Carly Simon once sang about dreams turning into “clouds in my coffee.” I feel that deep in my bones. Because let’s be real: life is full of those “this was supposed to be great, but ehhh” moments.

I’ve had the big-ticket letdowns including the bucket-list trip that somehow left me feeling more drained than dazzled. I’ve had the small but soul-poking ones like a bread pudding that promised to be “life-changing” but turned out to be soggy regret in a ramekin. And yes, the worst letdowns are always the ones where I let myself down. Clouds in the coffee of my own making. Ouch.

But here’s the thing: there are always going to be clouds. The coffee never stays perfectly smooth, perfectly sweet, perfectly what-you-hoped-for. And yet sometimes those clouds morph into little raindrops, which puddle, and before you know it you’re jumping into them like a giddy five-year-old in rain boots.

Weird metaphor? Absolutely. But life is weird. Maybe the trick isn’t to chase away the clouds in the coffee but to notice when those clouds are actually giving you something playful, messy, unexpected and something you can splash in. Honestly, I love jumping in puddles and believe that everyone should do it once a year.

Because soggy bread pudding? Still dessert. A disappointing trip? Still a stamp in the passport. And those self-inflicted clouds? Still reminders that you’re alive, caffeinated, and still dreaming.

☁️ + ☕ = life. Might as well sip it, clouds and all.