How I quit drinking coffee

Coffee was without a doubt, my greatest addiction. One that is hard to even call an addiction right? It is so accepted in society, feels so good, and is an integral part of an American morning.

Who am I kidding? Coffee wasn't a morning thing for me. It was a wake up in the middle of the night (3 am anyone?) to beat my kids up, so I had several hours to caffeinate to resemble what I rationalized was a functioning human being.  It was a drink it all day (many caffeine shots throughout the day when I had my coffee business, which is another thing entirely. Don't get high on your own supply right? the horror.) However, my dentist told me that I would grind my teeth out of my head if I didn't change something. She put it on me! Change your life, she said. It's your face, it's your anxiety. Can you imagine?! Telling someone to deal with their shit instead of giving them a solution. What a god send. I am so grateful.

So I started on my journey of what to replace my coffee with about a year ago, because it's easier in my vast experience of addictions, to replace than just cut it out.  Tea didn't do it for me. I can only drink half a cup of tea before feeling like I'm drinking dirty water (those mushroom teas) or the bitter gets to me entirely (I am a leave the tea bag in kind of person aka lazy with my tea prep and that's not guna change until someone puts a little tea bag holder attached to the mug for me to slop it into instead of on the floor of my car, I KNOWWWwwww right). Actually, I just looked it up, they EXIST! Future link to this to be placed here:) Nevertheless, tea doesn't feel "clean" like coffee does. Maybe you have to be a pretty big addict to feel this, but when coffee is running in your blood, than coffee is the fuel for my day and just feels good. 

I tried other things. Matcha didn't do it for me. It def changes the texture of the water and made my stomach feel yucky.

But then I had a breakthrough. I started drinking lemon in water (I know, I know, the enamel, but better to have rotten teeth than no teeth, am I right?) and then one day I didn't have a lemon. So I just heated my hot water as per usual and then drank it. and OMG. talk about feeling good. It hits the throat where the coffee does, has a similar texture to diner coffee (which any coffee addict knows, is good enough when you NEED a coffee, which is every morning. Nobody is going to spit in their diner coffee if they have no other coffee option. They may overdrink it and feel like shit for the rest of the day, but yes they will drink it. So the solution is just right there.  And apparently drinking warmish/hot water is actually good for you (Yes I need a reference for this here...I'll get to it in the next year maybe).

So it got me thinking. Was I actually addicted to the caffeine OR was I addicted to the temperature and texture of the coffee? DING DING DING!!!!

I am a much better person drinking my hot spring water in the morning and throughout the day. My skin feels better, I am not snapping at my children (as much) and grinding my teeth (as much). I never question whether I "should"have another cup of water bc YES! I'm saving money on beans and time cleaning my french press.

Now, I am not going to lie. I guarantee I will say yes to a divine cup of coffee when I am at my parents house (brewed to perfection with the finest beans) but it's like going from being an extreme alcoholic to having a drink on holidays. MAJOR MAJOR SUCCESS!

I feel FREE from my coffee addiction, finally. and it costs me nothing (I get free spring water from a pipe in the ground, one that clearly states it is non-chlorinated and therefore unsafe to drink, deems the state of NY, hogwash I say;)) 

I truly hope this helps someone else trying to kick the coffee, for their teeth, their sanity or otherwise. Peace and LOVE to you, thanks for reading.