The Awesome Jar 2016
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.
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:
and my first piece of awesome:
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.
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!
That jar is so beautiful! I really like this idea! Good luck in 2016. 🙂
Thank you so much! I hope 2016 is good to you as well!
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!
Oh! I like that idea too! I know I could stand to do better things for myself.
What a great way to focus on intentional living and to appreciate the little things in life. I just may steal this idea!
By all means, create an awesome jar of your own!
That jar is so stinkin cute and such a great idea too. I’d love to check out that book in he near future.
I did something very similar with my kids this year. We made a jar of “BEST” moments!
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!
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!
That is a wicked cool idea! I love it. I think 2016 is going to be a good year for you 🙂
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.
I enjoyed this so much and a friend did it last year, well worth it! I hope you keep up with it 🙂
Great idea, Chrystal! I am going to have to get started on it as soon as I return from my vacay 🙂
Good luck with 2016, I am sure it is going to be great for you!! xx
http://www.sveeteskapes.com/2015/12/meetsveeteskapes.html
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!
I’ve seen this idea before too, and it’s such a wonderful way to count your blessings! I may just have to try it myself 🙂
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.
I am actually looking for paper right now so I can do this.
I LOVE this idea…not only are you capturing special moments in your life, but you get to end the year off with the glow of positivity. I might have to do this!
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!
This is such a great idea! I do something similar but with all of my memorable things that happen, doing little projects like this are the best!
xo Adriana – Daily Dose of Design
An Awesome jar is an awesome idea! I love this, because it encourages me to chronicle my family’s life for the year.
This is an awesome way to keep track of the positive things. It will be super exciting to look through them all at the end of the year.
We often forget about these awesome moments. It would be a great idea to keep them in a jar.
This is a great plan! It will be so much fun to read later on. Special memories would be fun to add too!
Such a positive activity to do! And it is really so simple, it doesn’t need to take a lot of time! That jar is gorgeous BTW!!
I’ve seen this on Pinterest, but haven’t used it. Maybe we should do it this year. 2015 definitely wasn’t great!
This is beautiful! What a wonderful idea <3
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.
Love the Jar! What a fun idea!
This idea is perfect! With this is would be easy to keep track of all of the wonderful and positive things that have happened within the year as a family!
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).
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.
This would be a great idea for the whole family. I love reflecting on the good instead of the bad things like usual. I love that jar too!
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.
Absolutely love this idea!
This is such a beautiful idea, I would love to start this with my family. I need to find a pretty jar asap!
What a beautiful idea! I would love to do this with my boys, I got 3 so we’ll be needing a bigger jar! lol But on a serious note, I love the idea and i’m going to look for that book too.
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.
The awesome jar sounds like such a great idea. I can’t wait to start mine.
Such a brilliant idea. I think it will work so well for hubby and I especially since we have so much to be thankful for already. Definitely trying it.
Ooooo I just love this!!! I’m all about focusing on the positive and goals. Good luck in 2016 :):)
This is such a great idea! I need to start one for my kiddos to add to.
An awesome jar sounds like a fantastic idea. I love the idea that it fills up over time and is a visual reminder of all that is good in your life.
What a great idea! That will be a great way to make you feel positive when you’re feeling down.
This is such an amazing idea! I am going to start it!
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!
What if the 5 year-old had their own jar 😉 A special project for the whole family.
What a wonderful idea! This is a great way to save good things that happen in your life. Thanks for sharing this.