You might be wondering at the title of this blog post. I smile at the thought of using this beautiful tin box, once filled with pixies, toffees and dark chocolate – a gift from a friend. I remember those days when I was in grade school and my maternal grandma and Mom had one each of those lovely rectangular biscuit tins which they used for their sewing needs. I loved tracing my hands on those lovely drawings (pictures of ladies in gowns carrying dainty parasols and lovely hand fans). Nowadays, there are stores in the metropolis that carry these lovely items without the biscuits inside.
I found this lovely book (I wouldn’t know how to classify it, whether it is a chick lit book or a contemporary one). Think of Sophie Kinsella. It’s a paperback edition of The Someday Jar by Allison Morgan. I was attracted to the book cover, a lovely jar of thoughts that revolves around inspiring life message. I am on the first few chapters but it had me smiling from the start. It gives me the idea of keeping a beautiful glass jar with all the trimmings and full of colorful papers and short writings inside instead of this old tin box that has been with me for a number of years.
Back in 2011, I made use of one of the topics on the daily digest of WordPress, that of keeping an idea box. The wonder of participating in a Daily Writing Challenge was that they suggested topics which you have never thought of. I keep small notebooks on hand, with lots of pens, sharpened pencils and markers. They come in handy when you think of something to write about but that is not practical when you are outside holding a gardening hose and watering the plants or staying in the kitchen while cooking something for lunch. I collect journals too by the way. The tin box comes in handy for those times that you can’t make use of those small notebooks that you keep on your night table. Sometimes, those life thoughts come at the most inopportune moments, they play in your head for a little while and unless you immortalize them on paper, they would vanish in thin air and you can never capture them back, the way you thought of them a few minutes ago.
I just thought of opening my Fanny May tin box and smiled finding a list of books that I want to read, book quotes, cellphone numbers without names, medicine prescriptions, short lines, single words on small scratch papers but what I found so lovely is this prayer. I could not remember where I copied them from (senior moments working here) so whoever composed these lovely words, I will just say thank you.
LORD, in this life, I am often confronted with situations that make it difficult for me to think clearly. Grant me the patience and strength to handle anything I may encounter. Fill me with divine understanding so that I can quickly respond to the negative forces that would try to bring me down. May I find the peace and tranquility and calm that is only found in You.
I love discovering old thoughts of a day gone by. What was most important to me at that time in my life or was consuming most of my thoughts. Little remembrances kept safe and then later rediscovered. Funny how these items solicit so much more thought than they did originally after one has had a decade or two to mature. Of course, these discoveries also make it near impossible for me to get a closet or storage area cleaned!
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Isn’t it nice discovering things like these Tina? They make you think of some hidden treasures forgotten long ago. I love the idea too of collecting sea glass (what am I saying, I think I am too old for that) and put them in a lovely glass jar to remind me of the ocean and how it brings lovely thoughts. I have sea shells here but they are not much.
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You are never too old. You may pass your sea glass collection unto Nate!
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I haven’t started with that yet but I have a couple of colored sea glass mixed with my shell collections. It’s Nissa who plans their yearly family outing, maybe this year it’s another trip to the beach. Thanks Tina!
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Beautiful as always, Arlene. I love the idea of the glass jar.
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Thanks Kelly. Let’s try the glass jar, embellish it with some colorful twine or stickers. Haha, I can imagine how it looks now.
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Great idea! I think you need to do that!
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One of these days Kelly….when I am not too busy 🙂
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I hear you!
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Hahaha!
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Sounds like a nice thing to have Arlene. I have notebooks, but no jars or tin boxes anymore. I think that my blog has taken over, and become my electronic ‘ideas box.’
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s nice sometimes to discover things that you’ve written a long time ago. Blogging made it easier to keep those thoughts alive though.
Thanks Pete!
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Those metal boxes are so beautiful. Often on Christmas, I will buy a pretty one and fill it with interesting dark chocolates as a gift for my father. He is passionate for chocolate; especially dark chocolate. We unpacked a box from the attic recently, and found several of those boxes from years passed. Each one presents us with a possibility for how to use it wisely and well. I like your idea for filling a beautiful glass jar with inspiring quotations. The act of writing the slips to fill it could be as joy-filled as reaching in to draw a random one from time to time. Thank you for visiting Forest Garden today and leaving a like. I’m so happy to have found your blog. I hope you are feeling much better. Best wishes, WG
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Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Yes, I often see several tin boxes during Christmas in all sizes too. I will try the glass jar as soon as I find the time to source for one. I enjoyed looking at and reading your blog posts, thank you.
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beautiful prayer, Arlene! lovely post as always 🙂
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Thanks lolaWi!
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thanks mummy Arlene…uplifting prayer and reminding me lots of memories, ’bout tin old box:)
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You’re welcome Carol 🙂
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[…] to my journal. The prayer box reminds me of another blog post I wrote exactly a year ago. My thought box is a discarded chocolate tin which contains square scratch papers of different size and color […]
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