Impact of Everyday Activities
Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
Impact of Everyday Activities
The cultivation of sociological imagination draws its origin from individuals having to think sociologically. For everyone studying sociology, it does not just serve as a routine process that involves acquiring knowledge. Sociology refers to an expert who can break free from the immediacy of personal situations. Such a person has the power to put things in a wider context. In my case, sociological work has focused on ensuring that I understand how I interact with the environment around me. I refer to this as a sociological imagination. Sociological imaginations such as the daily drinking of coffee in the morning have ensured that I think about myself as a highly dependent person on the beverage for personal developments. It is a significant part of my routines, and cannot imagine living without a cup of coffee at least three times a day. However, do I know the implications of three coffee cups daily with such a habit in place? What should I think about this type of habit in relation to looking for an alternative? These are two important questions that allow me to illustrate my position in relation to coffee’s daily consumption in my home, learning, and possibly-working environments. The discussion is a pictorial framework of my interactions with my daily cup of coffee.
System Implications of habitual consumption of Coffee Daily
First, coffee should not just be evaluated as a refreshing drink for anyone in the market. The main reason for this is that there are many reasons as to why individuals should focus on having a different perception regarding the beverage. Coffee has been known to be one of the friendliest in the human environment. People have been fighting to have the drink both in the professional and workplace environments for the longest period. The main reason has revolved around its influence on society. Coffee has caffeine, which tends to increase the temperatures of individuals. With this, people are able to remain active and more focused on the completion of different tasks. Coffee eliminates feelings of sleep and anxiety. It has been known to have a symbolic value as a significant part of individuals’ day in relation to daily social activities. The popularity of coffee has been crucial in enabling all members of the global society to become more focused on growing the product in large quantities. Rituals associated with coffee drinking are significant compared to consuming the drink (Quintão, Brito, & Belk, 2017). An example includes how individuals perceive the morning cup of coffee.
For them, it is not just about the drink, but how it makes them feel. The feeling of rejuvenation makes it possible for people to enjoy it and increase their use of the drink. Even on my part, coffee plays an essential part in individuals having to start their day. There is always a feeling that people have when they meet with other individuals. Many people are always proud when they state that they are going to meet someone for coffee. The process seems to mirror the fact that it is just not about individuals in the meeting drinking coffee. For them, it becomes important to focus on the aspect of promoting the good feeling of spending time with the person one goes to meet with during the meeting. Coffee, on my part, and those around have and continue to see it as an important basis for ensuring effective socialization and social interactions among individuals. This provides a rich vein of subject matter, even for experts who tend to think about how people enjoy coffee in different environments.
Secondly, coffee has been known to contain caffeine, which is an important stimulant among different members of society. Coffee has been known to stimulate different parts of the brain. As described above, when one wants to feel stimulated and become active during the entire day, a cup. With such feelings of their day being difficult, it becomes important to focus on a drink that energizes them and lets them become active during the different activities they have to undertake on any particular day. Coffee ensures that they are able to concentrate on the completion of different activities. It provides them with a lift to ensure that their day goes as per their plans. Laziness and tiredness can be seen as being detrimental when it comes to achieving the required results in work undertaken. In my case, I have been in a situation whereby it was exam time, and I was really tired. I had spent the whole weekend reading for the papers of the following week. The situation made me feel like I was really burning because I could not concentrate. I had some issues with back pains and joint aches. Coffee has gained a habit-forming nature, and many people always feel that they need coffee injections for them to get through their typical days. In countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, coffee almost takes an important position as alcohol (Gallenti, Troiano, Cosmina, & Marangon, 2016). People may use it to ensure that it serves as an alternative for alcohol despite its addictiveness. Coffee is known as a mind-altering drug despite it being illegal. The interesting nature of the issue surrounding coffee compared to drugs such as cocaine and cannabis is that it is allowed even in professional environments.
Third, when individuals such as me who are used to coffee have a single cup, we find ourselves in a complex set of global social and economic interactions. This means that we are connected to millions of people in different parts of the world. The situation influences an aspect of the global production chain that is connected to the use of coffee. There are different areas where coffee has been seen to thrive. These areas include Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The coffee is planted by economically disadvantaged farmers who live in deplorable environments. Local distributors are the ones who buy coffee in bulk and cheaply. The result comprises the coffee being shipped to Europe. When Europe undergoes processes such as roasting and grounding to ensure that the market finds it easy to consume it. European countries are the ones that ensure packaging and branding (Wilkinson, 2015). When it comes to adding the processes, which go to a coffee shop, coffee has to go through six chains from coffee farmers to their consumers. The coffee farmers are the ones below the food chain when it comes to different benefits associated with the growth of coffee.
From a historical perspective, the production and consumption of the drink have close connections to the colonial development of countries. This is a period whereby many European countries invaded regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The situation influenced the aspect of European powers wanting to benefit from the planting of specific crops associated with the colonies. Among the most significant crops during the time include bananas, sugar, coffee, and tea. The crops were exported to mother countries. Colombia and Indonesia have been known to hold the record of planting coffee during the colonial era than any other county in the world. I have come to appreciate this long and tough history that has served as a major picture of where and how coffee consumption began.
I believe that history alone is just something that can provide more than enough information to different individuals regarding the growth and use of coffee in different parts of the world. Currently, companies such as Nestle and Starbucks have become majority shareholders when it comes to the production of one of the best coffees. The companies have been known to exploit coffee pictures through little salaries and remunerations for profit maximization. Despite being one of the largest coffee consumers, I do not advocate for the suffering of other individuals. I believe in what is right and fair when it comes to treating individuals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the drinking of coffee is a daily activity that requires individuals to become more focused on the lifestyle rather than just enjoying the cup. I have pictured my consumption of coffee as one that ties me to my environment and when it’s about the environment, cultural developments. Coffee has a rich history that draws its origin from the colonial era. It has reached a point whereby it has been appreciated despite large companies such as Nestle and Starbucks paying farmers little. I believe that coffee is the best in terms of creating the right experiences with loved ones and friends.
References
Gallenti, G., Troiano, S., Cosmina, M., & Marangon, F. (2016). Ethical and sustainable consumption in the Italian coffee market: A choice experiment to analyze consumers’ willingness to pay. Italian Review of Agricultural Economics, 71(2), 153-176.
Quintão, R. T., Brito, E. P. Z., & Belk, R. W. (2017). The taste transformation ritual in the specialty coffee market. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 57(5), 483-494.
Wilkinson, J. (2015). Food security and the global agrifood system: Ethical issues in a historical and sociological perspective. Global food security, 7, 9-14.