Serendipitous Moments
Photo credit: @inspiredbrewdallas
I'm traveling for the next several months. It's exciting because I can discover new places here and there to write. Today, on day one of writing on the road, I've stumbled upon a most appropriate cafe. Inspired Brew.
Inspired Brew is a delightful coffee shop set along a primary vein in North Dallas right off Preston Road and near the George Bush Tollway. The setting is eclectic and cozy, with a flair for the modern and artistic. This place gives an indoor patio vibe with gorgeous textured tile floors and floral accents everywhere. It offers neat places to sit and work or lounge and relax. There's a low table at the center of the cafe where the morning sun beams in. You can sit on one of the table's cushions and grab one of the coloring books to relax your mind and heart with some colorful creativity.
They serve generous portions of pastries that surprise and delight. They are aptly Texas-sized. And now to mention their unique coffee presentation. The owner has crafted a unique method for creating moments for inspiration on top of your favorite hot foam-topped coffee or tea beverage. Beauty and words of inspiration decorate the tops of her customer's drinks. She intentionally inspires with this art, using a temporary medium, steamed milk that will be quickly consumed. Yet the effort is worth the cost. You never know what someone may be going through at that moment, nor whether they have someone who will encourage, inspire, or speak life to them. This is one way to do that. Even and especially for strangers.
As I sit here, take it all in, and feel the inspiration around me, I notice a laminated article telling the story of this place. The owner is well acquainted with grief. She shared her story of losing her close friend and her Father in a very short time. Her world turned upside down and inside out. She was confronted with a heavy load of grief. She evaluated what mattered most and what she needed, then made decisions that helped facilitate mending her grieving heart. She moved her sweet family out of the bitter cold state she grew up in to be near a relative in the toasty warm state of Texas. That one decision created a domino effect of subsequent decisions, which are forever life-altering.
I would not have this place to sit in today had it not been for her pain and grief. Also, had it not been for her decision to not allow herself to become stuck in her grief. She is choosing not only to live life as fully as she can now but also to bring that joy of life to others through this cafe. Out of the loss and grief she has experienced, she's built something completely new that the world has never seen before. This beautiful, sweet, life-giving space perpetuates inspiration and joy to anyone open to experiencing it. It's a gift to all of us and fruit she's produced out of her pain.
When faced with loss and grief, we have an entirely new way of seeing our worlds. We are presented with a choice to make. Not just one, but a choice to make every moment. Will we scoot, wade, crawl, and walk through the grief? Will we allow it to be something that inspires change in us? Or will we stop, hold back, and remain in our pain? Sometimes, we make the one choice and then the other. It can be back and forth for a little while, and that's okay. However, there comes a point when we start to notice which path we're going down the most. Have you chosen the life-giving path more often than the getting-stuck path?
I've made some drastic choices myself. I travel to be around my family and friends, who are spread across the country, more often. I'm grateful to God for allowing me to do this. I have sold the house I have lived in with Rich and moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment in a walkable city area. I've made drastic lifestyle changes to be consistent with exercising and taking care of my health. I have jumped into the deep end of paying off a considerable debt. I want to live fully and not wait anymore or "explain why" I can't do something. I want to connect with people, ask for help when needed, and follow what I believe I hear God telling me to do without hesitation (work in progress).
I am doing things I've never done before and embracing the fleeting moment as the treasure it is, like the coffees at Inspired Brew in Dallas.
If you’re ever in the North Dallas/Plano area, please stop by and say hello to the lovely folks at Inspired Brew.
