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The Thankful Jar

A rewarding activity I challenge everyone to try.

Caitlin Luby

Oct 31, 2016

Butler University

Jane Can

Gratitude. In the dictionary gratitude is described as "the quality of being thankful; or readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness."

While it seems like a such a simple and wonderful concept, people do not show gratitude enough and often disregard things in their daily life they should be thankful for.

Recently my roommates and I started a thankful jar. It's a little mason jar with post-it notes next to it. While this may seem simple and mundane, each day or week or even throughout a single day we each put a different thing we are thankful for that day. Whether it's for someone in our life, what we ate for lunch, an interaction from that week - we fill out the post it notes and fills the little jar.

I will say even just having done it one time it was so rewarding! We all sat down and read what people wrote throughout the week. It was a little break from our Sunday night blues that may us laugh, feel happy and spread positivity.

So what does this little anecdote have to do with you? Well, I am challenging each of you as we lead up to the next national holiday to focus on what they are thankful for. All in all, we do not spend enough time considering how many little moments we have to be thankful for each day.

You may have heard of this activity before, but I think as we head into November there could not be a more perfect time to start! The task is simple, get a jar, some paper, a pen and that beautiful mind of yours.

I promise this will be worth it and make you appreciate all the little things that happen throughout the day. Just because amazing things may not be happening every single day, does not mean each day there is not something to smile about or be thankful for. This exercise promotes mental health and honestly makes you step back and look at how lucky we each are to be part of this beautiful world.

As they say in the movie "About Time," it will help you appreciate and notice all the wonderful things about your "extraordinary ordinary life."

So what are you thankful for today? Think about it, and go write it for your very own gratitude jar.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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The Thankful Jar

A rewarding activity I challenge everyone to try.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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