It started off just like any other day. I fired up my computer, filled my French press, and turned on some peaceful music to catch a glimpse of the chaotic morning news. After drinking my second cup of coffee, I began feeling ready to conquer the world, and face the day. That is, until the coffee decided to take over just a few moments later, leaving me, as usual, feeling like a bomb went off in my stomach, before spreading quickly to my nerves. Instead of hitting the Microsoft Word and getting some sparkling words down in my novel, I curled up with Sue Monk Kidd's, "First Light", and waited. Waited for the coffee to settle down, and give me a break

While consuming Kidd's, delectable words, I discovered just how powerful of a writer she truly is. She talks about simplicity and finding the magnificent in the mundane. While reading a small piece of her journey (please do not ask me how I put things together in my mind), I decided it was time for me to start living a bit more simple, and to give up something I have enjoyed for more than 20 years. It is like saying good bye to a part of me that has been a huge sum of my whole routine, morning, afternoon, and evening; something that is missed dearly. But, it's a good sacrifice. It just took awhile for me to get back up, and now I am left shocked that coffee is legal. You would not believe the headaches, the laziness, the crabbiness, I experienced for the first couple of days, being without. It has been 4 days. I made it. Mornings will never be the same for 2 reasons, 1) My morning cup of java is a goner, and 2) my stomach and nerves are quite happy giving up what used to be. Now, I am all about the Green Tea movement; a steaming healthy mug of antioxidants, and a hint of cream and sugar to add to the mix of my day.

It is nice to know that the only brain damage taking place in the morning is the news. The new-me-who-gives-up is seeing only the positive (now that the first couple of days of heavy clouds have passed), but, with any loss there is bound to be missing, grieving, reliving, and longing. And, I think I am going to live.

How about you? Is there something you have been dangerously considering giving up, and just have yet to take the plunge? Maybe it is time to give it up...quitting isn't necessarily a bad thing. You just might be surprised with the rewards that follow and how quickly you end up spewing the words, "I should have done that ages ago".

In other news:

32 Inspiring Garden Fountains

http://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard-projects/great-ideas-fountains-00400000045254/

Save A Million Dollars?

http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/calculators/save_a_million_calculator/home.aspx

Hubble Site:

http://hubblesite.org/

House passes $96.7 billion war funding bill

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/14/house-passes-96-7-billion-war-funding-bill/

One Bored Mommy blog:

http://oneboredmommy.blogspot.com/