Heyyy Laura! Happy to hear you too want to get your marbles in order! Oh... and we are both August birthdays! Wishing you a marble-icious 73rd birthday!
I have used a similar system but I have one jar that I use with different color marbles to note how my day went. ( I have 2 chronic illnesses that can influence this ) It helps me recognize the good and easy days ( brightest color marble, yellow) and the days that it took some extra work to overcome the health challenges and the blahs ( white) and the darkest color .. a dark blue) to recognize the days that I wasn't able to climb out of the deep dark chronically ill vortex. Challenge is to have more yellow and white, and I do! Accountability pays off! Thank you Karen for another challenge.
Hi Linda - You sound like a strong and resilient person coming up with this beautiful way to manage the challenge of your 2 chronic illnesses.... Love your system! Thanks for sharing.. and wishing you many yellow marble days to come... xo
i only use the jar for 1 month but I do keep the previous months in a bag and at the end of the year. I dump them together and see what my year looked like. I love the idea of displaying them in a pretty deep dish with the current month still in the jar. I also have a beautiful bowl that is way to big for my cooking needs cooking these days. You have given me a great idea for it's use. Thank you!
It was your description that put that vision in my head, so thank you as well! And I do love the way you use the colors as a barometer of sorts, to give yourself a true representation of life as you know it. May your blues be fews!!
I love this. I am doing this now, with appreciating so much more, like my two dogs and cat coming to greet me every time I walk in the door as if I've been gone for a year, but I'm not appreciating everything as much as the marbles will do. I will buy marbles and cool jars. Thanks!
Soooo happy to hear this inspires. And I'm gonna mention this here.. (I hesitated - but I do really think you'd like to know this... ) this marble jar idea is something that I wrote about in my new book Your To Die For Life ... which is filled with ideas to use mortality awareness as a wake up call. If this idea interests you... then you might wanna check out my book too... yourtodieforlife.com xoxoox
Karen, I am so glad we connected. I loved everything about this piece. ""Darker than pretending we're not all heading toward the same destination?" I asked." I feel so aligned with you. I am getting my husband and I 2 jars and marbles and I am preordering your book bc one thing I know that I want to do with my time left: support people, especially ones who make others feel held. And another thing. I am 55 and I also told my daughters that I will live to 100 (at least). Love to you and thank you for doing the best thing possible: make someone feel and laugh. We don't need much more than this in life, do we? xo
Hi Danni! I’m so glad we connected too! I love that you’re getting two jars...and even more that you’re using your time to lift others up. That’s exactly the kind of legacy I’m cheering for. And yes to 100! Let’s both make it there... with humor, heart, and maybe a few extra marbles. xo (....oh... and thanks for getting my book too! )
I second that emotion, Laura. Now I have a new project to pursue. Although, I may make my marble jar be daily marbles for one month. I need that kind of accountability or the days just slip away...
Hi Sandi! A daily marble jar for the first month could be fun for accountability! A terrific jumpstarter of motivation! If you do this.. let me know how it goes!
@Sandi James.. I didn't read the comments before posting but that is what I do. Then I collect them and journal about the mix of colors in my jar. I have to say that unless there is a major stress that causes my health to spiral.. there are more bright colored marbles than dark these days.
Re-reading your Post again, just now, I like it even more. Picking up a marble, studying it and saying “this is September”. Such a powerful idea , to ensure you make the most of life.
So happy this essay & ritual still inspire you... I do this ritual every month... love to hear if you start your own marble jar how it goes for you! xo
Beautifully written Karen! So timely for me also as what I wrote this week has to do with my musings on mortality––my own. I've lived for 1043 months so far, and I'm hoping to make it to 1044 when I turn 87 next month. But lately I've been given reason to think all bets are off, not only because of where I find myself on the actuarial tables but my body isn't cooperating as I have counted on it doing for so long. So instead of marbles for months, I might have marbles for days and cherish each one. And it sounds like you're aware of the fact that so many people, on their deathbeds, have never said that they regretted not doing more housework or even making more money! The regrets have almost universally been regrets about not spending more time with those we love, cuddling with our cherished pets, walking in the woods or on the beach, listening to Bach cantatas or John Coltrane. Or looking at the sunlight coming through a beautiful marble.
