Being Fish in an Estuary

Walked into my local coffee shop. My friend was waiting, smiled at me through the window.

After we talked, I sat to write blogs. The internet makes almost everyone a tiny fish in a huge ocean. It’s easy to fit, just find the shoal where your kind hang out and join the school of thought as an equal.

The coffee shop (MY coffee shop, as I think of it) makes me a known fish in a pond where it doesn’t matter how big you are. In Goshen, you are an equal. You drink from the same pot of coffee at this shoal, where the common thoughts include “it’s raining here and now” or “it’s sunny here and now” and especially “it’s really good to see your smile, here and now.”

Later on, a guy walked in. Used to coach him years ago. He said his daughter will give birth any day. Wasn’t that the case last time we talked? Yes, it was! Good to see you. I’ll drop by your business next week, see what you’ve been up to.

Surfing the shoals of the internet from the estuary of my local coffee shop is the best of both worlds for a little fish. You get to be in a big ocean, surrounded by and impacting schools of thought where you’re wanted and appreciated. And you get to be in a smaller part of that ocean as well, where you’re appreciated for your smile and nobody cares if you’re big-time. Blogging from the coffee shop allows me to be an individual and a part of the crowd at the same time.  Neither are bad, both are needed for good balance.