It’s about nine months since I decided to give up coffee.

In Month One, I did pretty well – withdrawal symptoms apart, that is. I had a whole month without drinking a cup.

My birthday proved testing. Let’s just have one celebratory cup of coffee, I thought, and reminded myself how much I enjoy the aroma, the taste, the sense of indulgence and luxury. That was it! Whilst far from being back to my daily cup, I suddenly had regular reasons to have a cup of coffee “every now and again”.

As my holiday drew to a close, I decided to give up coffee completely for a full year. That was four months ago. In truth, I’ve been surprised at how easily I’ve sat with clients in coaching sessions or in coffee shops with friends and been entirely indifferent to their coffee drinking.

Every now and again I do come away from a meeting or conversation and find, suddenly, a little voice says: “Ooooh! I’d love a cup of coffee!” I’ve come to recognise this link between the most challenging of my experiences and coffee, the great soother.

Still, I’m saying no.