I live in a very small house. So instead of marbles I’m going down to Michaels (here in the US) to buy some beads that will fit into pint canning jars. A slight change in format, but for sure, I’m going to follow your brilliant example.
I love this! Currently in my 62nd year and we are retiring to Spain to make the most of each day, or of those future marbles. One of my first purchases will be 2 jars and 448 marbles! Thank you!
Love this idea! I do a monthly recap in my planner as to what happened each month as well as a daily gratitude but sometimes struggle with what to write. I got to buy the book now. Im 58 now but had a great grandma who lived until 102.
Wow. This is a great idea. I vaguely remember something about marbles in a Brene Brown book that struck me too. Now, after reading this I am thinking that I want to find a way to actually remember great ideas like this. Somebody (?), I read yesterday had a great idea for remembering things!!!!
I love this, It's one of the first things I did -- computing the marbles I have left -- when I read your wonderful book. It was sobering. I'm 82 in Dec. That's only 221 months. But I'm so much luckier than my mother who didn't make it to 64. I'm determined to make the most of whatever time I have left. I will take a page from my old lady Zelda, who almost made it to 105: "I'm going to squeeze every bit of toothpaste out of that tube!" Congrats on the well-deserved kudos for your book
This is brilliant! Thanks for opening my eyes. One marble at a time. Heading towards 73 in August, I better get my marbles in order.
Heyyy Laura! Happy to hear you too want to get your marbles in order! Oh... and we are both August birthdays! Wishing you a marble-icious 73rd birthday!
I have used a similar system but I have one jar that I use with different color marbles to note how my day went. ( I have 2 chronic illnesses that can influence this ) It helps me recognize the good and easy days ( brightest color marble, yellow) and the days that it took some extra work to overcome the health challenges and the blahs ( white) and the darkest color .. a dark blue) to recognize the days that I wasn't able to climb out of the deep dark chronically ill vortex. Challenge is to have more yellow and white, and I do! Accountability pays off! Thank you Karen for another challenge.
Hi Linda - You sound like a strong and resilient person coming up with this beautiful way to manage the challenge of your 2 chronic illnesses.... Love your system! Thanks for sharing.. and wishing you many yellow marble days to come... xo
Hi Linda, do you do this each month, or is it continuous?
I'm envisioning a jar sitting right in the midst of hundreds of marbles set into a shallow bowl. Beautiful!
i only use the jar for 1 month but I do keep the previous months in a bag and at the end of the year. I dump them together and see what my year looked like. I love the idea of displaying them in a pretty deep dish with the current month still in the jar. I also have a beautiful bowl that is way to big for my cooking needs cooking these days. You have given me a great idea for it's use. Thank you!
It was your description that put that vision in my head, so thank you as well! And I do love the way you use the colors as a barometer of sorts, to give yourself a true representation of life as you know it. May your blues be fews!!
I love this. I am doing this now, with appreciating so much more, like my two dogs and cat coming to greet me every time I walk in the door as if I've been gone for a year, but I'm not appreciating everything as much as the marbles will do. I will buy marbles and cool jars. Thanks!
Soooo happy to hear this inspires. And I'm gonna mention this here.. (I hesitated - but I do really think you'd like to know this... ) this marble jar idea is something that I wrote about in my new book Your To Die For Life ... which is filled with ideas to use mortality awareness as a wake up call. If this idea interests you... then you might wanna check out my book too... yourtodieforlife.com xoxoox
Karen, I am so glad we connected. I loved everything about this piece. ""Darker than pretending we're not all heading toward the same destination?" I asked." I feel so aligned with you. I am getting my husband and I 2 jars and marbles and I am preordering your book bc one thing I know that I want to do with my time left: support people, especially ones who make others feel held. And another thing. I am 55 and I also told my daughters that I will live to 100 (at least). Love to you and thank you for doing the best thing possible: make someone feel and laugh. We don't need much more than this in life, do we? xo
Hi Danni! I’m so glad we connected too! I love that you’re getting two jars...and even more that you’re using your time to lift others up. That’s exactly the kind of legacy I’m cheering for. And yes to 100! Let’s both make it there... with humor, heart, and maybe a few extra marbles. xo (....oh... and thanks for getting my book too! )
I love this idea! Thank you!
