Wisdom in a Starbucks cup

I awoke still drunk from last night, and definitely still feeling the effects presently, though for some reason, very hopeful. Petting my dog had a new allure to it, and even just the feel of my sheets around me felt divine. The song I’m listening to sounds better than it ever has before and this cappuccino is saving my life right now, though I have a feeling it all has to do with the alcohol still swimming around in my system. This is what is written on my coffee cup:

The Way I See It #141

“I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, “Hi.” They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that on word.” — Augusten Burroughs

I have had a love/hate relationship with Starbucks for years, and I’ve always found it funny that you can tell how a country’s economy is going by the price of a latte. The first time I enjoyed a Starbucks, I believe, was in the Philippines (which is still priced ghastly lower than here). The franchise near my house was a regular spot for my friends and I to meet up on our rollerblades and skateboards, though we didn’t drink coffee, we usually got lollipops and sodas, I think flavored Crystal Geyser’s to be exact. I remember that at this time I had no idea what capitalism meant, or franchises for that matter. Then I moved out and skipped off to Hawaii. Not until my junior or senior year of high school did they open a Starbucks in my small town and at first I was quite excited about it. There had only been one coffee shop before and it wasn’t the best for caffeinated beverages, or so I thought. Looking back, that little coffee shop is the kind of place I would go to now: cozy, art on the walls, friendly people, and unpretentious coffee with good prices. In high school I definitely didn’t fully realize that the Starbucks was taking business away from that cozy, little coffee shop though I can say that I have some great memories from it.

My best friend at the time, Leialoha, and I had a strange (and in our eyes, hilarious) habit of getting all dolled up and going to the supermarket and/or Starbucks, renting a movie, and then going home. I remember revealing some tearful/awful/ridiculous/embarassing things to each other over a chai or a hot chocolate in that Starbucks, and for that I wouldn’t trade the world. Especially since I did a hit and run (on a car, not a person) outside of the other little coffee shop, for which the cops came to my school and took me in. And to that, I wish you all a good morning.

~Kiki

Blog Action: Poverty

Today is Blog Action Day 2008 and the topic to bring awareness to is poverty. I’m not going to ask anyone to give money to any causes or to pledge on any lists, but to just be more aware of your own surroundings, and also to realize that small changes make a really big difference whether you realize it or not.

Here are some truths (via Global Issues)

• The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
• Number of children in the world:   2.2 billion
  Number in poverty:  1 billion (every second child)
• 51 percent of the world’s 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations.

When I was 10 years old I moved to the Philippines, a third world country. I was completely horrified at the fact that all the things I had seen on TV (emaciated children, shanty towns, dirty drinking/bathing water) was an actual reality. In my time living there, and still when I visit once a year, I have seen things that most people can’t even fathom and things I can’t even bare to bring words to. I know most of you are intelligent enough to understand that there are a lot of underprivileged people out there, but this is REAL. Poverty is not something left to little girls in Africa, it’s everywhere and not slowing down, and actually exists right here, in America. I remember reading a couple years ago that the poverty line for a family of five was $20,000 a year. Let that sink in for a second.

There are many ways you can help people in need, and help the environment, and you don’t have to donate tons of money or a bunch of your time. I won’t list the ways here, but take a couple minutes to explore around the internet on crafty ideas on how you can help.

And on a parting note: Humans are not the only ones suffering, animals feel pain too.