Snake, Coffee, Young Love and the Big Question

We have a snake living under our terrace. I think she did not have a coffee today, judging by the way she retreated to her refuge under the rock when she saw me coming. (I refer to the snake as she because I automatically started to write "He," from Slovak language as it is masculine. But I am feeling rebellious today, so I call it a She now).

This is Her

I found her sunbathing on the sun-kissed concrete flooring of the terrace, where I usually take my morning coffee. Obviously, she was not impressed. I did not drink coffee that day either. What really took me by surprise is how affected I was. I felt sleepy all day.

"I might be addicted," crossed my mind.

"Yes, but... what am I gonna do about it...?"

Sometimes I think I like the idea of drinking coffee more than the act of it. And then... some days I live for the freshly brewed cup of coffee in the morning. With milk.

I'll try to catch sight of the snake again. Maybe she knows better. She might even keep me company while I don't drink my morning coffee...

At the beach today (Area Maior, go check it out), I found a washed-out paddle. As I scribbled doodles into the warm sand, thinking about life, I noticed a young couple throwing themselves into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. I envied their innocence and carefreeness for a moment. How fragile young love is, full of drama in its seriousness, blind to the outside world, naive and tender and sweet.

I doodled on with my thoughts, plans, and worries, further away from the teenage sweethearts, trying to stay at ease while trying to foresee the next steps I have to take. Today I am feeling lightness, trust, and gratitude. But there are times I am feeling scared and pointless - and that is a very dangerous place to be.

Instead, I try to keep it light, feel whatever I need to feel, and let it pass.

So this is the Big Question: "How do we keep the light, once we find it?"

As I know now, that finding it is only half of the job.

Keeping it - that is a whole another story.

Love

Johana