4 Facts You Must Know About Me: Fact #3

Fact #3:  I Like To Keep It Simple

I like strong coffee, crushed peanuts and honest communication.  I like to keep it simple.

Let’s start with coffee, for instance.

When I say, “I like coffee,” I actually mean that I like coffee.  It may be an understatement.  I mean, I typically consume 3-6 cups per day (depending on how tough the day is, ha!).  And I drink it black as midnight.  You can’t make it strong enough or black enough for me.  If the spoon stands up straight in it, it’s almost strong enough.

When traveling in countries like Romania or Israel, the locals try to explain to me that I might not like the typical Turkish-style espresso coffee and that I might want to add a significant amount of milk to offset the strength of it.  My response?  Tip up the cup and drink it down to the fine grounds which finish it off.

I like coffee.

I don’t need a lot of flavors added to it because I actually like the flavor of coffee.  It tastes good to me.  And no slurping or sipping.  I want to drink it.

I also like peanut butter.

Well, actually I should say crushed peanuts.  About a year and a half ago, our family began eating more whole foods and I discovered how many extras were added into my typical name-brand peanut butter of choice.

So I was to delighted to discover that our local Kroger grocery store has a machine where you can grind your own dry roasted peanuts into peanut butter.  No added sugar or fillers.  No preservatives.  No extra oils or anything.  Just… crushed… peanuts.

I can eat it by the spoonfuls.  I eat it on bananas.  I eat it on bread.  I eat it mixed with honey.  I eat it at breakfast.  I eat it at lunch.  I eat it at supper.  I eat it as a snack.  I don’t think there is a wrong way or time to eat that luscious golden food.

Again, I like it just like it is.  It doesn’t have to be transformed by a seasoned chef into some fabulous Food Network creation.  Crushed peanuts.  That’s all.  Plain and simple.  YUM!

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

And you know what, that’s how I go at interacting with others.  I believe in saying what I mean and meaning what I say.  No need to complicate things.  I find that when I’m simply honest, sincere and genuine in what I say when communicating with others, our relationship generally ends up working out better.  It’s the times when one or the other dances around the topic or doesn’t state things clearly that relationships get strained or tensions rise.

If I’m going to have to eat my words, I’d like for them to at least be yummy.  And at least this way, I never have to back-track and remember whether I told someone the exact truth.

I just keep it simple.  Black coffee, crushed peanuts and honest, genuine communication.  Tastes good to me!

What’s your favorite food or beverage?  And how does honest communication make you feel… awkward or awesome?

Author: Allen Chapin

- Christian, husband, dad, friend, leader, author and speaker - Life Purpose = Love & Encourage, Offering Grace & Hope - Life Motto = Living for the applause of nail-scarred hands - Life Verse = Matthew 25:21 View all posts by Allen Chapin