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The Awesome Jar 2016

The Awesome Jar | Nevermore Lane

After all I went through in 2016, especially towards the end of the year, I have decided to start 2016 with a new tradition.

I saw this post come through my Facebook feed a few days after I had packed my things and parted ways with the McConnell household.  I wasn’t feeling super happy about my situation and was wondering what I was going to do with myself. While there is still a part of me trying to figure that out, I want to start 2016 on the right foot.

In my things are a ton of empty jars because I wasn’t able to do a lot of canning this year. I thought that would be perfect for this project. But, as I walked past my collection of things I am still trying to sort and unpack, I noticed my music box jar.

The Awesome Jar | Nevermore Lane

I found this pretty music box jar on a trip to the antique shops with my mother some time ago. I just loved that the jar had a handle, and the leaves wrapped around the glass gave it such a special touch. I had no idea what I was going to use it for, I just knew someday I was going to use it for something special. When I picked it up off the shelf and realized there was a music box in the lid I just knew I had to have it.

Starting today and every day something good happens or I feel like I have something to be thankful for, I am going to place that on a piece of paper and put it in my jar. On New Year’s Eve I am going to sit down with my awesome jar and remind myself of where I was when the year started and how far I have come by the time the year ended.

So, starting with today, here is my jar:

The Awesome Jar | Nevermore Lane

and my first piece of awesome:

The Awesome Jar | Nevermore Lane

 

While the Awesome Jar directions say that one should write about good things. I plan to write good things that happen, but I also think for the days an event didn’t happen, I would like to drop little notes in there for what I am thankful for.

I should note that I am not a religious person.  Spiritual, yes, I would consider myself that. I am respectful of all religions and beliefs so when I get gifts like the one below, I take what I can from it, and move on. 

 

The Awesome Jar | Nevermore Lane

Back in July, for my birthday, my Michigan bestie gave my a book called Power Thoughts Devotional by Joyce Meyer. It is 365 daily inspirations for winning the battle of the mind. My friend knows how badly I struggle with my mental illnesses and she thought this book could help me through some days. I’ll admit, I didn’t begin reading the book right away, nor have I read it daily.

I did pick it up on the 28th and it had a passage regarding those things which you should be thankful for. Joyce went on to say “in order to achieve a new level of contentment in your life, I encourage you to make a list of everything you have to be thankful for.” Like I previously stated, I take one I can from books like these to apply to my life with what I believe.

While I did not sit down to make a list, I did journal about a few things and thought I would write more as the year went on and add them to my Awesome Jar.

At the end of the year there will be an update on the Awesome Jar and then we’ll start again next year!

Have you ever made an Awesome Jar or similar? I would love to hear about it.

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49 Comments

  1. We sort of made something similar in a woman’s group. More a “honey do” jar filled with nice things to do for ourselves. We were supposed to pick one item a day, or per week minimum. I love this idea, so positive!

  2. I think this is a wonderful idea. I’ve thought about doing this as well. I think it would be fun to look back to see what was written down at the end of the year. I may still do this!

  3. I love this idea! I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions because I think they focus on the negative and we don’t manage to make the resolutions happen, we end up feeling worse about ourselves!

  4. That is a wicked cool idea! I love it. I think 2016 is going to be a good year for you 🙂

    1. I hope you are right Robin! I have so many wonderful things to look forward to this year. Just starting the year off with a little blip.

  5. I love this idea! We started this tradition last year in our household. I call it the “Manna Jar” though. Around Christmas time we had a nice dinner & placed it in the center. Everyone went around and pulled a card out to read. It was definitely memorable & awesome being able to celebrate the things that everyone were thankful for. You wont regret it!

  6. That is a great idea! I think I’m going to start one of those too! I think looking back over the year and seeing what was exciting, successful, fun or whatever is a good way to keep your motivation going to the next year.

  7. What a great idea! Using a beautiful jar like that would make it even more inviting to do… To be able to open the jar and read all the good things that happened throughout the year is a great way to end that year and start the new year. Wishing you all the best for 2016!

  8. Hi Chrystal
    Terrific idea to collect the beautiful moments in a beautiful jar. It would be grat to start a new year with a positive mindset and thankful heart. Thanks for sharing.

  9. This is amazing. I can’t tell you how many people I have heard say thank goodness 2015 is over. It was a terrible year, this is a great way to remember all the good (especially when bad consumes us and can take the thunder of good away).

  10. I haven’t done anything like that yet, but I absolutely love the idea. I think it would be so fun reading all of the notes at the end of the year.

  11. We did a similar thing, we call it a A bucket of happiness and sadness. We told the kids that everyday, we would put something in the jar whether it’s a happy thing or sad. At the end of the yer, we wil all read them.

  12. That’s a beautiful jar and perfect for such an awesome purpose. Too often we let the negative things overshadow the positive. This is a wonderful way to keep that from happening.

  13. Ooooo I just love this!!! I’m all about focusing on the positive and goals. Good luck in 2016 :):)

  14. we tried making our gratitude jar last year, but you can only do so much with a 5-year old at the helm. this year, i intend to revive my gratitude notebook and yes, probably fill out our jar, too!

    Cheers to an awesome 2016!

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