Sipping Coffee in a World of Trouble
Small Luxuries, Guilt, and Finding Happiness
Hello
What does it mean to be happy in a world in which there is so much difficulty? And who orders an Affogatto so early in the morning? Espresso and ice cream at sunrise? I can only aspire to a life of such decadence.
I was sitting in the Blue Parrot Cafe in Granville Island’s Public Market and had just overheard an order from the table next to me. It was a beautiful morning. The sunlight filtered through the large windows overlooking the entrance to False Creek and we had arrived early enough to secure a table. We each ordered a coffee. I ordered a chocolate croissant and my Dad an omlette bagel. As we sat down we promptly made the false promise never to come back knowing we had paid 25 dollars for something we could have had at home. This however was the small luxury we allowed ourselves once or twice a month, an overpriced coffee, a croissant, and walk.
We had both listened to a CBC Ideas podcast earlier that week on the topic of small luxuries, specifically the topic of White Wine with Lunch: How much Luxury is Reasonable for One Person? In today’s world how common is the ability to go out to an enjoy a reasonable lunch with a glass of white wine? (Or in our case coffee and a croissant?) Is it right to be able to do this when some parts of the world population lives on less than three dollars a day? How does one define reasonable? What is a reasonable lunch? Should I feel guilt or shame in enjoying this small luxury when the state of the world seems to be falling deeper into despair?
And so as we sat there, my mind raced through question after question. How fancy of a wine or croissant is appropriate given our standard of living? By ordering an almond croissant instead of a butter croissant have I crossed the line into wanton abandon and gluttony? At what point does coffee and a croissant become a luxury? Isn’t the point of luxury, excess and extravagance? Is it a luxury if I am able to enjoy what thousands of other tourists and locals are also able to enjoy? Where is the exclusivity and smug satisfaction in a coffee and a croissant? Surely part of what makes something luxurious is the enjoyment of the fact that I can have what others cannot? How many of us have walked through the first aisles of plane longing to be one of those lucky few sitting in first class?
Some may argue that luxury is relative? But what is luxury? A small excess that contributes and enhances your quality of life such that you would not be willing to part? For some I would imagine it is a glass of wine with the occasional lunch. For others like my Dad and I, it is the occasional walk to Granville Island and the ability to enjoy an overpriced coffee and croissant, and if I am even luckier, a stop by the Upstart and Crow. For others, perhaps it is a premium economy, or first class ticket when travelling.
My thoughts quickly turned from luxury to guilt. Here we were, happy in the moment and not a care in the world. We sipped coffee in Vancouver, bordered by the mountains and water in an atmosphere of peace, security and one dare say tranquility while the world around us collapsed. My mind quickly scrolled through the news headlines over the last week:
The World in a Week
Canada is in the midst of an immigration, housing, and productivity crisis with little or no meaningful inspiration from any member of federal leadership. In the United States the soon to be confirmed Republican candidate for president, former President Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, a horrific event that promises to poison the already turbulent waters of discontent, polarisation, fear and anger that have consumed the run-up to the country’s election.
Tensions in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah show no signs of settling, with cross border strikes and conflict growing more pervasive. In Sudan the UN continues to express grave concern with the ongoing siege in the towns of El-Fasher and El-Genenia in West Darfur where attacks and reports of ethnically motivated violence, violations of international law, and sexual and gender-based violence by Rapid Support Forces portend a nightmare scenario. In the Middle East Israeli forces attacked the Al-Mawasi camp in Southern Gaza killing at least 90 Palestinians and wounding more than 300 in an attack that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as targeting Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.
The war in Ukraine continues with horrific violence as a children’s hospital in Kyiv was hit in a wave of Russian missile strikes. The recent NATO conference in Washington was interesting for two side events, the first being Keir Starmer’s first trip abroad as Prime Minister and the second a closely watched unscripted news conference from President Biden, which did not disappoint - the reactions to Biden’s gaffes by NSA advisor Jake Sullivan, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken was as depressing as it was amusing. One major takeaway was NATO’s explicit acknowledgement of China’s role in the conflict with the summit’s declaration observing:
“The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) stated ambitions and coercive policies continue to challenge our interests, security and values. The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the PRC and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order, are a cause for profound concern. We are confronted by hybrid, cyber, space, and other threats and malicious activities from state and non-state actors.”
