Andrea McLean Instagram – This jar is one of our most treasured possessions, and the fact that it is full feels miraculous. My sister started us on the tradition of writing down on coloured paper every little win we have as a family throughout the year. It doesn’t matter how small it may seem to anyone else, our motto is: “If it matters to you, it matters to us”, so we write it down and pop it in. A few years ago, my wonderful This Girl Is On Fire community joined together to present me with this jar, and they filled it with all the positive changes they had seen themselves since joining me. To be honest, I cried my eyes out when I got it because it meant so much, and seeing this jar sitting in my kitchen waiting to be filled at the start of each year, knowing they gave it to me and had such faith in me, is a huge motivator for keeping going when things are tough. This year has been one of our most challenging yet as a family; and it touched all of us, in every part our lives. We are not where we thought we would be. The big, bold audacious goals we made over a year ago are nowhere to be seen… And yet. We survived. I am healthy and well. Our family is well. We made new plans and discovered new paths, and we are walking along those ones now. We love each other and are loved in return. Our jar of little wins will be emptied today, and we will read them and remind ourselves of everything good that happened and the progress we made. I will collect them all and keep them in an envelope marked “2023 Jar” and put them with the others. And tomorrow we start again. Happy New Year to you, and may your 2024 jar be full. #newyear