Sunday mornin', and the livin' is easy

It's Sunday morning, a gift of time to spend however you choose. Many people will spend this morning worshipping, fishing, playing golf, or sleeping late. Some will pack suitcases and clear out the rented beach house. Some will head to work and think ahead to their mid-week day off.

However and wherever you spend your Sunday morning, slow down and commune with your caffeine, whether it's coffee or tea. Hold the warm mug near your face with both hands. Close your eyes. Breathe in the steam. Touch your lips to the rim. Then take a sip. Ahhhh. That first hot sip of the day is always the tastiest and most powerful. Now you can start your day with a little boost of optimism and energy.

This stolen moment might be yours with no effort at all -- just a few steps around your kitchen and perhaps carrying your mug out to the deck or into your living room. Or, it might require planning ahead, setting an alarm clock, and sneaking out of the house before the rest of the family is awake. Here's where the coffee shop comes in. Most of them open by 8 a.m. Sundays, and attract like-minded people - those who relish good coffee and quiet conversation while most of the town is still asleep.

It's a treat to sit in a coffee shop with folks who are reading the Sunday paper or stopping by on their daily dog walk. Others stop in to fuel up before a long church service or a Sunday drive. The day is still full of possibilities, and you get a glimpse of how your neighbors are spending theirs.

Even if you're facing challenges that make living not so easy, this exercise can help you set problems aside and live in the moment - even if just for one moment on a Sunday morning.