Lowi and I have been discussing happiness jars both for our year, but also in terms of this blog. Amusingly, and quite conveniently, we both wrote our experiences and we ended up with a nice mix of Sunshine AND Sarcasm. Could it be more perfect? Today, you can make your choice, if you’d like a little more sunshine, keep reading. If you’d like your happiness with a little more of a playful edge, skip on over to Lowi’s post today.

Oh happiness jars… you are so awesome! Last year at the start of 2013, I saw Elizabeth Gilbert post on her Facebook page the idea about happiness jars. All these awesome, creative folks were sending her photos of their jars/containers that were beautified in ways you can’t imagine. The idea was to fill the jar over the next 365 with all the moments that were memorable, happy and as I started referring to it: jar-worthy.

Then on New Year’s Eve, the plan is to crack open the jar and read through all the happy entries you entrusted to the jar over the year.  I, for one, am of the persuasion that when the end of a year rolls around I am so over it that I long for a shiny new year. And I start to think about the year we are ending as last year’s sweater that I have spilled umpteen different things on and it’s now stained. It also smells and frankly, you don’t want to be seen with it.

BUT, this year, after I rolled through all the those pieces of paper, ticket stubs, post-it notes and written-on napkins that had been hanging out in the jar, I was able to relive all that was in 2013. Sure the year had its fair share of heartbreak, sorrow and disappointment. But there I was sitting with all of these memories committed to paper that reminded me that the year was also filled with love, giggles, accomplishment and true joy.

So, you ask, will you keep a jar this year? Hell yes!

In fact, this year my intention is to write something that’s happy and toss it in the jar every day. While I already know that I’ll miss days, my hope this year is that I not only add the items that in 2013 I would have rendered jar-worthy but also adding the “every day” items as well. The truth of it all is that every day has happiness. Even in the face of sadness there are small moments that touch us with hope and glimmer of the joy that’s to return. Like, Ali Edwards shares on her website and work on “week in the life,” the moments you miss when your life changes are the every day rituals or people you’ve grown to expect.

In 2013, I wouldn’t have written down how it touches my heart when my cat, Parsley, presses her nose to mine and purrs. It reminds me that while we may have given her a fur-ever home, she’s really been the one to give us the gift. But this year, that’s so going in. I want the jar, this year, to be a living testament to all the greatness in my life.

In my constant effort to be better, live better, experience better,  I sometimes take for granted that there is a lot of greatness that’s already arrived safely into my life and heart.