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I was inspired to create an “Appreciation Jar” by a post from Marie’s blog, Love is the Answer.…a post about the many positive benefits of creating and adding to a “Gratitude Jar.” I’d also seen this wonderful idea in Becca’s blog, On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea and on Joss’ blog, She Who Walks in Beauty. Joss created an “Awesome!” Jar

I created my “appreciation jar” using some special items from various cupboards around our home…items that have some special significance… the brandy snifter, the very delicate glass swan, given to me 38 years ago by the mother of an incredibly loving, beautiful, joyful, precious 3 year old girl who was deaf and blind, the sugar bowl, belonged to my husbands grandmother, representing “sweetness” in life, lambs ear leaves for softness, a card, “Pause, notice, appreciate” from one of my previous posts and new, blank little appreciation “papers” in the sugar bowl, created for writing appreciations onto each day.

And so….thinking, pondering, wondering and creating began…one idea led to another…ideas about what might “go into” creating one’s own appreciation or gratitude jar or practice… a few ideas …not just for noticing appreciated “events” of the day, but also for:

noticing, nurturing and developing positive qualities in oneself, or others

(as in most of my posts, the ” image pages” speak for themselves. I add explanations, but for more “visual” people, the explanation often aren’t really needed….)

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It might be helpful to review and think about wide variety of positive qualities…qualities we often have, but might not acknowledge enough. Perhaps you might want to take some time to read carefully through this list, perhaps even print it out…to reflect on how many of these wonderful qualities you have and use….what we appreciate appreciates.

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Steps I use….

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An expanded explanation about these ideas…about steps I use,

about the motivations, process and thinking behind the ideas

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An example of how one might think about, identify or specify some appreciated, positive qualities that may be “within” a positive action. (written a few days ago, based on some actual actions I appreciated) (btw…”H” =husband, “Embarrassed” about garbage=embarrassed that I don’t help take it to the curb, that I act busy and don’t help out….not very kind of me )

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A blank of that page… a visual thinking grid

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After several days, I really started noticing and appreciating so many more positives from each day…. and even talked my husband into adding his own appreciations to the jar, too.

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For many months…well, actually years… I’ve also been trying to keep in mind some deeply valued “aspirations” that I try to live with… a bit more expansive than just the individual qualities, often combining several qualities… so again, one idea leads to another… and…voila, a group of hanging aspiration cards and “a pocket” was created… still tying in with the idea of “appreciating” and what one appreciates, appreciates. (increases)

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And so…

“an appreciation jar”

to notice the positives,

in daily situations,

in others and in ourselves,

to recognize and acknowledge them,

to appreciate and nurture them,

to develop and use them in more settings and situations….

to pause, notice, appreciate,

and to be….so thankful

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Three weeks later, January 24: The “Appreciation Jar” is filling up. I put the swan on a little pedestal inside the jar, since it was almost covered up by “appreciations.” Jotting down little appreciations throughout the day is really special and leading to more awareness of the bounty of positives!

I’ve also continued to notice and acknowledge “progress”

in some areas I had hoped to expand upon…

another positive strategy, it seems….

From previous post….. “creating a positive path”

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what one appreciates….appreciates,

it seems to really be happening

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