In December, a friend shared a reel from Instagram with me. I try not to watch reels, if I am being honest. They can be polarizing and addictive, but this particular reel had a profound effect on me. It was about setting up a gratitude jar for 2025. Each week, the content creator suggested adding a Post-It note to the jar about something for which I am thankful, so at the end of 2025, I can then reflect on the many events and moments that brought me joy during the year. I found myself wishing I had completed this exercise in 2024, a year for which I knew I had much to be thankful – two family weddings and a monumental trip among them – but I also knew that I had forgotten many positive moments, too. I now have a jar in my office and am adding my colorful Post-Its with notes of gratitude to it weekly.
A strange thing, though, has already happened because of this exercise. My mere glance at the jar conjures positivity, and I have become more intensely aware of how attitude affects us all, including our children.
Much of what I do in my office is work to change my students’ attitudes, attitudes about school, about their work, about their futures, and about themselves. Students who are flailing in school almost always have attitude issues. Students who are struggling with tests or who are seeking to perform better on tests are looking for greater ability and understanding, yes, but also for confidence. Confidence is a game-changer in the world of academics and testing.
The conversations we have with ourselves and with our children can either work to build confidence or work to erode it. Setting the tone for each day and for the year ahead can have a more profound impact than we know.
I hope that you and your family will join me in my efforts to adopt positivity and gratitude in the year ahead. With a fresh semester ahead, consider setting high, measurable goals for and with your children . . . and for yourselves. Consider adding a gratitude jar in a prominent location to which you and your children can contribute Post-It notes of gratitude. Another great thing about joy and positivity is that they are contagious, and with the negative and often tragic news stories filling our daily feeds, we can all use reminders to make the most of every day.