Cherie's Place

Despite some pre-occupations throughout the year I managed to feed my Happiness Jar with at least one happy thought each day

What is a Happiness Jar? The simplest thing in the world. You get yourself a jar (or a box, or a vessel of any kind) and every day, at the end of the day, you grab a slip of paper and write down on it the happiest moment of the day.

Even on lousy days, you do this. Because even on lousy days, there is one best moment (or at least, one least-worst moment.)

You stick that little piece of paper in the jar.

Over the years, you have a record of your happiness.

On bad days, I will thrust my fist in that jar and go fishing — pulling up a handful of great moments that I would have utterly forgotten, had I not documented them.

Above is a photo of my Happiness Jar full of 2018 thoughts waiting to be emptied. Alongside are slips of paper with my first Happiness Thoughts of 2019. Like last year I am using a tear off calendar to remind me to record my thoughts.

After taking the above photo I emptied the jar and refilled it with my first thoughts from 2019. Below I share one of my Happiness Thoughts from each month of 2018:

• Staying at home in the warm because there was no need to go out in the snowy rainy weather
• Spending time with my nephew at Cosford Museum
• The clocks have gone forward and the sun decided to shine in honour of the occasion
• The Sunday Morning Easter Service at York Minster
• A spontaneous drive in the sunshine with Mr C led us to exquisite lemon and elderflower cake in Ironbridge
• Watching a baby wagtail on my garden path. He was reluctant to fly and was there for several hours whilst his parents fed him from time to time
• Driving Mr C to a secret location (Shropshire Lavender) for lunch followed by a visit to Boscobel House – A perfect afternoon
• The current phase of house decoration is complete. Once again I am home alone. Just waiting for carpets to be fitted
• Being able to lunch outside at Chain Bridge Honey Farm in late September
• A lovely drive in the sunshine followed by a walk around the walled garden at Attingham Park
• Mum cooking dinner (for Mr C & I) for the first time in her new bungalow. Brisket and especially yummy roast potatoes
• A day out to Chirk Castle, then Powis Castle. Both decked out for Christmas

Tags: Cherie's Place, Happiness Jar, Happiness Moments, JD, Project