"Spirit over mind. Mind over matter. It's that simple" - Sahndra Fon Dufe
Winter is coming! Yes, winter is already here, I know, but it's not come in full force yet. I can still go out without a jacket, and at night I still need to turn on the fan when I'm sleeping. Yet, just knowing that winter is here gives me some peace of mind. The two to barely three months of winter we get here is to be cherished. Always! Whether you're sitting indoors and sipping on some coffee, or out there with friends partying on a rooftop while preparing chicken BBQ.
2024 wasn't too special. The negative experiences this year were unparalleled, especially on a personal level; from family, and friends, to work and growth. However, I just want the year to end on a good note, and I want 2025 to be a tad bit kinder.
The other day a friend of mine dropped by my place. He was in the neighboring area for work, so he decided to drop by after he was done there. He came by and we hung out for a while, as I was getting some work done. After finishing up, we headed out in search of some good coffee.
He suggested Beans & Aroma, as it was his go-to cafe in his local area. So, we decided to go to the nearest branch, which was a few kilometers away. It was around 7:30 PM when we got there, the place was fairly empty so we had the luxury of choosing to sit wherever we wanted. I say we got lucky since it was the weekend and in the evening too; that's when such cafes and restaurants are packed.
Yet, as soon as the clock hit 8 PM, people started to flock in.
I didn't get the chance to have lunch that day, so I kept exploring their menu for quite a while. Sadly, they didn't have any good sandwiches to choose from, and whatever they were offering in the name of sandwiches was overpriced to infinity. So, I went for some noodles, pad Thai to be exact; not my cup of tea or coffee, as it doesn't complement the coffee and desserts, but I had to eat something.
I also decided to try their cheese tart because it looked quite good. Every now and then I require something sweet, and crunchy to complement my coffee. Or else it always feels as if something is missing.
The pad Thai was fulfilling, but the taste was below average. Yet, at that point, any bit of good food would do the trick, as it was 8 PM and I didn't have anything to eat. The cheese tart was alright, it was a bit too sweet and creamy for my taste, but it works.
ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵛᵉʳᵃˡˡ ᶜᵒⁿᵗᵉⁿᵗ ᵃʳᵉ ᵐʸ ᵒʷⁿ ᵘⁿˡᵉˢˢ ᶦᵗ'ˢ ᵐᵉⁿᵗᶦᵒⁿᵉᵈ
When we were done with our food, we went to the outdoor area and sipped on some coffee. My friend likes to either smoke or vape, so he went on with his rituals. I kept sipping on my coffee. Beans & Aroma does have some good coffee. So, even though the food was average, at least, the coffee was good.
We sat there for about an hour or so and talked about life, profession, struggles, and whatnot. The last time I sat with him was probably back in 2022, I posted that occasion as well. Within these two years, life has changed drastically. We both did expect hurdles and changes, but not at this level. We put aside a lot of our hobbies, especially gaming, sleepless nights, and worries about the present and future while being stuck in the past and its mistakes. I guess this is just the beginning stage of adulting, as we're both hovering around the age of 30.
After we finished our hot beverages we headed out. My buddy needed to get some vaping items, so we looked around a few shops in the area. After he got what he needed went walked ahead got on an autorickshaw and was on his way home. I decided to walk half the path while heading back home and ruminating until I got on a rickshaw towards home.
These little meet-ups and occasions can be quite therapeutic, but they need to be done on the regular; not once or twice a year. But, we've gotten so busy with life, and its responsibilities, that fun, therapy, and hobbies are now the last things we think about.
