Author: M. L. |
Jar of happiness preserves your memories |
|
If you were to choose a single moment of true happiness that you experienced yesterday, which would it be?
Or, what delighted you exactly three months ago?
Many certainly know the answer to this question. Maybe you recorded it in your diary or something extraordinary happened to you on those days.
Perhaps some of you keep those answers in your jar of happiness, a simple project that found thousands of supporters throughout the world.
What is jar of happiness?
This is a project first presented by the American writer Elizabeth Gilbert, known as the author of a memoirs book "Eat, Pray, Love", which provided a basis for a homonymous movie.
She described the jar of happiness as an "almost absurdly simple idea", whose purpose is to record the happiest moment of every day.
"At the end of every day I take a piece of paper (an edge of a telephone bill or a part of an old errand list) and write on it the happiest moment of that day, with the date.
I fold the paper and put it in the jar. And that's it," - explains Elizabeth Gilbert her method of recording memories, adopted by thousands of people throughout the world.
When she wishes, she peeks into the jar, pulls out one of the papers and cheers up. The papers are reminders of small, precious moments which provide both joy and consolation in the days when things don't go so well, she says.
"What I put on paper are not big things, they may be almost trivial things, but they are very important to me," says the renowned author in interviews.
"A little sun on the face, a casual encounter on the street," she adds, describing moments she wrote on the paper, and which found their way to her jar of happiness.
The idea met with a great approval, encouraging many people around the world to create other essential "jars" in their lives.
Today one can find family jars such as "parents-children" or "mother-daughter", jars dedicated to "hope and help with cancer", "post-divorce period", "New year", "friendship" and others.
People send her photos and thank her for helping them look at life differently and be reminded of moments giving it meaning and value.
Make your own jar of happiness
The beauty of this project is in its simplicity, says Elizabeth Gilbert.
It doesn't matter whether the container is made of glass or wood, whether you write on decorative paper, old ticket or a paper bag you just brought from the store.
The point is to write down the happiest moment (or feeling, thought, wish, something you want to keep for later) and store it, together with the date.
The jar or any other container with a memory is a reminder of little things which mean a lot for your life.
But they may make others happy too.
Imagine how your loved ones would react if you presented them with a jar your first year on their 18th birthday, much more dedicated and intimate than a usual photo album.
Or how would you feel if you received a jar of friendship from a person physically far away, but linked to you by early memories and growing up together, which made him or her think of you.
Nice, isn't it?
Just like life, waiting for you to write it down.
Good luck!
Liked the article?
Share it with your friends!
