our gratitude jar
“Living simply makes loving simple.” ― bell hooks
This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products.*valentine’s day is not a holiday that I jump to celebrate. I love to keep it simple. Fresh flowers + rose cake, little trinkets for the kiddos, nothing much. it is a day that can be full of misplaced expectations when all I really want is a little extra care, given + received. in our family, more recently, we have been exploring what it means to care for each other. in what ways do we like to give and receive love. this is changing over time as our children are growing, our lives are shifting, we can turn back to the things that make us feel more comfortable + secure.
in this season, which can be focused on consumption + outward, often extravagant displays of attention, affection and more, I wanted to return to a more simply rooted expression of love. to reframe how we experience things rooted in a practice of seeing with our hearts.
an expression often forgotten. gratitude.
an expression of simple thanks for what abundance, love, solidarity, exists in our lives. a recognition of those who support us + love us. a humbling of our challenges and a reminder to speak words of love to what is important.
magnolia’s list includes friends, the puppy, our family + our beloved apple tree fiona.
gratitude not to bypass lives challenges but to pull them in a little closer, a little tighter.
Some days when i’m overwhelmed with unanswered emails and piles of laundry, lists of things to do and what is left undone, I need a reframe. defining ourselves not by what is missing in our lives, but what is present and what is of value to our hearts + souls. As a family activity, we started a gratitude jar. It was truly a breath of fresh air.
now that magnolia is seven and griffin is almost six, we’ve been spending a good deal of time naming feelings, discussing our emotional states, our likes + dislikes. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to turn our attention + conversation to what we are thankful for.
ingredients
squares of paper
pen
an open heart
directions
the children sketched their gratitudes and aj + I wrote ours. we tucked them into little envelopes and safely away in our Ball® Storage Latch Jar. It will be a weekly practice this month to sit together as a family and reflect on those things we are grateful for, i’ll add a couple inspiring words and heartfelt poems that in times of overwhelm, we can pull out an envelope or two to feed our inner spirit with a spirit of love.
I think a gratitude jar could make an intimate gift for a friend or neighbor. sharing memories, quotes or poems you think they might like. words of laughter + support. maybe you tuck them into a smaller Ball® Pint Jar + tie it with a bow.
in this month of February, I am grateful for winter walks, I am grateful for our health. I am grateful our children are in school and get to play, learn, and grow in the companionship of friends. I am grateful for the fall bulbs I tucked into Ball® Flute Jars for midwinter blooms. I am grateful for the courage to keep showing up to opportunities + challenges. I am grateful for your presence here. I am grateful to be able to share another year with another year as a Ball® home canning ambassador, bringing you recipes, rituals, and rhythms for home + season. I am so grateful spring is on its way!
if you are called, please share in the comment section below what you are feeling grateful for today or if you need a word of comfort and support.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.