Hi Maria! So happy this resonates you with you!! Let me know if you start your marble jars! :)
I second that emotion, Laura. Now I have a new project to pursue. Although, I may make my marble jar be daily marbles for one month. I need that kind of accountability or the days just slip away...
Hi Sandi! A daily marble jar for the first month could be fun for accountability! A terrific jumpstarter of motivation! If you do this.. let me know how it goes!
I am going to do it for May. Because I may. LOL.
I'll have fun sourcing my marbles and the jars that are the right size to hold them.
Love to see photos of your marble jar!!
@Sandi James.. I didn't read the comments before posting but that is what I do. Then I collect them and journal about the mix of colors in my jar. I have to say that unless there is a major stress that causes my health to spiral.. there are more bright colored marbles than dark these days.
Hi Linda - I love the idea of the different colors of marbles representing different things! Love it!!
I love this!
Brilliant! I’m in. I love this. Hope I can find marbles without using Amazon or Target. Marble Mortality Ritual.
Thanks Michele!! There are many places that sell beautiful marbles - like some art type stores... let me know! love to see photos of your marble jar!!
Love this!!
Thanks, Cindie! So happy it resonated. Hope you’re out there making every marble count.
That is just a brilliant idea !!
Re-reading your Post again, just now, I like it even more. Picking up a marble, studying it and saying “this is September”. Such a powerful idea , to ensure you make the most of life.
So happy this essay & ritual still inspire you... I do this ritual every month... love to hear if you start your own marble jar how it goes for you! xo
Thank you! I love when something tiny... like a marble...can hold something big.... like perspective!
Beautifully written Karen! So timely for me also as what I wrote this week has to do with my musings on mortality––my own. I've lived for 1043 months so far, and I'm hoping to make it to 1044 when I turn 87 next month. But lately I've been given reason to think all bets are off, not only because of where I find myself on the actuarial tables but my body isn't cooperating as I have counted on it doing for so long. So instead of marbles for months, I might have marbles for days and cherish each one. And it sounds like you're aware of the fact that so many people, on their deathbeds, have never said that they regretted not doing more housework or even making more money! The regrets have almost universally been regrets about not spending more time with those we love, cuddling with our cherished pets, walking in the woods or on the beach, listening to Bach cantatas or John Coltrane. Or looking at the sunlight coming through a beautiful marble.
I live in a very small house. So instead of marbles I’m going down to Michaels (here in the US) to buy some beads that will fit into pint canning jars. A slight change in format, but for sure, I’m going to follow your brilliant example.
I love this! Currently in my 62nd year and we are retiring to Spain to make the most of each day, or of those future marbles. One of my first purchases will be 2 jars and 448 marbles! Thank you!
Love this idea! I do a monthly recap in my planner as to what happened each month as well as a daily gratitude but sometimes struggle with what to write. I got to buy the book now. Im 58 now but had a great grandma who lived until 102.
Wow. This is a great idea. I vaguely remember something about marbles in a Brene Brown book that struck me too. Now, after reading this I am thinking that I want to find a way to actually remember great ideas like this. Somebody (?), I read yesterday had a great idea for remembering things!!!!
I love this, It's one of the first things I did -- computing the marbles I have left -- when I read your wonderful book. It was sobering. I'm 82 in Dec. That's only 221 months. But I'm so much luckier than my mother who didn't make it to 64. I'm determined to make the most of whatever time I have left. I will take a page from my old lady Zelda, who almost made it to 105: "I'm going to squeeze every bit of toothpaste out of that tube!" Congrats on the well-deserved kudos for your book
Whoa. And I been moping around mourning my bygone youth instead of reveling in my now shrinking future.