Emotional Attachment to a Favorite Mug is a Thing

Broken mug, broken heart

Over the years, I’ve received messages from people asking if I could make a replacement for a beloved mug that had been broken. It turns out it’s not at all uncommon for someone to feel a personal, emotional attachment to a favorite mug. I always understood that in theory—but today, I felt it first-hand.

This morning, John accidentally dropped and shattered my favorite mug. I heard the crash, and sure enough, there it was on the floor in pieces. I think he felt worse than I did; he knew that mug was special to me.

I made it during a difficult time in my life, and creating the design helped me work through some feelings. Somehow, using that mug brought me comfort. When it broke, I missed it a lot. It may sound a little silly, but now I completely understand the attachment to a favorite mug. It’s real.

People often ask whether a replacement mug can truly take the place of the original. From the stories I’ve heard over the years, the answer is yes. There’s always an understanding that the new mug won’t be exactly the same—but it will carry its own one-of-a-kind personality, its own quiet kind of comfort.

Can a replacement mug take the place of the original?    From the feedback that I've received, the answer is yes. There's always the understanding that the new mug won't be the same as the original. It will have its own quiet kind of comfort.

So please, use your mugs. Enjoy them. Let them be part of your daily rituals. If your favorite ever breaks, don’t feel bad for too long. There’s always another mug waiting to become your next favorite—and you can always find one in my Etsy shop.

Love to all,

Cindy

DirtKicker Pottery