Sairishitha Week #3: Spilling the Tea
"Hi! What can I get for you today?"
“Um…Can I get an iced Vietnamese coffee/Egg Coffee/Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino?”
I am very basic, and I have unfortunately realized that through my coffee order.
Depending on the cafe, of course, it will change. At the coffee shop next to my summer job, I would order an iced Vietnamese coffee, but from Phin Cafe, I always get the egg coffee. I think you can tell where I get the last one from (Starbucks).
I do want to be adventurous; I want to try new things and let it be my hyperfixation and consume my thoughts until the next time I have it again. But every time I try something different, I always prefer my basic, comfort drink. I never feel satisfied with my decision, no matter which option I choose.
One time I got a cold brew from Starbucks, and I found out that they are pretty overrated, not sweet enough for me. I guess my taste is not very sophisticated. Another time, I got the ube coffee from Phin, and the ube’s sweetness was incredibly overpowering. As I write this blog, I am currently sitting in Pour Decisions sipping away at my Maple Cinnamon Latte, flavors I am well familiar with.
Everything often fails me, so in those few seconds between “Um” and saying my order, I contemplate if I should try again or go back to what I know I like. More often than not, I say my basic order.
This example of ordering coffee spreads into other areas of my life. It reflects how I retreat toward familiarity when faced with the unknown. I rely on the language that I have experience with, in fear of making a wrong decision. I find comfort in choosing this awareness over surprises.
I choose the same conversation starters when meeting new people, rather than asking deeper questions. I choose the safer option when watching digital content, scrolling social media over finding a new show on Netflix. I choose the same trendy clothes as my peers, shopping from the same stores: Brandy Melville, Hollister, and Pacsun. Digital media has reduced my individuality. My unique style has deteriorated into a banal, basic blur.
I can still have the same coffee order and gravitate towards what I know, but I also need to remind myself that life is filled with unpredictability, and the decisions I make ultimately develop my interests and character, good or bad. This digital age makes going out of our comfort zone harder because we are constantly surrounded by trends and algorithms designed to encourage us to stay in this forever loop.
But a life without regret, knowing how every choice will end, is not the most fulfilling. Maybe trying or saying something different is worth the possibility of getting it wrong because I need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Hi Sairi! Reading this made me realize how often I do the exact opposite when it comes to things I like. While watching sports I will often look for new teams and players or in restaurants I will always try something new(except for when it is Chipotle) when I already know what I like. It made me wonder why we are willing to experiment with some things but stick to the same things for other parts of life.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioning how you choose to scroll over picking out a new show on the TV caught my eye. It feels so much easier to scroll on TikTok rather than searching for something different. Is our individuality our own choice, or is it built by the things that everyone around us likes? I’ll be honest, going into highschool I did not like Drake at all, but once all my friends started to listen to him I started to like him more.
Your blog was super interesting overall and led me to think about what I do in my life that I should start to switch up.
I really relate to your point about sticking to what feels familiar, especially when it comes to trying new things but going back to what I already know and feel comfortable with. I think it's easy to be hesitant about stepping outside of our comfort zones because we don't always know whether we'll enjoy something new.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your point about social media affecting our individuality. Whenever I go shopping, I see everyone wearing the same clothes, same hairstyles, and following the same microtrends. I think social media plays a huge role in this because we're constantly exposed to the same trends, making it harder to develop our own interests and sense of style.
I also liked how you connected this to meeting new people and everyday decisions because it shows how much familiarity influences different parts of our lives.
Your blog reminded me that trying new things, even if we end up disliking them, is part of figuring out who we are and developing our own identities.
Hello Sairi! I really relate to your blog and getting out of your comfort zone. For the longest time, I defautled to scrolling for entertainment, but making the conscious choice to at least choose what media you consume really adds a profound intentionality to your routine. Though pushing back on some of your minor points about conversation starters, I really feel as if you shouldn't fret on the most trivial traits, as not all things need mental bandwith or should. To live life properly is to live unbothered, but always push yourself to do more ( as you said.) I really do look forward to your future blogs!
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