We made it! School is out, and summer is finally here! I like to use this midpoint of the year to reevaluate where I am in regards to the intentions I set at the beginning of the year. Last year I started gratitude jars and I’m attempting to make this a norm for every year. I love using jars. They are reusable and more durable for me than using an envelope system or Tupperware. Use whichever container works best for you and your family. I store my jar on the counter, and when it gets full, I put it under my sink in a cabinet.
As a solo parent, I realized last year that a lot of small beautiful mindful moments get forgotten as the days turn into weeks, months, etc. Let me retract, as a parent, in general; I realize so many moments get forgotten as time passes with the daily grind. Now I make a point to live with more intention in my life. It is the easiest pick me up to go through last year’s jars when I have those moments that I feel like a failure or I’m just so overwhelmed with life that I think I suck at this parenting thing and life in general. It is also enjoyable for the first week of the year to go through these jars and see all the beautiful things that happened the previous year. To be honest, 95% of the things mentioned I did forget occurred. How much do you forget as the year moves forward?
The entire family can be involved with gratitude jars, and this can be a family jar of gratitude or made individually for each member. All you do is write it down! When something happens to you that made your day write it down on a scratch piece of paper and toss it in the jar. This year I’m attempting to put dates on the notes, so I have a better idea of when these mini moments of happiness occur.
I have not decorated my jars they are plain spaghetti jars, but you can paint or glam them up if it will help you use them. The first month I did this my jar was full. I was writing down every little thing that occurred. Then I forgot for a few months, and now I’m back at filling my gratitude jar. Here are some of the memories that happened last year when I reread my notes.
- My father took my kids overnight on a school night. This NEVER happens, and it was an excellent memory to come back to a year later. I was able to go bowling on the fly with a friend and had some much-needed adulting time without worrying about getting home to put my little ones to bed.
- An instructor at RCTC invited me to bring my kids to class if their school was delayed or canceled due to snow. I didn’t end up needing to bring my kids to class, but that offer was marvelous. Going back to school as a parent is difficult no matter how you look at it. Her kindness stays with me, and I try hard to share similar acts of kindness with others.
- Another small memory that had a significant impact that I would have forgotten without the gratitude jars was a local musician whom my son idolizes made him and his sister some origami at the coffee shop. They never asked for him to do this, he just did it, and it made my heart warm not only with this kindness but how excited my kids were. They still have these origami figurines which is astounding because my kids lose EVERYTHING!
Do you think gratitude jars are something you could implement in your lifestyle? It is the most uncomplicated low maintenance mindful activity I have come across. Have you done this before or have any mindful tips and tricks to help you remember all the little things as time passes by?
