It has been roughly 4 months since unveiling a book I wrote titled 'Parable of the Coffee Bean,' which invites us into Yirgacheffe's small story from his perspective as a coffee bean. I consider writing this book as one of my greatest achievements, not because I think it is a fantastic piece of literature, but because of the countless hours and days of my life invested in it over the span of years for no specific purpose other than to 'create.' Pouring yourself into something for tangible gain is understandable, such as working for a wage with which to live on or studying hard to get good grades. But the CREATIVE in us yearns to express something new that doesn't need the benefit of accrual. Its value is in what is spent, not in what is received. Its purpose is in origination, not completion. Its tool is imagination, not conformation. And its perfection is seen purest by its creator. Sure, there are some grammatical errors in my book (I was always a math guy), and I genuinely welcome critical feedback that can fuel improvements. But none of those could stop the creative side of me from cherishing late nights of little sleep to dream of what a coffee bean experiences.
To celebrate 4 months of published writing and 4 days till the new year, please entertain me as I reminisce my greatest challenge and greatest joy in CREATING 'Parable of the Coffee Bean.'
Greatest Challenge:
Easily, the greatest challenge was personifying an object that is so limited in its abilities! The known path of coffee, otherwise known as the coffee production chain, limits how far I can reach to create an engaging story that is not too predictable. The book already stretches reason, but it would be too far to have Yirgacheffe hop on a plane and snorkle in Fuji. Everything he goes through is unrealistic, yet not too far from coffee's reality and our reality to comprehend. I have already begun another fictional book in which the main character is a human and, boy, is it easy! Of course, however, it is this challenge of humanizing a coffee bean that also kept the journey interesting.
Greatest Joy:
My greatest joy in writing this book was when inspiration would surprise me in the midst of life's routines. While working at Three Tree Coffee, I would prepare a cupping and wonder what coffee beans thought of this ritual. While sitting on my porch watching the rain, I'd see pine cones fall off the trees and wonder how hard it must be for coffee beans to hold on. While taking out the trash, I'd see a large Orb Weaver spider and think, 'spiders are creepy...I should include one in the book!' The book most came alive for me when it intersected my life unexpectedly.
The creative itch in each of us is waiting to be unleashed. Maybe the world is missing out on something you haven't created yet. What will you create in 2019?
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