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Our Happiness Jar

Have you heard of a Happiness Jar?

On New Year’s Eve, my husband and I took it in turns to read my happiness notes from 2016. It was the first year I kept a Happiness Jar (putting memories and happy thoughts in it almost daily throughout the year). It was fun to recap the year this way and we’re definitely making this an annual tradition :-)

I shared the following photo on Instagram and Facebook. Several friends were curious about it and asked how it works. Some already had a Happiness Jar of their own, and others were inspired to start one. I thought I’d share it here in case you’d like to start one too!

I first came across the idea of a jar of notes while browsing Pinterest. Brooke Reynolds, the author of this article, used a jar to record notes of funny things her children said. I loved the idea and bookmarked it.

However, it wasn’t till I came across Elizabeth Gilbert’s idea of writing daily notes of happiness that I thought, yes – I’m going to do that, and I immediately found myself looking in the kitchen cupboards for a suitable jar! I didn’t bookmark where I originally came across it, I must have been too busy looking for a jar of my own ;-) You can read about it here on her Facebook page though!

I found a coffee sized storage jar which I’m still using today. I keep it near our dining table so that I see it every day. I was intentional about choosing something transparent so that I could see it filling up with notes :-)

I keep a box of square note paper and a pen next to it and try to write at least one thing daily that made me happy, date it, and put it in the jar.

Some days I write a few notes, some days I forget to do it. That’s okay.

Over the past year, there were many difficult times, moments of sadness, and energy-draining days. Only memories that made me smile were allowed in the happiness jar.

When it feels like the year was a tough one, it is truly wonderful to read so many happy memories as the year comes to a close.

Try it for yourself!

This is our 2017 Happiness Jar. As you can see, it is filling up quickly! I empty it into a large envelope once in a while and like to save all the notes to read on New Year’s Eve. Other’s use a much larger jar and dip into it throughout the year to read a happy note.

The girls both love to draw on the little note paper. Last year’s collection of notes included quite a few drawings from Rebekka :-) Lea’s getting in on the action this year, as you can see!

Do you have a Happiness Jar? Are you thinking about starting one? I would love to hear about it!

With love,
~ Natalie

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