For many years, I have kept a “thought jar” in my house, and another one in my office. The thought jar contains strips of paper on which I’ve printed quotations from all sorts of people; quotations that made me think, or made me laugh, or even made me angry. Anyone who comes into my house or my office is welcome to pick a thought out of the thought jar. The only rule is that you can’t put it back. Once you pick it, it is yours. Perhaps it has a message that is only for you. Perhaps the universe is talking to you. Or maybe it is just random chance and means nothing at all; but even so, the thought is now in your head, and you’ll probably have to do something with it – think about it, at the very least.

One of my favorite stories about the thought jar was many years ago. I invited a man who I had just started dating to my house for dinner. I was very attracted to this guy – I mean weak-knees and drool attracted. And I hoped he had the same feelings for me. He had not been to my house before. When he arrived, one of the first things he noticed was my jar full of little strips of paper. I explained what they were, and that he was welcome to pick one. He did.

He picked a quote from Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne. It said: “Time for a little something.”

Oh, the magic thought jar. I just love it.

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