Hey, Martha’s Vineyard: What’s in your teacup?

Cup of Karma project inspires gratitude at Camp Jabberwocky.

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Campers and counselors jumped in for impromptu words of gratitude. — Hannah Currens

It’s interesting what can happen when you start looking at your life as a cup of tea. For Polly Simpkins, it was life-changing.

She sat center-stage at Camp Jabberwocky on a recent Saturday, on a scorching, sticky August afternoon. She wore a long string of beads layered around her neck and a headband of flowers in her hair.

“The most important thing we can do is appreciate each other,” Ms. Simpkins said, looking down at her layered necklace. “I add a bead for every person that has been really nice to me.”

There were a lot of beads on that necklace.

Ms. Simpkins spoke to a crowd of about 50 Jabberwocky campers, counselors, friends, and family as part of her Cup of Karma project’s Tea Talk — its ninth of the summer. “We wake up every morning with this cup, and it’s up to us to fill it with people and experiences we choose to have in our lives,” she said.

The project’s purpose is to bring conscious recognition to the fortune all around us, and Tea Talks are a platform for sharing stories of inspiration.

It all started aboard a 15-hour train ride from Copenhagen to Amsterdam about 30 years ago. A man spoke to Ms. Simpkins of the people he loves and honors through gratitude, appreciation, and a string of beads. These simple yet undervalued concepts quickly became the heart and soul of her life for decades to come, bringing Ms. Simpkins to where she is now.

“It’s been a dream of mine since the winter to bring Cup of Karma to Camp Jabberwocky,” Ms. Simpkins said, introducing the five campers who would share their stories of gratitude. “Who wants to sit here on a hot day and bear their souls? Well, these guys do, and it’s made my entire summer.”

Tori, a camper in her mid-twenties pursuing a master’s degree in special education, began with a story about compassion, support, and a doctor who saved her life. Kevin went second, and spoke of a counselor and his unconditional friendship, despite miles, abilities, and disabilities. Donna, the camp nurse, spoke third, and emphasized the power of now and appreciating the present. Gage went next, and told a story about his dad, a man he endlessly looks up to; Emeline concluded the program with a story of a friend who’s always stuck by her side.

It quickly became apparent why this was such a dream venue for Ms. Simpkins. The room radiated an energy among the most loving and elusive friendships. It was a zone for contagious laughter, warm hearts, and perpetually welcoming people.

With some extra time at the end, the event went off-script, and volunteers jumped onstage to give shout-outs of appreciation.

“Camp Jabberwocky is the most magical place in the world! Welcome to our hearts!” one camper said, before another got on the stage to give thanks to the flowers and break into a rendition of “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion.

Camp director Jack Knower got on stage and shared a story about Skipper Brooks, a Camp Jabberwocky legend. He was known for his above-and-beyond kindness as well as his famous illustrations.

“You’d feel like the most honored person to get a drawing from Skipper Brooks,” Mr. Knower said. “I was touched by his love for life and his love for the Island.”

Emotions were all over the map, but the inspiration was nearly graspable.

“I’m always hoping these events will get people thinking about the people in their lives who inspire them,” Ms. Simpkins said. “We so often appreciate people but don’t say anything to them. Here’s to those people.”

While the flower-crowned speakers share their stories, Ms. Simpkins treats her Cup of Karma guests to baked goods and refreshing flavors of iced tea. She’s met her goal of hosting Tea Talks for a full year, and has a final event coming up Sept. 10 at the Yard. After that, she looks forward to having a few more tea talks next summer.

Ms. Simpkins leaves her listeners with the same final takeaway message before concluding each event, “Go now, and let your life be a blessing to the world.”

Visit acupofkarma.com for more information.