Make Your Own Gratitude Jar October 12, 2015 15:29

Today being Thanksgiving here in Canada, I thought it would be nice to share some thoughts with you on Gratitude.

When times are tough, it isn’t always easy to see the silver lining. This is where gratitude can become an extremely useful tool for life. Gratitude puts situations into perspective. When we can see the good as well as the bad, it becomes more difficult to complain and stay stuck with our negative thoughts. Gratitude helps us realize what we have. This can lessen our need for wanting more all the time. Gratitude strengthens relationships, improves health, reduces stress, and can make us overall much happier.

So how can we incorporate gratitude into our daily life? One really simple way is to create a Gratitude Jar.

1.Choose any jar, vase or container

2.Collect some paper scraps and a pen and you are ready to start giving thanks!

3.Write down what you are thankful for on a piece of paper and place it in the jar.

Not only will your Gratitude Jar benefit you in the moment, it will also be a great visual reminder of all of your blessings on days when things just don’t seem to be going your way.

For my own Gratitude Jar I used an old Christmas vase I already had. I got some lettered stickers from the Dollar Store and placed them on the front to read “I AM GRATEFUL FOR”. I also picked up some colorful scrapbook paper at the Dollar Store and cut the paper up into squares. I covered an old soup can with the same paper and used it to hold the pre-cut pieces.

Whenever I start to feel discouraged about something, I can look at the vase and quickly be reminded of all the things I have to be thankful for. Then, by adding a new blessing to the vase I can remind myself that whatever has got me down that day is only temporary and I am still surrounded by goodness in so many way.

So what are you grateful for today? Feel free to leave your thoughts on gratitude here in the comments. You just never know who you might inspire :)

 Love and light,

Choose Your Own Adventure...DIY Map Vision Board Project September 1, 2015 15:30

Here's what to do:

1. Purchase or re-purpose a magnetic white board and a World Map. You can also use a cork board with thumb tacks if you already have that on hand. Maps can usually be found at book or hardware stores or your local CAA/AAA etc.

2. Mount your map to the board any way you like (tape, magnets or tacks depending on the board you choose to use).

3. Use one color or style of magnet to track all the places you have been and a second color or style to track all the places you still dream of travelling to.

You can decorate your board any way you like. The only limit is your imagination!

To make my title, I bought letter stickers that have the image of a map on them. I had some little flower shaped sequins and glued them to pieces of magnet from the dollar store. To track all my adventures I used pink for the places I have been, and blue for the places I still want to go! If you have any of those flat promotional magnets that businesses often give away for free you could re-purpose them by cutting those into smaller pieces and gluing them to whatever you like.

I also had some clear glass stones leftover from another project so I glued a piece of a map that I found in a travel brochure onto the back and then glued on a piece of magnet. I used these larger magnets to secure my map to the board.

If you dream of travelling the World put it out into the Universe. You just never know what opportunities might present themselves when you clarify your goals, dreams and desires.

If money is holding you back consider looking into work exchange programs or volunteer opportunities. There are many farms all over the World that offer free room and board in exchange for help even for just a week at a time. There are also many opportunities for free places to stay in exchange for pet or house sitting. Some people even trade houses so they can vacation cheaply in other parts of the World. Whatever you do, don't stop dreaming...

Bon voyage!

Article by Judi Hartlin – Owner of Road to Happy.