Your Spiritual Garden

Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. ~Kak Sri -courtesy of Quote Garden

The Gratitude Jar

Before this year started, I saw a post on Facebook regarding maintaining a Gratitude Jar. What in interesting concept, I thought. Training one’s self to be aware, open and focused on being grateful is a challenge and a blessing.
I am reading Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly. In her research she said many people found it difficult to feel JOY – to feel Gratitude.

Who are these people? I have always been a really happy person. Maybe happy go lucky would be the old school term. Not because I don’t or didn’t have issues, problems, financial difficulties, men (argghh) and on and on.


I have always had THESE issues. Yet, there is something in me that refuses to bend, to bow down and stay down. Oh, have no doubt, I get in my funks. I just don’t STAY THERE.

I use music and included one of my ALL time Favorites at the bottom of this post. I read, write (or have a written bitching session),watching movies or eatcomfort food (not good for my waistline). I also cook because the creativity involved in cooking always makes me feel better. Especially when what I create comes out amazing!

To date, I have added joys to my gratitude jar so consistently this year that going to bed without writing down at least ONE joy usually keeps me awake.

So, what is this gratitude jar and how did I make one? The post stated to find a large, clean jar with a lid. I cut colored paper into squares about 3”x3” and save them in a baggie. Every day, I take a sheet for EVERY joy I had today for which I am grateful. Write it down and place in the jar.

That is all. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I will empty my jar and READ all the things I was grateful for this year. I love searching for the smallest reason to show gratitude, to be grateful daily. Seek and you will find!

It is not too late to start your own Gratitude Jar. Try it for a week or so. You will be amazed at how much easier it becomes to Notice all you have to be grateful for.
My son heard this song playing and said “Ma, that is your FAVORITE SONG! Check out the beat, those STRINGS and Horns! Ah, YEAH! This song is my definition of Gratitude!


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