inspirational starbucks cup

You know how there's a quote on every Starbucks cup?  I always read them and think, "Oh that's nice," then move on with my life.  Well, a couple weeks ago I was at Starbucks with some friends and I really really liked the quote on my cup.  I made my friend chatting with me read it, and he noticed that I kept re-reading it during our convo.  He teased me about wanting to take the cup home and I laughed, but the thing is I really did want to.  I tossed the cup in the garbage (amazingly, there actually are some limits on how weird I am willing to be in front of people) but was sad I didn't have the quote.  

The next week at work the manager had me run to get Starbucks for everyone and I got the same quote on my cup.  I was not going to be ashamed of being inspired by a disposable cup this time.  I typed the quote and e-mailed it to myself.  So here it is:

"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating-- in work, in play, in love.  The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation.  To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."  (Anne Morris, Starbucks customer)

I love this quote.  It reminds me of an analogy I heard so often as a child in church lessons about how rules are like a kite string.  With the boundaries of the string the kite can keep flying, but if you were to cut the string and give the kite more freedom it would fall to the ground.  Once you've committed to something, you can focus on fulfilling that commitment rather than continuing to debate in your head if you should do it or not.  Your energy can be turned to action.

I see this in work.  It no longer matters if accounting was the right major for me.  I made my choice and focused on getting that masters degree.  That choice gave me the freedom to have a career in accounting.  Which of course lead to more decision making, but now I've chosen a job and spend my time getting the best experience I can here.  I don't spend time thinking if I'd be happier at a different firm or in another field altogether, I choose to enjoy where I am.

I see this in play.  I chose to live in Portland.  Now I focus on the wonderful things this city had to offer.  I enjoy the temperate weather and foggy mornings.  I enjoy my sunroof open with the heater on, thanks Di.  I don't spend time wondering if more sunshine is what I need.  Portland has everything I need.  Even small decisions are better once committed to.  I hate the day-long debates via e-mail about where we should go to dinner this coming Friday.  Once we've committed as a group (or some merciful individual has made the decision for the rest of us) to certain plans, we can start building on those plans.  And then the weekend fun can really begin.

I see this in love.  Although the early stages of dating have their merits with the flirting and getting to know many interesting people (I have to continually remind myself to enjoy this part), there is a certain freedom in committing to one person.  Freedom to love that person, to be yourself, and to work towards something with deeper meaning.  Too often, I think, we get caught up in worrying about whether someone better will come along and it prevents us from dating any one person.  We think we have to know from the first date if we could spend the rest of our lives with someone.  But you couldn't possibly know that from a first date.

I love the idea of removing your head as the barrier to your life.  Maybe because I'm so inclined towards irrationality.  :)  But really, at some point you have to quit thinking and just do.  Close your eyes, take a breath, and jump.  The fall is always more liberating than scary.