A new year is here and I’m welcoming it with open arms. 2017 was a wonderful year and I look back on so many memories from the past 12 months very fondly. As 2017 kicked off, we started a new tradition in our family – a Joy Jar. I 
can’t take any credit for the idea. I think I saw it on Pinterest, maybe? But the concept it pretty simple. Each time something joyful happens, you write it down and add it to the jar. At the end of the year, you can read through all those memories and reflect on all the joyful moments from your year.
Yesterday as I sat and read through each memory, with a smile plastered on my face, a few things occurred to me. First of all, nearly all of our joyful moments are thanks to our circle of friends. Almost all of those folded notes mentioned a visit, getaway or get together with friends and family. Secondly, our lives don’t need to be filled with fancy or elaborate things to be full of joy. Many of the noteworthy memories were as simple as a child sleeping through the night in their own bed, pleasant weather, or a thoughtful card that came in the mail. Finally, I noticed that I was much better at adding to the Joy Jar when it was new. I think over half of the notes were dated in January. As the months went on, I got worse and worse about remembering to write things down.
As a new year kicks off, naturally we reflect on the past and start to think ahead about what’s to come. I’ve given some thought to my goals for 2018, but regardless of the specifics, there’s an important lesson to be learned from the Joy Jar. Goals work best if you don’t just focus on them for a short time. Hopefully this year, my enthusiasm won’t fade so quickly.
After reading through my joys I thought to myself, “well that was nice, but maybe one year was enough.” I wasn’t convinced it was a tradition worth continuing. Then, I got some incredible news that changed my mind (more on that to come). I felt so overjoyed, I wanted to document it as a reminder of how happy I felt in that moment. And the year is just getting started! I’m sure there will be plenty of joys to fill up another jar in 2018 and I plan to celebrate those things. Sometimes, feelings of overwhelming sadness don’t always feel like a choice. I can get stuck in a downward spiral of negativity or worry from time to time. So if I have good things to celebrate, and can feel overjoyed by simple things in everyday life, I want to dwell on that instead. May we all have a joy filled New Year! Happy 2018, friends!