspiration provided to us through the seasons and holidays, as each of us have our favorites.
Our senses provide us with the ability to be inspired as we view a meadow of flowers, a brightly colored maple tree in autumn, a fresh blanket of snow, or the first sighting of a crocus in bloom. We are inspired into motion by music just as musicians are inspired by us. The feel of crisp cool sheets on a hot summer’s day, the feeling of sand between our toes, or simply the breeze on a sunny spring evening are all inspirational to some of us.
The scent and flavor of coffee inspires a sensory experience for me. When combined with one of my favorite Coffee-mate creamer flavors, the inspiration becomes even more intense. Imagine infusing Coconut Crème flavor into your coffee, closing your eyes, and thinking about tropical forests, huge subtle peach or bright red Hibiscus in bloom. The sky is a clear vibrant blue, while an ocean breeze caresses your face. Of course I return to reality at some point; however the thoughts that the smell of Coconut Crème conjures up are still with me. This image inspires me as I contemplate the flowers I intended to plant in the garden and the mini excursions I want to take to the lake in the summer.
The various flavors of Coffee-mate inspire different feelings and actions. When I add Parisian Almond Crème I tend to lean towards more cultural or academic inspirations such as visiting the library, or taking a trip to the museum. With flavors like Chocolate Raspberry or Creamy Chocolate I am inspired to indulge in chocolate of course! Sometimes I will give into my urges and have a piece of chocolate, but most of the time I will just enjoy the thought as I savor the Creamy Chocolate Coffee-mate flavor dancing on my taste buds.
So yes, the flavor of coffee, especially when flavored with any of Coffee-mates’ 25-30 (depending on the season) flavors, is inspirational as each one is a truly unique sensation for the palette as well as an inspiration for the heart, mind, and soul. I’m sure many of us can attest to the pleasure derived from savoring a hot cup of coffee with our flavor of the moment. And while we cannot always indulge in our dream vacation or a trip to the tropics, we can indulge in our creamy flavored coffee everyday and be inspired from the inside out. Which leaves me with one question, what will your flavor inspire in you today?