Passing the Cup

We had a ritual: whoever had the cup, had the floor. It wasn’t about rules or formal speaking turns it was about attention. You could pass the cup for a joke, a reflection, or even a pause.

That night, someone shared a quiet worry, another offered a story from years ago, and by the time the cup made its way around the circle, everyone had laughed, sighed, and felt a little lighter. The act of passing the cup made us aware not only of the words shared but of the care in listening, the subtle nods, the small smiles exchanged across the circle.

The cup was empty at the end, but the room felt full.