Love in a Jar

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This is one of my favourite gifts to give or receive.

Basic Recipe of Love in a Jar:

1. Write down things you love about the intended recipient of the gift.
   • I love having friends and family contribute to writing these. It’s pretty easy to do these days, via messenger or email.
2. Each person’s contribution goes on a different piece of paper.
   • Alternatively, each thing you love about the person can be on a different piece.
3. Fold up the pieces of paper and put them in a jar (or box).
4. Decorate the jar.
   • A few stickers and some ribbon is usually enough.
5. Give it to the intended person.
   • This way, whenever the person is feeling down, they can open up one of the pieces of paper, and read about how someone loves them.
   • You can also include favourite memories if you wish.

Another option – Love in a Stuffy:

When I was a kid, I sewed a small heart-shaped stuffy for my middle sister. I filled it with heart-shaped pieces of paper saying encouraging and loving things (and some cotton to make it soft), then sewed it up.

She never actually found out what it said inside, but she knew it was filled with love. For years, she carried it around in her pocket and felt it gave her strength during tough situations.

Yet another option – Love Notes:

Last year for Christmas, I suggested that a group of friends and I write letters to each other instead of Christmas gifts. The letters described things we love about each other. It was an incredible boost to have three letters to open, full of love from my friends.

It’s very interesting to hear how other people see you. It’s often very different from the way you see yourself.

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