However, not all news is doom and gloom. There were bright spots:
The fall of the conservatives after 14 years and landslide labour victory marks a return in the United Kingdom to what new PM Keir Starmer called politics as public service in his opening day speech:
But now our country has voted, decisively… For change. For national renewal. And a return of politics to public service. When the gap between the sacrifices made by people… And the service they receive from politicians… Grows this big. It leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation. A draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future. That we need to move forward, together. Now, this wound. This lack of trust. Can only be healed by actions not words. I know that. But we can make a start today. With the simple acknowledgment. That public service is a privilege.
In France the left banded together to stop the rise of the far right (for now), with the New York Times observing that, “The details of the outcome may still shift, but it is clear that, to a remarkable degree, a scramble by centrists and the left to form a “Republican front” to confront the National Rally in the second round of voting worked. Candidates across France dropped out of three-way races and called for unity against Ms. Le Pen’s party.” Across the world, after a visit to Pakistan, UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi expressed news that proof of registration cards for almost 1.5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be extended for one more year
And so after all this - where does one go from here?
What are my responsibilities in life when I know thousands across the world are suffering from conflict, famine and violence? When I know that climate change threatens every dimension of our being. When I know when the rise of AI promises to transform every facet of work with unknown consequences? When I know that the social and cultural fabric of our lives is being shorn by the shears of loneliness, polarisation, individualism and the negative impacts of social media and technology.
I sip coffee on the weekends, go for bike rides, walk along Ambleside’s seawall, and I write. In these moments I am happy. But I look out over the water and know that beyond my shores lie waves of difficulty, sadness, despair and anger.
You may tell me, “Farhan, these are the ramblings of a privileged mind.” Yes of course they are, I am lucky and fortunate to be where I am. To grow up in a place that is peaceful, to have a secure livelihood and roof over my head, to be able to have the time and resources to enjoy the occasional walk and coffee. But this fact does not automatically absolve me from my responsibilities to the rest of humanity. You may also tell me: “Farhan, you are being too pessimistic, there are things you can do in your life to address this, you can take action, you can organise.” To that I would say yes of course I can, I can take action. I can compost regularly, I can sip my beverages from a metal straw. I can track my carbon footprint. I can raise awareness, donate to charity. I can volunteer for agencies that work to solve global issues.
But the fact remains I am fighting a force much larger than myself, and in my everyday life I do not have the ability to tilt the axis of the world in my favour.
Knowing all that happens in the world do I still have the right to enjoy the luxury of coffee and a croissant? And knowing what I do, how do I enjoy it?
FK’s Reading List
In one essay in the collection entitled The Urge to Get Away, Vassanji reflects on the travellers impulse:
“Whence the urge to travel? - The need to leave the safety and comfort of home, the habits and routines and the intimacy of the hearth, and set off for some distinct place uncomfortable and alien? Is the enticement the destination or the journey itself? It is the curiosity to see the new and foreign or the need to discover oneself - that person deep inside thats been calling? Is it the need to let go and renew oneself? A physical journey has often been used as a metaphor for a spiritual quest such were some of the hymns of my childhood. “O Traveller, what do you bring back” A woman wats at the door, anxious for her beloved’s return, a longing reflected in the term viraha. Since early childhood, much as I have always longed for home, and much as I am creature of habit, I’ve also had an irresistible urge to go away somewhere….”
Over the course my short life I’ve had the great fortune to grow up, live and work in a number of cities, Vancouver, Nairobi, Dar-Es-Salaam, Montreal, London, Bishkek, and Boston are the ones so far, and I hope that before the end of my life I will be able to add a few more to the list… if any of you are hiring for roles in Lisbon I could be tempted..
Thanks for reading.
FK