dailyprompt-2017

July 31, 2025, this morning started, like most, with the gentle sound of my coffee maker, my reliable friend in the quiet. Outside, the world was slowly waking up, with the sky showing soft peach and gray hues, but in my kitchen, the day had already begun with the promise of that first cup. There’s something special about it—a simple ritual that feels important.

I added the coffee grounds, to the filter. The smell filled the air even before brewing began, waking up my senses. As the machine made noise, I leaned on the counter, still half-asleep, feeling the excitement build. That first sip? It’s more than coffee. It’s a comforting moment, a warm hug in a mug, steadying me before the day begins.

Today, the coffee was perfect—not too bitter, not too weak. I took it black, savoring the way it coated my tongue with a subtle, earthy warmth. I stood by the window, mug in hand, watching a neighbor walk their dog. The world felt small and manageable in that moment, as if the steam rising from my cup carried away any lingering grogginess or doubt.

Social media buzzed with the usual mix of news and memes, but I barely glanced at my phone. The coffee demanded my full attention, a rare moment of mindfulness in a world that’s always shouting. I thought about how this simple act—brewing, pouring, sipping—connects me to millions of others who start their day the same way. It’s a universal language, a shared heartbeat of mornings everywhere.

The defining moment today was the quiet. No emails, no notifications, just me and the mug. I noticed the faint ring of coffee stains inside it, a testament to countless mornings before this one. It felt like a badge of consistency, proof that some things stay steady even as the world shifts.

As I drained the last drop, I felt ready—not just awake, but ready. The first cup isn’t just fuel; it’s a signal that I’m here, present, and capable of taking on whatever July 31, 2025, has in store. Tomorrow, I’ll do it again, chasing that same fleeting magic. Maybe I’ll try a new blend or add a splash of cream, but the ritual will hold steady—a small anchor in the ebb and flow of life. *

What’s your morning ritual? Does coffee start your day, or is there another moment that sets the tone?

A couple of years ago our neighborhood had an early fall snowstorm. The leaves were still on the trees, and it was a wet heavy snow. Many branches were broken off the trees. My neighbor, Carolyn who lives across the street, had a branch break from her tree that was maybe three-four inches in diameter where it broke off the tree and maybe ten feet of branch with leaves. Carolyn is a widow for over eight years. She lives by herself and over eighty, maybe ninety.

I looked at the broken branch on her lawn for two or three days. I then decided to go over and offer to cut up the broken branch and throw it in her trash container. She was totally surprised and said she has called her daughter, and she was going to come over, but she did not know when she could come over. I said I could do it now and she agreed to allow me. It took less than an hour to cut up to the size so they could be put in her trash container. After completion Carolyn offered to pay me, and I said no. I was just being a good neighbor.

That is my story.

Daily writing prompt

Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.