On New Year’s Day, I read a post on Facebook by Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) about Happiness Jars.
At first, I read it and thought, “What a nice idea.” But in the few days that have passed, her post has prompted me to think, “That would be something I’d put in my Happiness Jar.”
So, I’ve decided to start one.
I’ll put it in our room, and every night, (that’s the goal, anyway) Steve and I will add a note about something that made us happy that day.
Here’s how our conversation about our Happiness Jar went:
Steve: What do you think is the purpose of the Happiness Jar?
Jan: It prompts us to focus on things that make us happy.
Steve: Have you been feeling unhappy?
Jan: No, I just like to think about things that make me happy. Plus, it’ll be fun for us to dump the notes out on New Year’s Eve and reflect on the year.
I won’t share every single happiness on this blog, but I thought I’d share my first two, because they both have to do with Mommy Love:
January 3, 2016
For my first entry into the Happiness Jar, I printed a text conversation between my daughter-in-law, Emily and me:
This made me happy for four reasons:
- Tommy told his mommy he loved her.
- Tommy is beginning to speak in sentences.
- I was happy for Emily’s joy.
- I was happy that Emily shares “Tommy-isms” with me.
January 4, 2016
My daughter, Andrea, who is getting married on September 24 of this year, rearranged her flight home from Dallas later this month, just to be sure I could go with her to help her choose her wedding gown.
That it means a lot to Andrea to include me in her wedding planning means so much to me. 🙂
If you reflect on happiness, whether in a journal or a Happiness Jar, I’d love to hear about what makes you happy!
Jan Morrill Writes 
Reblogged this on Alice White Author and commented:
Lovely idea. May your jar be over-flowing with happiness, Jan 🙂 I will share one of my own with you. Every day, when my two beautiful dogs go out to play – yes, even in the cold weather – it makes me so happy to see them run and play together, I often have tears of joy well in my eyes. Why is it so special? I shall merely share this link to a blog I posted about Loki and his new sonic collar, and why it has enabled him to be able to run and play with his little sister http://authoralicewhite.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/lokis-liberty/ . 🙂 xox
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I wonder if Sachi had one… ☺
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Koji, you’ve given me an idea for a new blog post. 🙂 Thank you!
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I read about something similar a few years ago, a blessings jar. In 2014 decided to write down blessings. I had 2 jars – one was for blessings that I did for others – I was trying to make sure to do at least one random act of kindness a day, and it helped keep me on track. I also had a jar for blessings that came to me. Both jars ended up packed full of notes. It made me feel great, like I was making a difference in my little corner of the world, even if only a little bit. Never underestimate the power of kindness! I’m still busy with my random acts of kindness, but I haven’t been keeping track of them. Maybe I should – because it’s so easy to forget when life gets busy.
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I don’t have a happiness jar, but some of the things that make me happy are: my family, reading, writing, photography, singing with praise team at church, travel, mountains, work. Whether putting them down on paper slips in a jar or reflecting on them as blessings, it’s a good thing to do regularly.
janet
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I do sort of the same thing, a gratitude list. 🙂 And you are right, whatever we focus on we move toward. Happiness and gratitude are the best direction.
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