New Year Jars

2016 New Year Jar Tag (c) DeAnn Malone

Credit this idea to Facebook a few years ago.  The idea is simple, one jar you start at the beginning of the year, throughout the year, you put in something wonderful that happened that day (don't forget to date it!), and then at the end of the year, you read through all the wonderful things that happened to you.  A great way to spend New Year's Eve for sure.

For those super-organized people out there, put them in a scrapbook at the end of the year and in a short time you will have a wonderful memory album that shows your life.  I haven't gotten there yet, but I would love to see pictures from people who have!

I love to give these jars out to friends on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.  I started because I loved the idea and gave them to people I knew would keep up with it.  But as they told me about their experiences year after year, I made one for myself this year.  Speaking of this year, I was feeling festive and used purple jars, added some silver icicles in the bottom of the jar, and topped the jars with pretty ribbon.  Sorry to those who received jars in prior years, but these really are my favorite.

2016 New Year Jars

January 1, I added a note that my four-year old wrote for me.  It was sweet and made me smile.  January 2, I chronicled (briefly) a woman stopping me in the store and telling me how sweet my son's conversation was.  He's a talker and he was in full entertainment mode and it was fun.  We'll see what the rest of the year brings, but I am feeling good with the progress so far.

It doesn't take long to jot down the date and a quick note about something positive from the day.  People say focusing on blessings is a great way to move forward.  They say that what you put out is what you bring in.  They say never go to bed mad.  Whatever the folklore, wive's tale, karmic or religious belief, there is a power in focusing on the good.  Even Tinkerbell reminds us to "Think Happy Thoughts."  Is a simple purple jar with a ribbon on it going to change your life?  No.  But taking time each day to focus on something good will build your spirits and give you a small moment of reflective time that you need for yourself.

Here's wishing you a full jar of happy thoughts for the year.