I have not one but two favorite mugs, as you see above.  If both mugs are in the cupboard, I will pick one or the other depending on my mood that morning.  If neither is available, it makes for a vaguely disappointing start to the day.

The Bear Mug was my one favorite for years.  I have no idea who gave it to me and when, it was so long ago.  (It was probably from a family member.  To that person: Sorry I have forgotten your act of kindness, but at least you know I enjoyed your gift all these years.)  The other side of the mug used to say, “I’m A Bear Without My Coffee.”  But now the mug is speechless.  It just sits there and scowls.

How did this mug become my favorite?  As those who know me can attest, it’s not because I like “cute”.  That said, a grumpy cartoon bear is not such a bad fit for me — better than a dog or cat or floral pattern.  (As a matter of principle, I refuse to drink from a mug with a picture of a cat on it.  It will never happen as long as I am sentient.)

Mostly what I like about the Bear Mug is its shape and weight.  It has some heft to it but is not overly thick like traditional coffee-shop ware.  It is a bit squat (the height of the liquid in the mug is about as the same as the diameter) but I like that.  The handle is substantial and accommodates a two-finger grip with just enough play.  And the mug has good balance, unlike some whose center-of-gravity is so far outboard that holding a full mug makes your knuckles sore.

My other favorite is the “100 Years of This American Life” mug that my son gave to me a couple of years ago.  In physical terms, it is a rather standard-issue mug, nothing special.  As to design, the mug is imprinted with cartoon likenesses of the program’s host, Ira Glass, along with the supposed hosts-of-the-future “CC the Talking Cat” and “WarTron 3000”.  Hard for me to say why this mug became a favorite — I enjoy “This American Life” but it’s not like I schedule my life around it.

At first, I liked the mug because the idea is clever.  But clever wears off just as quickly as cute does.  I don’t pick up the mug in the morning and think, what a clever idea this is, or how considerate of my son to have bought this for me, or what an erudite person I am for listening to NPR.  Actually, I don’t think about the mug at all anymore, and I have even forgotten that I’m drinking out of a mug with a picture of a cat on it.

It is interesting, the rituals we have and the tokens we associate with them, that things like “favorite coffee mugs” even exist in our world.  In her article, “Creating Simple Rituals“, BellaOnline columnist Leah Patterson argues we should be paying more attention to them:

So for example, say you are the person that has a cup of coffee every morning.  This is a great ritual for appreciating and valuing oneself.  You can start by raising your level of awareness when you are in the midst of this activity.

… As you are pouring your coffee, adding your cream and sugar, and sitting down to drink it, do this mindfully. Prepare that cup of coffee with love and intent as though you were preparing it for your most beloved confidante. … Receive it from yourself with appreciation and gratitude. With each sip, bring your thoughts for that moment to a point of joyful contemplation on being able to indulge and treat yourself so well.

This is the way to easily turn the unconscious ritual of daily coffee, something you already do, into a self-rejuvenating, meaningful experience of gratitude.

I don’t know about this.  For me, what’s nice about having a favorite coffee mug is that you reach for it instinctively.  It offers reward and comfort (by whatever means) and you don’t need to think about it at all.  In fact, the less analysis you put into the process, the better. Who bothers to ask herself why she likes chocolate ice cream?  Or jewelry?  Some things don’t need an answer and that includes how you drink your coffee or tea.

So before you start contemplating what your coffee mug means to you, I would advise, don’t go there.  Let the ritual remain unconscious.  With each sip, let your thoughts fly to other matters.  Especially if you’re drinking from a mug with a picture of a cat, because that is simply beyond explanation.