Paving the Path to Happiness

If you checked in with me last week, you’ll know I was pretty happy about buying a Happiness Journal.  Inside it has 300 suggestions for things to do and write about.  Yesterday, I spent some time taking a closer look.

 Write various positive affirmations, compliments you’ve received, and quotes you love on little pieces of paper.  Put them in a jar, and when you need a little hug or joy, reach in and grab one.  Continue to add to your joy jar over the years and you’ll create a jar full of love.

This one jumped off the page for me.  As a regular collector (and sharer) of positive quotes and affirmations, I was excited about the idea of having a place to collect and use them, instead of just storing them on my computer or in a notebook.  I decided I would need to keep them in a prominent place in order to make the exercise useful, and since I wanted to keep them in my living room, I needed something nicer looking than a mason jar.

We have this table by the front door which sits empty, aside from the rare occasion when we have fresh flowers in the house.  I found the place, so I only needed to find the vessel.

While some folks might consider this as an opportunity to take a trip to Home Goods, I am my mother’s daughter, and as I did some Saturday morning chores I noodled on what I already had in the house that I might repurpose.  And just like I was in Hogwarts’s room of requirements, what I needed was quite suddenly in front of me.

My mom collected music boxes for many years and I happen to have a couple.  One of them that came to be in my possession isn’t a music box by traditional description, but rather a decorative glass container with a musical lid.  I located it in my neglected china cabinet sitting on a dusty shelf.  As I was giving it a good cleaning I turned it over and saw the forgotten sticker on the bottom written in my mother’s hand, “for Sue”.  This was it.

The song it plays is a little sad – Danube Wave Waltz.  Over the Waves or Somewhere My Love would be cheerier, but you can’t have it all.  I’m super excited to have had the inspiration.

The first quote to go inside was one that Mom said often.  Tomorrow is another day.  This quote is great for those who like a fresh start or new beginning.  It is also appropriate for someone from a family of procrastinators.  As I am both, it’s perfect.