Slowness is not the absence of progress, it is often the foundation of it. The act of lingering, of observing without agenda, creates space for clarity. There was a time when sitting alone in public spaces felt awkward, almost shameful, as if being alone somehow signaled a lack of belonging, but coffee shops taught me otherwise. There’s something profoundly liberating about occupying a space without needing to perform or engage. In a world that moves too fast, coffee shops remind me that life isn’t meant to be rushed, it’s meant to be felt. To sit in stillness, with your own thoughts, and feel perfectly at ease in your own company, in a culture that glorifies social currency and constant connection, solitude is often misunderstood. Even if that feeling comes from an overpriced oat milk flat white 🤣 and a table by the window.  #stillness #coffeeshops #cafes #bepresent #selfawareness #reflection #progress #growthmidnset