My name is Lauren Cancio, and I am the writer behind the “Coffee and Conversation” series that is featured on Steep Life. I took the time this week to reflect at a Panera Bread at the City of Industry, CA, and before I could move on to my next piece, I wanted to take the time to slow down and give the honor to the words that these precious people have entrusted me with. I have written 10 features the last 3 months, and I have learned so much along the way.
I wanted to dive deeper into some of the statements and powerful quotes from the last 10 people that I have featured to truly steep ourselves in the transformation that their words truly carry.
My journey began with interviewing my husband, Michael Cancio, who desires to remind us at the start of the year to find our why.
“In order to get past the fear of rejection, the fear of not being recognized or accepted, you need to find your “why”, your “niche” of why you create"…”
Since then, I have been writing with such passion and unapologetic fury sharing my art with everyone more than ever before. I have been challenged and comforted by this fact: I like to write, so I am going to write.
Following a conversation with a drummer, led to a conversation with a baton twirler, a dear friend of mine named Cameo, who shared her story of what brought her to Southern California. Her story became a mirror to my own soul of the power of choice and the act of choosing.
It takes us choosing to see opportunity over seeing our insecurity.
Her story of taking risks in life is a part of truly living. She has seized the opportunity to be committed to her own self-care and putting herself first this year.
My sister, Alexus, followed next with charging her readers with the idea that we
“live to learn”.
Currently, she is living this year with finding herself and living to learn as she finishes the nursing program and focuses on her Viva La Plur business.
Following my sister, I had a conversation with Chef Jeremy Francisco who defined the differences between “attachment and commitment” towards his passion.
“My attachment to my feeling that I don’t deserve to be cooking has nothing to do with my commitment to become a cook.”
He has chosen to track on and not attach and define his passion through the lens of negativity or even critics.
Following a chef led to a conversation with a 16-year old ballerina, Alysse, who motivated us with her words:
“If there is something you think you can do, and someone tells you that you can’t. You should still go for it, and possibly use that for motivation, and say “no, I can do whatever I put my mind to”.
Finding motivation led Alysse to take leaps and bounds in her plight of becoming a ballerina.
Following an assured ballerina, led to having a conversation with an unsure individual and close friend of mine, Marqui, who has found hope and power from the little yet so sacred things in life:
“Have you ever heard the saying, “A drowning man will clutch to a straw”?…We began to talk about the importance of finding our straws in painful and suffocating seasons in life and not belittle that straw for how much breath it gives because any drowning person would say, a breath is a breath, and it brings life nevertheless. Keep breathing even if it is from a straw. Whatever gives you that breathe, a video game, Disneyland, hanging out with good friends, take it in no matter how small. We all need to find our straws in seasons that you feel that you are drowning; find your straw.”
Coffee and conversation continued with twin brothers and co-owners of As of Latte, who reminded us of the importance of consistency.
“There are some days that we do not feel creative at all. We have no inspiration, and we feel like we can’t get anything done today. There are times that we can get burnt out, so we take a step back. We all need to learn when to rest but not to quit. Never quit, never give up, just rest and take a step back when needed.”
They are continuing to press forward with new merchandise and innovative coffee that will power you through your work week; they have chosen consistency.
Fictitious Professor woke tired, jaded, and burnt out hearts of readers with a simple yet powerful reality that we forget at times:
“You cannot pour out of an empty cup.”
He gives countless tips of wisdom of how to refill a cup that is empty.
After a professor, came a singer, Melodie Zepeda. She awakened us to our power: we can write our own stories.
“A mentor of mine said the most powerful phrase to me that has changed my life, and as silly and simple as it may sound, something clicked and shifted within me. I would tell my mentor a lot of fears that would draw me away from taking risks and a lot of it she noticed was based on what family members or friends have gone through, and she shifted my mentality with two simple phrases: Your story is not the same as theirs. We write our own stories.”
Our journey ends with Chelsea Mohr’s story of her struggle with anxiety and being someone who has dealt with various health issues. Her story is a much-needed lullaby that slows us down to truly savor all that life has to offer:
“…it’s what made me realize that life is so short and so precious, and it is really what has got me to want to preserve these moments as a photographer. It dawned on me that I won’t be here forever. I have realized that I need to save these memories and take in all that I can.”
I wanted to take the time to share the stories of these 10 individuals. Take the time this week to read, savor, and steep yourself in their experiences and tips of wisdom this week. Here is their pieces in a word or phrase and be encouraged to take on these challenges this week:
1) “Find your why” - Michael Cancio
Challenge: Look deep within and define what makes your heart beat and soar.
2) “Self-Care” - Cameo Humphrey
Challenge: Know that you are worth it to take care of yourself. You don’t need to wait for someone else to do it.
3) “Find yourself” - Alexus McKean
Challenge: Find your likes, your dislikes, your preferences, your passions; find yourself.
4) Commitment to self - Jeremy Francisco
Challenge: Be committed to your passion this week and not attached to what people say or think about your passion. Live out what that looks like.
5) “Live with Motivation” - Alysse Whaley
Challenge: It is never too late to learn something new and be motivated by externalizing negativity.
6) “You are good enough” - Marqui Terredanio
Challenge: Find your straw, your breath, no matter how big or small. It is good enough!
7) “Embrace Consistency” - As of Latte
Challenge: Dream big and do big and take baby steps one day at a time. Do something towards your dream today. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
8) “Rest” - Paul Kirz
Challenge: You cannot pour empty, so take time this week to do what fuels you back up, so you can love yourself and others better.
9) “Your desires are valid and accepted” - Melodie Kiriakos
Challenge: Find what your true desires are and go after them wholeheartedly. God put them there for a reason. Don’t need to question because His assurance is enough.
10) “Hang on to Permanence” - Chelsea Mohr
Challenge: Savor and steep yourself in moments. Our next moments are not promised.
All 10 of these features have YOU in mind. Take the time this week to put yourself first in an area of your life.