Welcome to improvementcafe.com, a self-improvement blog and digital environment for self-reflection and personal development. Be sure to browse the wide variety of content that’s been created for this blog, and learn more about it’s inception below…
Welcome Change with a Cup of Joe
I discovered that a cup of coffee can really take the edge off the discomfort experienced in the winds of change or hardship. A Saturday morning spent at a café, whether alone or with a friend, can be all that’s necessary to lift your spirits and gain new insight about your circumstances, preferred or otherwise.
I don’t think everyone has the same associations with coffee shops that I do. However, I can’t help but point out the fact that one of the first things a person requests when they’re hung over is a steaming cup of coffee. It’s no surprise to me that Agent Cooper from the cult classic, Twin Peaks, frequented the “RR Café” to recharge and regroup after a long day of super-sleuthing.
But I digress.
If I were to look back on major crossroads in my own life, it was never too long before I found myself conversing in the booth of a diner with a friend or reading a book over a mocha latte at the local coffee shop. It’s not that I was ignoring my problems or that they became any less real; it just helped me re-orient myself.
In fact, one of my fondest memories involves visiting a coffee shop near my older siblings’ alma mater of Marietta College. It was only a month or two after my high school graduation, and I was anxious about going to college myself.
Come to think of it, I was going through a bit of an identity crisis at the time. For years I was the perfect high school student, and I was involved in everything under the sun, from cross country to choir to student government.
Now, I realized I had a clean slate as I entered university. I could be anyone I wished to be, and that scared me equally as much as it excited me.
The place was called “Jeremiah’s Coffee House”. As I walked into its threshold, Rhett & Link’s Book of Mythicality in hand, I took a scan of the room. The newly-polished wood flooring, red-brick walls, and mismatch furniture transported me into what can only be described as a sepia-toned Friends episode.
And as we strolled in deeper, I began to examine the paintings by local artists that seemed to peek out of every corner of the room. There were all kinds of activity at the tables. Some people were reading, others were spending a lunch break together, and still others typing furiously at their laptops in solitude.
The smells of coffee and pastries and sounds of soft music filled the air. I sat down with the latte I ordered and began to read. After a few minutes, my parents and siblings were ready to leave, but I wanted to stay.
In that moment, my anxieties about starting university dissipated. I was able to focus on the book I was reading and brainstorm about the goals I wanted to set for college.
Suddenly, I was struck by the realization that cafés serve more than a utilitarian purpose of merely serving coffee. Cafés invite us to lose ourselves in all the sensory and efferent experiences they embody. The sounds of whirring espresso machines, clanging dishes, and chattering patrons let us fade into the symphony of a bustling world as we start our work flow, a conversation, or a good book. The environment is dynamic, full, and engaging.
From then on, I made a point of visiting every new coffee shop I could find. Each one inspires me in different ways and provides an environment to learn and reflect.
So, I thought to myself, “If I could share one experience with others that engages their minds and senses, what would it be?”
The answer seemed clear to me. This blog is designed to feel like you’re at any other café, preparing for the day ahead of you, enjoying the present moment, and reflecting on moments passed. I want my readers to know that change and progress can be delightful under the right conditions
So grab a cup of coffee (or tea, I suppose) and welcome to the community!
Meet the Founder of Improvement Café
Luke Peters is a native of northeast Ohio, growing up just outside of Cleveland. Born and raised in rural Elyria, he learned to entertain himself from a young age, developing an affinity for hiking, reading, and writing. During middle school, Luke found his niche in long-distance running, and during high school, became a four-year varsity letterman in cross country. He was also a member of National Honor Society, Academic Challenge, and multiple theatrical productions.
Having graduated valedictorian from his high school class in 2018, he then went on to study Economics and Statistics at the Mandel Honors College at Cleveland State University. He studied a variety of topics, eventually authoring two undergraduate theses in labor economics and managerial economics. In May 2020, Luke graduated summa cum laude from CSU with a B.A. in Economics and spent a brief stint as a graduate student in pursuit of a Masters degree.
Realizing half-way through graduate school that a career in academics wasn’t for him, Luke dropped out of his program and worked in a variety of jobs in insurance, finance, and pharmacy. Currently, he devotes his time to his two passions: politics and writing. He is the Director of Major Gifts on a U.S. Senate campaign, as well as founder and editor-in-chief of Improvement Café.
When Luke isn’t working, he loves reading books on philosophy, politics, and self-help. His favorite works include 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Luke was also raised in the Wesleyan holiness tradition of Christianity, having attended the Nazarene Church his entire life. He believes that his strong upbringing in the faith gave him the drive to help others find meaning and purpose in their own lives.
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