New Year, New Cup, New Me.

Four years ago I started a new tradition in my life.

Each January, maybe even in December I start looking around, lingering in consignment shops or window shopping even at big box Crate and Barrel type stores – I’m not ruling anything out.  I’m searching for the right one.  It’s not a man or dress or lipstick, it’s something even more personal. It’s kinda like a diary.  It’s a cup.  THE cup.  The cup that’ll greet me each morning, hell or high water, hung over or sleepy eyed it’ll be there to hold my dreams – strong and hot coffee for early mornings and steaming ginger lemon tea for when I’m sick.  It’ll be there to remind me that each day I’m different from the year before.  A moment in time that’s just for me and the dreams, sometimes worries (hopefully not too many) but more so dreams and ideas for the day, the week and the future.

My four cups were all handmade.  One came from Etsy in the mail.  One was given to me by my Mom.  One I bought in a small store in Maine and another came all the way from France via a small shop in the west village.  My father calls that one my retirement plan because it cost so much money.  I didn’t even look at the price when I wandered into the shop.  When I look at each cup I remember the exact place, time and moment in life when I bought it.  I have to admit it helps to have a visual to the years.  I’ve turned two of the cups into planters, which I feel is a perfectly lovely job – to hold precious a plant is just as important as my coffee and dreams.  My cup this year came as a surprise and for that I think it might be my favorite.  But really the present moment should be one’s favorite no matter what.

The cup stands in front of me naked and unconditionally clear and simple in it’s intentions – be present to share just this moment.  Secretly I hear it whisper  “Quiet for a moment now and then together we’ll tackle it all.”

Now that we are into February, don’t forget all the new things you decided to do this year. We have eleven more months to redefine ourselves and keep on task to dreams ahead.  Maybe you’ll find a new mug too!