I often get the typical gasps, what’s, and how’s from anyone that I mention my anti-caffeine lifestyle to. “How do you survive?” “How do you keep going?” “How do you live without your morning coffee?” To some people, a world without caffeine is a world in slow motion. People feel that they need that jolt just to make it through the day. But, is caffeine really the answer or the problem?

Caffeine allows us the energy to get all of our tasks within a day done. It allows us to actually get out of bed in the morning. It allows us to become almost superhuman. But, again, is caffeine the solution? Or the problem? Because, to be honest, I love getting my sleep. I love to sleep in or hit that snooze button 50 times each morning. I hate the fact that I have to much to do throughout the day. So much to do that I never remember how I haven’t called my grandma in over a month to tell her that I love her.

I mean, who really wants to live in a world where you have to drink a cup of coffee in the morning just to survive the day. Or have a Diet Coke at lunch just because you’re already dreading going back to the office instead of being able to go home and go back to bed. I want to try to continue to enjoy life, and not just try to creep by. I want to be able to challenge myself to push through and soak it all in. Not drink some concoction just so I can get that buzz of adrenaline to make it the next couple of hours…only to have to drink another potion once the first one has worn off. I mean, is life really that horrible?

It’s hard enough that I have to constantly remind myself, everyday, that I am only 1 person and cannot even come close to being Wonder Woman. Do I really need some drink brainwashing me to forget that fact? Maybe there should be a new Surgeon General’s warning as you walk into every Starbuck’s or the side of every Red Bull. “WARNING: May cause you to forget that life is passing you by!” Because it’s about time that people slow down instead of cram. Enjoy instead of endure.

I believe that caffeine is part of the problem and came across this quote that kind of spark this new philosophy that maybe it’s caffeine that has corrupted our lives…

“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” – Flash Rosenberg

I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Rosenberg. But, then again, do I really want to align myself with a guy whose name is Flash? That must have been some brutal, grade school years!