It’s been almost a year and a half since I launched my Happiness Tour. I still remember that day, and I still love telling the story of how it happened… and all the magic that has followed.
On that beautiful day in Boulder, I made the decision to go after things that MAKE ME HAPPY. I felt stagnant. I felt robotic. I felt like I was just going through the motions… and suddenly, I decided to shift the energy. The results: INCREDIBLE.
By embracing those things that make me happy, it allowed the universe to gift me more and more opportunities to be happy. Truly happy. Like big toothy grin happy. Like my face hurts from smiling so much happy. I’m going to say, it was one of three pivotal events of my 30s. HUGE.
Now, when you start focus on being happy, happy things show up. You see happy everywhere. The word, the smiles, and you attract happy things to you… it’s truly delicious.
Earlier in the summer, I decided to start capturing some of the happy that I’ve been creating and decided to build my very own happiness jar. The idea first came about when I read a beautiful blog post from Elizabeth Gilbert on the topic. Liz created a jar to capture her moments… and wrote about it.
Now, it’s funny to read her post about her jar. And, how people ask her all the time what it should look like, how big it should be, etc. Isn’t that so us? We always want to make sure that we’re making it right. That we’re following the recipe to cultivate the happy that we’re hoping for. We just want to get it right.
I don’t know if I got it *right*, but I do love my jar… and I’m sharing it with you today.
True story: I went to World Market, then Marshalls, then Target. I bought three jars before I found the one. I wanted it to be right. But mostly, I wanted the jar I selected to be beautiful – – as any container should be that holds my favorite life moments.
I bought an octagonal glass jar, but I didn’t like it. I bought a regal copper vase, but that wasn’t the right vessel either. And, then, I found this Threshold vase at Target and it was perfect. I added a “Be Happy” necklace to the top of the jar as an accent and a label of all that’s inside. Voila!
I wanted my jar to be something that could sit decoratively and unassumingly in my home. I wanted it to be something I would see regularly, as a visual reminder to add to the jar. And this sounds crazy, but I love when something decorative can also have an important, meaningful purpose… so yes, my Happiness jar is right in the middle of my home. On display for all, but most importantly, on display for me to add happy moments on the regular.
On a side note, let’s talk about that little bird. I’ve had it for YEARS. I believe, since my grandfather died many years ago. And it’s a Bluebird of Happiness. So, naturally, I have it sitting next to my Happiness Jar. Wow, thinking about that now and reflecting on this post, maybe I’ve been on this Happiness Tour longer than I’ve ever imagined.
So… how do you make your Happiness Jar? You find a box, a container, a paper bag, and most importantly, you start writing down things that make you happy!
And then! On a day of your choosing, you dump out the happy notes… and review all the things that made you smile recently. That’s it! Easy peazy!
Considering that it’s Thanksgiving Eve, I thought it was a glorious time to talk about the Happiness Jar. I very easily could have posted recipes, but, let’s face it, y’all… your menus are already set.
I’d rather focus on things that make me happy. And, in this very moment, sharing my Happiness Jar concept is getting written down on a piece of paper right now.
Be Happy. Be Grateful. Be You.
xoxo