October Challenge

So here we are almost at the end of October, and I needed to complete my October challenge of pushing myself to do something I wouldn't ordinarily do.  I know this isn't completely original but I chose to go to a coffee shop all by myself.  Yes, I go to coffee shops all the time but it's always to meet up with friends, have a first date, or to work on something.  This time it was to go by myself with no agenda except to push myself a little bit outside of my comfort zone.

I don't like going out to eat by myself, so I brought a book to read as my security blanket.  I chose Buster's Cafe simply because I've heard people talk about this cafe in South Pasadena, and it also received four stars on Yelp.  I went to the little cafe which is right by the railroad tracks, and is off of Mission Street which is filled with cute boutique shops and restaurants.  Upon entering the cafe, I thought how this was the kind of cafe I would go to when I travel.  It was cute, homey, and there were people sitting outside as well as inside the cafe.  I ordered a latte and an apple croissant, and went to go sit outside.  I strategically chose a little table in the shade where the chair faced the street.

So I have to admit that there are times when it's just nice to sit and stare out into space watching the trains go by, cars go by, and people walk and jog past me which also reminded me of sitting at cafes in Paris where the chairs are facing the street so you can people watch.  Oh and I should mention that people watching is really something I like to do.  I love to watch people, look at what they wear, listen to snippets of their conversations, see them interact, and feel like a part of it all.  As I was sitting I was reminded that sometimes we just need quiet moments like these to sit and watch the world go by.  Not once did I crack my book open since I was too fascinated by all that was going on around me.

To my left I heard an elderly couple talk and still enjoy each other's company.  I heard him say to her, "If you want to take the car then I always can take the bus."  I was reminded that there are still gentleman out there, and then in front of me I saw an athletic gentleman walking with a prosthetic leg when a lady on a bicycle jumped up to greet him.  Apparently he has a blog where she said she followed him and was inspired by his century rides and his participating in triathlons.  Hearing all of this made me smile, and the friend of the man with the prosthetic leg saw me smile and nodded at me with a smile.  These little interactions truly made my Saturday morning, and I realized that it's not so bad to do things alone because sometimes we are so busy with our lives that we forget to stop and truly smell the roses.  Or shall I say stop and enjoy what is going   on around us.