Recipes for Water

Very recently I realized I was drinking, consistently, about 3-5 cups of coffee every working day. Just got to work? Coffee. Just ate lunch? Coffee. About to give a talk? Coffee. Going to staff meeting? Coffee. Meeting with teens? Coffee. Working late? Coffee. Coffee? Coffee.

It was taking a toll on me, and I felt uncomfortable with the dependency on it. I could get moody, experienced huge energy swings, and most importantly, I feel like I was seriously craving simplicity.

Coffee isn't bad. (In fact, its delicious and you should buy some from Monk Rock.) But, for whatever reason, for me right now, it really was enabling a mind-scattering life. I'm already prone to getting stuck scrolling on Instagram, or Facebook, or constantly checking email. I also have a (bad?) habit of filling the quite hours of my day with podcasts. And the coffee-state-of-mind I really feel was making all of these bad habits and inclination more pronounced.

So, as a symbol of my new dedication to finding simplicity again and to reset the body, I've quit the coffee for a season. Who knows how long I'll stick to this.

In the meantime, I've noticed that I've really come to enjoy the experience of having a hot drink to sip on. Something about it is meditative and really human. Hot drinks force you to slow down a bit. They require some prep, but not much. And the steam and smell is comforting and for some reason I associate it with creativity.

To fill this hole in my heart that demands hot drinks, I've experimented with some recipes for hot water. I've found these to be tastey, but they also smell great. The experience is really all part of it. Making the water, cutting and prepping your ingredients, and mixing it together in a nice mug. I don't know why I'm recalling digging this right now, but just trust me. Try it and let me know what you think.

Make some hot water, grab a mug, pull out a book, or pen and paper, or schematics, and enjoy slowing down.

Fresh Water

• hot water
• cut lemon half (squeeze a little juice in the mug)
• fresh mint (home grown is the bomb)

Dessert Water

• yup, hot water
• few drops of vanilla
• squeeze of honey (bigger squeeze if its after 8pm)

The Cleanser

• surprise! hot water...
• tablespoon of honey
• teaspoon of apple cider vinegar

The Below Are Not Recommended...

Waterita

• how about some hot water?
• fresh cut lime half
• tortilla, torn into pieces
• refried beans
• tequila
• regret

Perspirator

• 1 cup very hot water
• 1 sock

The Stamos

• hot water
• a lock of hair
• anti-aging facial mask stuff
• t-shirt with that gross 90's color palette
• a guitar string

Tried any of these? Do you have any recipes for water? Are you living with a mild case of pre-pre-early midlife crisis?

Let me know in the comments!