Coffee Was My Permission Slip

I started drinking coffee because I wanted to feel sharper, more awake—like I could finally keep up. At first, it was just a cup in the morning, the warmth in my hands a small comfort. I told myself it was for focus, for memory, for the way it made my skin tingle with blood flow. But soon, coffee became a ritual I clung to. If I skipped it, I felt slow, behind, almost guilty—like I was failing at something invisible. I wondered if I was just trading one kind of control for another. I googled the pros and cons, but none of the lists mentioned the way it filled the space where hunger and anxiety used to live. Some days, I wonder if I’m drinking coffee or just trying to quiet the noise inside. #ControlIsExhausting #FoodGuilt #NotJustAboutTheScale #Health #Diet