The Little Coffee Shop I Love

Today feels a bit nostalgic. We move in two weeks. Today might be the last time I ride my bike into town, to my favorite coffee shop. Zinc has been my safe place to blog weekly for the past two years. This coffee shop, hands down, has the best coffee in town. Actually, I’d say it has the best coffee in the 4 states. I have done a good amount of biking trying out different coffee shops all around, sometimes biking 20-30 miles to one. Nothing compares to Zinc. To top it off, the atmosphere is open and inviting, the employees are so cool and chill, and there are many windows! If you ever come to Joplin, or near Joplin, I highly recommend stopping by this wonderful little place and checking it out. But take warning: it may ruin other coffee for you. Nobody makes a latte like they do!

All that aside, it felt a little strange biking today as I realized I would soon be blazing new trails, to new coffee shops, and experiencing new nature scenes along the way. Don’t get me wrong; I love new. It is invigorating! At the same time though, I will miss my usual routes. I have experienced so many beautiful moments in nature that every bike ride has me eagerly looking for the next opportunity. I have ridden past dozens of deer, cruised down a winding road with an eagle flying right above me, assisted turtles in crossing the road, sat quietly with a flock of geese and their fluffy babies, raced a red squirrel, observed wild turkeys, and drank in the sight of hawks soaring above open fields. Each encounter has been a gift; it has filled my soul; reminding me to worry less and breathe more. I will miss all the beautiful routes I have faithfully ridden over the past two years. These roads have been etched into my heart. I am grateful for all the lessons nature taught me along these winding roads. 

As for Zinc, a lot of healing happened here. Some weeks I chuckled to myself as I typed out my quirky musings. Other weeks I could barely type at all as tears poured down my face. I started this blog two years ago at Zinc as a way of allowing myself to process however I needed to. It was the first time I let my voice out. I vowed I would not censor it. My whole life previously had been so censored and controlled that I needed an outlet - a safe place to wrestle with the confusions of life. Amidst the struggle and pain of finding my freedom, I have met some absolutely wonderful people in this coffee shop. They made me feel important; they saw me. It not only felt good, it was healing. I am utterly grateful for each person who valued me and made me feel cool as shit. :) Thank you Zinc for welcoming me every week. Even just a genuine smile did more than you probably realized. I will certainly come back and visit you when I get the chance. 

My journey isn’t over. My biking has not ended. I will continue. I will keep pedaling my way through healing. I will continue to blaze new trails and meet new people - but I will also never forget the places that birthed me and held me as I learned to find my wings. 

I would like to end this blog by posting a few pictures below of my favorite coffee shop and some of the weekly sights I experienced along the way. I hope you enjoy it!

#natureisthebest

#cyclistforlife

#naturelover

#healingjourney

#grateful

#lessonsfromnature

#iwillmissthisplace

#drinkzinc

#ridehard

#bewild

#ifyoucandothosethreethingsthenyouredoingprettydamngood