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Gratitude Jar:  A New Family Tradition. Lifestyle Feature by: Cerise Mazur, Gamma Xi-Montclair State University January 7, 2020

With the new year we often think of new resolutions. Why not try a gratitude practice for 2020!? Last year I was away for an overnight health & wellness retreat in beautiful Cape May. One morning when we were journaling, we spoke about practicing gratitude and all the many benefits that come with it.

“It is not happiness that makes us grateful; it is gratefulness that makes us happy.” – David-Steindl Rast

Some may think it’s a bit hokey and not for them (me right here at first!)  Baby steps.  Just start small with 1 grateful thought a day.

I am grateful for my bed that I get to sleep in every day. I am grateful for my house that keeps me and my family safe. I am grateful that I can purchase food as needed.

Yes, these may seem like simple daily things that we take for granted every day but just think about those who don’t have this simple luxury. It changes your perspective on what to be grateful for.

I wanted to bring this practice home to my family. I could have asked them to just think about it each day or write it down themselves, but I wanted it to be a fun event for all of us, so I started a Gratitude Jar!

Nothing fancy, just a glass jar that I picked up from Michaels, put a fun label on it and printed out slips of paper that said I am grateful for_____________________

All I asked was that as they saw the jar to write down 1 thing that they were grateful for that day. Maybe it was a person that day that made them smile or sat with them at lunch or a teacher who helped. Whatever it was, no matter how big or small. Write it down, fold it up and toss it in.

On December 31st, while we are all together for New Year’s Eve, we will open the jar and read each grateful slip and reflect on the past year.

Starting a gratitude practice is one of the most powerful things you can do to create a more positive outlook on life. Being grateful everyday forces you to be more positive in life and in turn more positive situations arise! Thus, giving you more things to be grateful for to fill that jar even more!

And yes, even Oprah has a gratitude jar!

If you want to start your own gratitude practice, I love my daily journal that you can purchase here.

So, what are you grateful for today?

Cherise Mazur is a wife and mom of two plus a boxer. She holds certifications as a personal trainer and nutrition specialist. You can visit her site at www.cherisemazur.com for simple healthy recipes and lifestyle tips.