Written by Dennis Harvell
The Coffee Shop Soul in a Digital World
I miss the days when 7:00 PM meant a spontaneous phone call and a seat at a booth. There was a time before the faceless era of social media when a cup of coffee and a real conversation were the only things on the agenda. We didn’t need likes, we didn’t need filters, and we certainly didn’t ghost the people who mattered. We showed up.
Now we live in a world of Caller ID and read receipts — a world where it’s easier to ignore someone than acknowledge them. Everything moves so fast we’ve forgotten how to simply be.
I’ve spent a lot of time mourning that loss of connection, especially with people who use the convenience of technology to hide their lack of effort. And because of that, I’ve stopped chasing ghosts. If the world has gone faceless, then I’ll be the one with the clear vision.
I’m bringing that coffee‑shop soul back into my life. I’m slowing down. I’m putting the phone aside. I’m having the deep conversations with myself that I used to wait for others to provide. If the world won’t sit at the table with me, I’ll still enjoy the brew.
For me, it’s about finding a physical space — a local spot in the Bronx — where I can be that outspoken writer again, reclaiming the face‑to‑face even if the only face across from me is my own.