Mug Shots

What is coffee without a cup or a mug? While technically, you can drink coffee from any container, something about sipping it from a well-loved mug makes the experience more comforting. Once, I had coffee in a glass, and instead of feeling like I was starting my day with warmth and energy, it felt like I was drinking cola. It just didn’t feel right.

I wouldn’t call myself a mug collector, but over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a few. Some were given to me by friends, while others I picked out myself. Each one has a little story attached to it, whether I remember it clearly or not.

For the past twelve years, I have been drinking my coffee from the same mug. It was a gift from a friend—though, for the life of me, I can’t remember who exactly gave it to me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the gesture; I’ve simply received so many mugs over the years that it’s hard to match each one to the giver. Some I remember vividly, while others remain a mystery. I hope that doesn’t make me seem ungrateful because, truly, I appreciate every single one.

But isn’t that the funny thing about gifts? We may not always remember the giver, but the gift itself becomes a part of our daily lives. Every morning, as I hold that well-worn mug in my hands, I think about the warmth it has brought me—not just from the coffee, but from the kindness behind it. And in some way, that friend, whoever they are, is still present in my mornings, even if I can’t place their name.

Maybe that’s what matters most—not remembering who gave us something, but appreciating how it has become a part of us. So, to all my friends who have ever gifted me a mug, thank you. Whether or not I remember exactly which one came from you, know that your kindness is still with me, every single day.