The end is near. And it’s perfectly scheduled right before the Christmas late-rush shoppers hit the streets, the ominous financial fiscal cliff, and before we have to start thinking about Valentine’s Day.
December 21, 2012 is a day of reckoning. The winter solstice predicted by the ancient Mayans to be the last day of their surprisingly accurate calendar. Could it have it been just a fluke?
Could we imagine a few Mayan astronomers nearly 2000 years ago saying: “This is a good place to stop the calendar, let’s go grab lunch!” Well, it’s possible and probable, but let us continue for the sake of fun.
To be honest, I have been waiting for this upcoming Doomsday for a long, long time now. You see, my family is from Guatemala, where most of the Mayan Civilization used to inhabit. Stories told by my grandmother had me growing up to live (and die) for this day. Like other apocalyptic stories of other cultures, it was just our folklore.
To us they were simply stories that got our imaginations running. But most importantly it signified a cultural way to live – truly live – in the present. Sure, planning for the future is always good. But, since the future is always where our “end” was to be found, enjoying the present was much more appealing.
That brings me to coffee.
Coffee is a drink that is ultimately enjoyed in the present and in the presence of good company. Despite our knack for grabbing a cup to go, sitting with our laptops in isolation in cafes, coffee is really best shared with someone you love – or perhaps someone you want to love.
While December 21, 2012, may come and go without a universal hiccup, take the next 72 hours to grab a friend and share a cup of coffee.
Despite all our technological, scientific advances – including being able to instant message or “virtually” poke your friends, nothing can be better than sitting across from someone you care about and catching up the old-fashioned way – in person. The time we take to unwind will help us deal with those stressed-out Christmas shoppers, that gloomy fiscal cliff, and may even help plan your Valentine’s Day.
Photos by the LA Times and Flickr.
