Search results for 'happiness jar'

2017 Happiness Jar

Beginning in 2014, I decided to make and keep a happiness jar throughout 2014, inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert, where I first learned about the happiness jar concept.  In 2015, I kept a larger happiness jar, which I filled up during 2015.  In 2016, I used an even larger jar, which I also filled up.

This year, I used a similar sized jar as last year, shown below.  At the beginning of January this year, I began to write down at least one happy/grateful sentiment/moment at the end of each day and placed it in my new jar.  It is an easy practice and it truly helps cultivate more gratitude and create a way to remember snippets from each day.  There is always SOMETHING to put in the jar — even on the most awful days.  It is relatively easy and it only takes a few minutes, if that, each day.  I am also still using my wish ball!

It is also fun at the beginning of each year to pour out the contents of the previous year’s happiness jar and read through and reflect upon the happiest/grateful moments from the previous year.  I highly recommend this practice!

Happy Tuesday!

2016 Happiness Jar

This post is a little late this year.  However, starting at the beginning of 2014, I decided to make and keep a happiness jar throughout 2014.  In 2015, I kept a larger happiness jar, which I filled up during 2015, pictured below, which I sifted through after the Holidays.  It is nice to have the ability to reflect upon the past year through tiny pieces and snippets of paper.  

This year, I bought an even larger mason jar for my happiness jar in 2016, shown below.  At the beginning of January this year, I started to write down at least one happy/grateful sentiment/moment at the end of each day and place it in my new jar in order to create and cultivate a way to remember snippets from each day and to foster more gratitude this year.  It is easy and it only takes a few minutes each day, and there is no simpler or less demanding spiritual practice.  I highly recommend this practice.  I am also still using my wish ball!  

Happy Monday!

Revisit: Happiness Jar

Last year, I decided to make and keep a happiness jar throughout 2014.  I am happy to report, that I filled it up, shown below!  Earlier this year, I made a new happiness jar, shown below, which is bigger, and I plan to write down at least one sentiment at the end of each day and place it in my new jar in order to create a way to remember snippets from each day and to foster more gratitude this year.  I am also still using my wish ball!

Happy Wednesday!

Happiness Jars!

I recently learned about something called a ‘happiness jar!’  Over the weekend, I made my own little happiness jar, shown below.  Can you tell that I love stickers!  Either daily or weekly you write down on a tiny piece of scrap paper the happiest moment of your day, which will stay preserved in the happiness jar for years to come!  I thought that this would be a neat practice that I wanted to incorporate.  It only takes a few seconds to write down and preserve the simplest and happiest moments.  I like how it is a tactile practice and non-electronic, something that is rare these days!  I  also think that it will be neat to refer to this jar in the future looking back on a younger version of myself!   I also believe that this is a good way to practice gratitude!  You can get inspired and check out a whole bunch of happiness jars here!

Happy Tuesday!

Around Here: January

Happy January!  We cannot believe that a new year has already begun!  We are happy to have another year!  Below are some items that have occurred around here in January!

-continuing to work on the next steps concerning my long-term photography project.

-enjoying date nights together!  However, this month, we did not try any new restaurants!  This month we have been making more dinners at home together!  In fact, we made one of our favorite recipes last night!  Doug is a good cook and baker and I am lucky that I do not have to be the one that always cooks!

-we made a ‘chicken run’ with Victory to Zaxby’s located in Westchester, Virginia!

-gave Victory her first bath for the year!  She feels great and her fur feels silky smooth!

-since the weather has been a bit warmer, we have enjoyed taking Victory for rides in her Hound About!  Her new tires on her Hound About work really well!

-chose my word for the year, 2018!

-made my happiness jar for 2018 and began filling it up!

-began using the 1 Second Everyday App to document a second each day — it will be interesting to see the finished video at the end of the year!  (I will aim for a second a day, but it might be less formal, we shall see…)

-continuing to work on getting fine art prints made, framed, and hung in our home, an ongoing endeavor!

-finished the first season of The Handmaid’s Tale, an intense, but really good series based on the Margaret Atwood novel.

-finished the miniseries, The Apple Tree Yard, a good series.

-finished reading Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan, a good read!

-listening to a myriad of podcasts, especially, at the gym and on walks!

-continuing to make incremental progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Happy Monday!

P.S. — Below are a few images from our travels over the Holidays!

The below image contains Nick, my parents’ rescue papillon dog, and Victory wearing their new matching hats and leg warmers!

The image below is New Year’s Eve dinner at Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor!

The image below contains our top nine images from Instagram for 2017!  (Notice — Victory is in every single image!)

Around Here: January

Winter is really here!  Our walks are much cooler these days.  I do not love winter, as there is much less light during the day, however, I enjoy the changing seasons.  I am using this time to work steadily on my project, which I hope and plan to finish this year!  There is finally some light at the end of this tunnel I have been wading through for some time!  Below are some items that have occurred around here in January!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project, and one portion of the deliverable remains to be completed!

-celebrated Doug’s recent well-deserved promotion!  Yay!  I am so happy for him.

-working with my Mom to finish planning the final details of my sister’s baby shower!  (I found the most adorable baby shower invitations!)

-helping to plan and coordinate a fun summer family trip together near the water.

-burning candles all over the house!

-enjoying date nights with Doug!

-enjoying cooking with Doug and trying new dinner recipes using our slow cooker.

-still enjoying my yoga class!

-I am reading Sally Mann’s memoir, Hold Still Sally Mann.  It is a fascinating read, and I enjoy learning about the lives of artists I admire.  If you are interested, here is an interesting interview with Sally Mann about her new book.

-started the documentary, Making a Murderer.  (Here is the trailer).

-started the final season of Downton Abbey.

-watched the second season of Transparent.

-enjoying playing Mexican Train Dominos.  (Doug is really good at this game!)

-started using my new Fitbit and I’m aiming for 10,000 steps per day, and making this goal most days.

-finished outlining some of my personal goals for 2106.

-decided on my one little word for the year for 2016.

-finished making my Happiness Jar for 2016.

-continuing to make more progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Victory is pictured below during our 2.6 mile walk together at a park near our house this past weekend!  She was a trooper and she walked the entire way!  We are making progress!

Happy Tuesday!

Around Here: December

It is difficult to believe the Holidays are upon us so soon!  December has really zoomed by very quickly for me!  Below are some items that have occurred around here in December!

-continuing to work steadily on my long-term photography project.

-we decorated for Christmas, and we love our Christmas lights!

-completed and sent our Pawliday card!

-completed our Christmas shopping!

-took Victory to visit Santa again!

-burning fall-scented and Holiday-scented candles all over the house!

-enjoying date nights with Doug!

-celebrated an early Christmas together in D.C.

-still enjoying my yoga class!

-I am behind on my reading again this month from working hard to tie up some loose ends concerning my photography project, in addition to getting ready for Christmas.  (I plan to get back to my regular reading after the New Year).

-watched the first season of Transparent.

-started the second season of Red River.

-Victory had her grooming at the vet last week; and we both gave her bath this past weekend, and Victory looks really great and her fur feels very silky and smooth!

-we are traveling to see family over Christmas!  We really look forward to some down time over the Holidays!

-reflecting upon this past year and thinking about my one little word for the year for 2016.

-working on my goals for 2016.

-making a new Happiness Jar for 2016.

-continuing to make more progress on our ever-growing to do list!

Happy Tuesday!