Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

As I researched New Year’s traditions for this week’s Lifestyles page, I came across one that I plan to implement in my home this year because I love the idea and its simplicity. At the moment I cannot offer credit for my source because I’ve read so many blogs that I can’t recall where this particular idea came from; thankfully the idea stuck.

Sometimes it is easy to get mired down in our problems — those unexpected obstacles life seems to throw in our path — character-builders my Mom has always called these stumbling blocks. Speaking for myself, it is easy to focus on the negative, and I have the tendency to lose sight of the positive things for which I should be thankful.

The tradition I am going to start involves a container, a pen or pencil and a few scrap slips of paper. Simple as that!

Beginning on the 1st of the year, the idea is to write down on a scrap of paper every good thing that happens — big or small. Your child might get an ‘A’ on a big test at school. Maybe your boss compliments you on a job well done at work. What individuals choose to write down is entirely up to them.

Over the year, you will fill your container with these little slips of paper, on which you’ve written down good things, positive moments, little things in life worth celebrating.

As the New Year rolls around next year, you and your family (whoever is participating and contributing to your good things jar) can spend an afternoon or evening going through your container remembering and giving thanks for all the good things that happened over the past year.

A proponent of the power of positive thinking, I enjoy the idea of starting out a new year by focusing and being thankful for all things positive in the previous year.

If you are at all like me, someone who longs to be a positive and optimistic spirit who can easily be bogged down or lose your footing when confronted with negativity, this seems like a great way to stay tuned into life’s blessings and to celebrate them with people you love.