Simulations With You
How a Small Habit Shapes the Start of My Day
When morning sunlight filters through the window, I kick off the covers and head to the kitchen. The world hasn't fully woken up yet. I open the refrigerator and pull out the iced coffee I prepared the night before. The sound of ice cubes clinking, the cool glass in my hand—all of this is part of my small ritual for starting the day.
Scientists talk a lot about coffee's compounds and how caffeine affects our bodies. But honestly, I don't know much about any of that. What antioxidants do, what polyphenols are, what the daily recommended amount is—all that expert talk feels like a distant world to me.
For me, iced coffee is simply the signal that starts my day. I make the coffee, add the ice, and slowly take that first sip. The moment that cold sensation travels down my throat and reaches deep inside, my day truly begins. Like pressing the power button on a computer, iced coffee is the switch that turns me "on."
The Temperature of Morning
People sometimes ask, "You drink something cold first thing in the morning? Wouldn't something warm be better?" I just smile and shrug. The coziness of hot coffee is nice, but I need the sharp coldness of iced coffee. It's what wakes up my dormant senses and brings clarity to my foggy consciousness.
Some people meditate in the morning, go jogging, or practice yoga. Just as they have their routines, I have my iced coffee. It's not some grand health habit or trendy wellness routine. It's just a small ritual that waits for me, unchanged, every morning.
When I take that first sip, the same thought always comes to mind: "Here we go again." The bittersweet taste touches my tongue, the cold liquid slides down my throat, and it feels like every cell in my body is waking up one by one. This is more than just a beverage.
Empty Mornings and an Old Companion
If you care about your health, you probably wouldn't recommend drinking cold coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. I'm not oblivious to that. Friends sometimes say with concern, "That's got to be harsh on your stomach..." But this habit has become part of who I am.
A few years ago, I started wondering, "Is it really okay to drink cold coffee every morning like this?" So I decided to try breaking the habit. Just one week—I'd try starting my mornings without iced coffee for exactly one week.
The first day was fine. A bit strange, but I thought, "I can do this." The second day I managed okay too. But on the third day, something strange started happening. My head felt heavy from morning on, and by afternoon, a throbbing headache would set in. It felt like someone was squeezing my head tight.
On the third day, I finally found myself standing in front of the refrigerator again. I drank a glass of iced coffee. Surprisingly, the headache slowly faded away. That's when I realized—oh, this isn't just a simple habit. My body had already come to need that morning iced coffee.
A Friend Named Caffeine
This is probably caffeine dependence. The state that experts talk about. But honestly, I don't see it as entirely negative. We all depend on something to get through life. Some people need morning sunlight, some need their favorite songs, and I need my iced coffee.
Of course, I'm aware of the weight that the word "dependence" carries. But there are worse dependencies in the world, and far more harmful habits. To me, iced coffee is a small but certain happiness. It's like a little friend that greets me every morning.
People who don't drink coffee might find this hard to understand. But sometimes in life, there are attachments we can't quite explain. The feel of an old blanket, the sensation of walking a familiar path, the opening notes of a favorite song. That's what morning iced coffee is to me.
It's Okay Not to Be Perfect
People often talk about the perfect morning routine. Scroll through social media and you'll see stories of people who wake up at 6 AM, exercise, eat a healthy breakfast, and meditate. Their routines are truly admirable. Sometimes I'm even envious.
But I've realized something. A routine shouldn't be for showing off to others—it should be for yourself. To some people, drinking cold coffee on an empty stomach might seem strange. Experts might not recommend it. But if it's what I need, that's enough.
There's no such thing as a perfect habit. There are only habits that work for you. Starting my morning with a glass of iced coffee might seem silly to someone else. But for me, it's the most reliable way to begin my day.
The Power of Small Things
Sometimes I realize that life's greatest comforts come from the smallest things. Not grand achievements or big changes, but the little moments that repeat every day. Those are what sustain us.
Morning iced coffee is like that. Just once a day, just a few minutes. But those brief moments make the rest of the day possible. The time spent drinking coffee while looking out the window, the moment of feeling myself slowly wake up—it's the only time in a busy day that exists just for me.
I hold the glass and stand by the window, looking outside. Some days the sunlight is brilliant, other days the sky is full of clouds. But whatever the weather, I stand here and drink my coffee. I like this consistency. I like that it doesn't change.
Even on busy mornings, I don't rush through this time. I prepare the coffee, listen to the sound of the ice, and drink it slowly. These few minutes are the most luxurious part of my day. A time when I don't have to do anything and don't have to answer to anyone.
The Value of What Doesn't Change
The world changes rapidly. Seasons change, trends change, people change. But some things don't change. Like the iced coffee that waits for me every morning.
I drank it yesterday, I'm drinking it today, and I'll drink it tomorrow. In this simple repetition, I find stability. When change feels scary, when the future seems uncertain, the assurance that tomorrow morning there will be iced coffee sustains me.
We are made of the things we repeat. The small choices we make every day add up to become who we are. I'm someone who starts the day with iced coffee. That's not all that defines me, but it's certainly part of me. It might be caffeine dependence. It might not be a rational choice. But whatever it is, this is my choice.
Someday this habit might change too. Life changes, and we change with it. Maybe in a few years I'll be starting my mornings in a different way. But right now, in this moment, I love this routine.
In Closing: What's Your Ritual?
I have my iced coffee. What do you have? Morning sunlight? A favorite song? A walk? Whatever it is, that's fine. What matters is that it guides you into your day.
It doesn't need to be perfect. It doesn't need to be something to show off. As long as it's something you need, something that makes you happy, that's enough. Sometimes a single small ritual can change your entire day.
Today, I open the refrigerator and take out my iced coffee. I hear the ice cubes clink. I take the first sip. And I think, "Alright, here we go."
As the cold coffee slides down my throat, I fully wake up. A day that's the same as yesterday but different begins. And I'm ready. This small ritual has brought me this far, and it will continue to carry me forward.
Morning iced coffee. It's not just a drink. It's my beginning, my signal, my small happiness. And that's enough.