The Mindful Mug

This is it, I did log on to word press and my brain went oooo booking system, lets sort that. But then I would end up down a rabbit hole searching endlessly at booking systems, overwhelming myself, then doing absolutely nothing about it. Does this sound like you too? You are not alone, this is just a few short moments in my brain.

I am Charlotte, founder of The Mindful Mug, my little cafe, in the heart of Lincoln. This is the mindful blog, my weekly round up. Unedited, unfiltered. If you are one of those who hates bad grammar, and spelling. This one is not for you. I have decided to start this weekly round up for a few reasons. I struggle with the inauthentic content on social media, I feel silly talking to the camera, but I have a lot to say. I struggle to verbalise my thoughts with so many going on all at once it can be hard to speak at the right time, or speak without completely word vomiting and scaring the person away.

I have a lot going on, a lot of thoughts and sometimes we just need to unravel them. I love that about the mindful mug, i meet so many interesting people, from all walks of life, I learn something new everyday. This week in particular has been a very peculiar one. It began on Monday. I was closed, but opened up for Yin Yoga with Meg (yes, I forgot – thankfully Meg didn’t!). I wasn’t going to participate, I felt tired and just wanted to do nothing.. well what is Yin Yoga. Anyway, I have been meditating and practising mindfulness for many years now, I have never been visual. It has frustrated me, but I have learned how to swich off and tune in to my other sensations, especially noticing sound.

As I rushed downstairs to begin, I forgot my yoga mat, not wanting to be a disturbacne to the ladies around me I used the blanket and asked for another one to put over me. It really is so cosy with a soft blanket. I drifted off, tuned into my senses, relaxed. I have had some lovely experiences when meditating, but never this. As meg voice softly encouraged our bodies and minds to realax and connect with the flower moon, something magical happened. I felt and saw flowers, beautiful flowers, I was in a meadow, surrounded by Yellow, I was with someone, I am not sure who, but they were familiar. As I further slowed my breating, relaxing into each breath I found my self connecting with the earth. I saw the growth, my growth blossing from within me. Something I have never experienced before.

Unbeknown to this, I had booked in two appointments focused on growth the very next day, – well of course I knew, but I did not know I would have this experience the night before.

This week has been a contrast to last week. No sales have no been great, I haven’t had as many customers as I would have liked. But I am thankful I am on my own and it is hard when it is busy like it was on Friday. I know good things take time, things do not need to be done yesterday. But I am understanding myself and reason why I am here doing this. This week after sitting down with Andy, I realise i want to create a cafe where people feel seen and heard. It is not always easy to do that when it is busy, but i love it when coversation is flowing with customers.

I need to take a risk and take a loan. I beleive in The Mindful Mug. I know this is going to work, I know I have the skills and capability, I certanily have the ideas, but I need a team to help me bring them all together. I can do alot, but I am tired and there have been times this week when I have not wanted to open. I have thought of all the reasons why I shouldn’t open, why I can close early. I am tired, but I am the boss I have to pull through and show up. A customer described the mindful mug as my third baby, they were not wrong. I have to show up every day at 10 and stay until 5:30. there are no breaks, there is always something to do. It needs my attention, nurture and care, else it won’t be around for much longer.

I have pushed through the exhaustion, it helps now Louie can walk himself to school and back. I think that would be far to much right now, and it is only down the road, but if he didn’t i’d have to close to walk to and from the school. Not ideal.

I have lots of ideas and things to explore. The blog won’t always be this positive – life isn’t like. It is highs and lows, celebrations and deflations. I intend to share it here. So you can share my journey and know you are not alone. It can be tough, it can be lonley. My final reason for choosing to write this blog is due to the number of responses I got when I have shared my mini meltdowns with the world of Linkedin. A community I have unknowingly found so many diffrent ways of support, likeminds, mentors and friends. So many peple have said they have felt this way, but haven’t wanted to speak about it. Look bad for not being perfect. Life is not that way and I think we should show our imperfections, share our lessons and take aways. Be congurent, be true to yourself. Worry less and read Dr. Seus all the places you’ll go. It is a true illustration of life.

Stay mindful, stay happy and always remain true to yourself.