Over this past year, I have learned that I am happiest when I’m creating.  The medium doesn’t so much matter: espresso and foam with beautiful flavors, creating lesson plans, cooking new recipes,  knitting needles and colorful yarn, Thankfulness Jars and custom journals with beautiful ribbon, articles that reflect the words of my soul, painting in the middle of the night for just me, and decorating coffee cups for those who are willing to see.  

Even as I have gone on this journey, the creativeness inside of me has refused to stay hidden, to stay underwraps.  It’s as if it’s been seeping out of me in every aspect of my life, every second of my every day.  My desire to create is no longer allowing itself to stay quiet.  

I cap the bright pink Sharpie and rotate my cup to examine my work.  An extra round light blue snowman, with a bright orange nose, swirls of light blue wind and snowflakes, and a sweet saying at the top: “Dance in the snow like everyone is watching.”  It was one of the faster creations I had done in the middle of the coffee shop rush.  The line kept growing as people poured in through the door.  The list of drinks I had to make kept expanding on the hanging ticket line, like a never-ending grocery list.  Yet, the creative pulse inside of me had made me create a snowman in the snow on this hot cup of tea, even when my brain said, “You don’t have time for that. You have a job to do, and there’s too many things to do.” My heart did it anyway.  I made time for the creative energy.  And, it easily has become one of the best parts of my day.  

How often do we say no?  When saying yes to that call within us would allow us the enjoyment and happiness in our everyday work, because simply saying yes would allow us to be our true selves, and answer our true calling.  Creating.  Decorating coffee cups had become the new way that my creative inner cup began to overflow.  Not only was I expanding my own inner light, but I was finding a way to fill others’ coffee cups, literally and figuratively.  What a beautiful thing.

Amidst my coffee cup overflowing journey this year, I’ve realized, the job is not what makes you you.  In fact, if you’re truly being your authentic self, the job has nothing to do with you.  Rather, it’s almost the exact reverse.  In fact, the true you will come through, regardless of the job you’re expected to do.  If you’re making coffee, maybe you’ll start decorating coffee cups with beautiful little sayings.  If you’re working in an office, maybe you’ll find some unique way to encourage the co-workers in your life and bring a smile to those around you each day.  If you’re a nurse, maybe you’ll find a way to make the child in your life that day laugh, even as you perform the scariest of tasks.  The true you shines through, when you least expect it, no matter what you do.  I’ve heard people say that before, but it took this past year to realize that yes, it’s actually true.

In what way do you decorate coffee cups?  How does the inner you come out of you during the day, no matter what your “expected job” is?  Maybe, the inner you just needs you to say yes, and even though your mind is saying, “No, we don’t have time for that,”  the inner you is screaming for it to come through.  What is your version of decorating coffee cups, my friend?  Is it creativity, is it laughter, is it encouragement, or wisdom?  What is the true you that shines through, no matter where you are or what you’re doing?  Ask God to show it to you, and I have true faith that He will.  For when cups overflow, they tend to spill into others’.  For, that seems to be God’s ultimate intention.  For us to share our overflowing cups with others.  What do you need to say yes to today?  What is the you that comes through each and every day?

Much Love,

Lauren