1. < Just Want to Talk

Gratitude Discussion Group

Posted by Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor @debbraw, Nov 24, 2018

Hi everyone! Just before Thanksgiving @michellegraffradford posted a blog called Gratitude Changes Everything. She suggested three techniques to help incorporate gratitude into our daily lives:


  • Start the Day with Gratitude (before getting up think of three people you are grateful for)

  • Maintain a Gratitude Journal to record times when you are grateful

  • Count Blessings – not sheep! (Review the day and remember moments of gratitude)


Her blogpost was so inspiring that a lot of us decided we wanted to form a Gratitude Group to keep the attitude of gratitude going. The blogpost area is not an ideal space for a big discussion group so I am moving the discussion over here to the “Just Want to Talk” Group. Let’s use this space to share and discuss our Gratitude Journey. I’m going to suggest that we each try to take a minute from the day and post here what has made us feel thankful today. It can be as small as a stranger’s smile on the bus or as large as fulfilling a major life dream – or anywhere in between. We can also discuss how we are doing with the three techniques. Sometimes it is easier to form new habits with support from others.

Michelle's full blogpost is at the link below. You may want to review it or print it out to help get started!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/newsfeed/gratitude-changes-everything/

I look forward to hearing from others in the Gratitude Group and to having others join us here! Thanks to those who already shared great stories. If you haven't yet, what gratitude will you share today?!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Parus | @parus | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @debbraw "@parus... I live in Florida so it's fairly warm here. The poinsettias did fine on the..." + (show)
@debbraw

@parus... I live in Florida so it's fairly warm here. The poinsettias did fine on the porch overnight, but I used to live in Boston and remember having to shield them from the cold - even on the way home from buying them to put them in the window! Happy memories for me too!

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@debbraw Yeah Team!! 8 degrees this morning. Grateful again for shelter.

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Parus | @parus | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @debbraw "@rosegold... I hear you. That's how I feel when I exercise. I have to force myself,..." + (show)
@debbraw

@rosegold... I hear you. That's how I feel when I exercise. I have to force myself, but then I'm so glad I did it!

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When it comes to exercise there are times I am glad I did it and times I would that I had not. Reaching to the back of the top shelf is not a good one for me. I am grateful for that lesson.

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Parus | @parus | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @rosegold "I am grateful that I still shovel snow. I hate it but I still did it.🙂" + (show)
@rosegold

I am grateful that I still shovel snow. I hate it but I still did it.🙂

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@rosegold Always lik d shoveling snow because I could see where I had been. Around here all I hear are snow blowers-bunch of pansies.

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Nov 28, 2018

I woke up feeling very, very grateful for acupuncture. I had been having some discomfort in my knee - probably strained it with a walk that was a little too vigorous. Yesterday I had an acupuncture treatment and today that knee is so much better. It's amazing what improved mobility can do for one's attitude!

I'm going to share an Emerson quote I came upon yesterday. It talks about what he was grateful for and I thought it might help get our day started on the right track: For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, ...For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. --Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Anybody else want to share some positive thoughts for the day?

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @parus "@debbraw Yeah Team!! 8 degrees this morning. Grateful again for shelter." + (show)
@parus

@debbraw Yeah Team!! 8 degrees this morning. Grateful again for shelter.

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We are expecting incoming rain storms later today. I am prepared, and thankful for that. Nearby fire-affected areas are very nervous, lots of sandbags to deflect storm runoff are being readied.
Ginger

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Parus | @parus | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "We are expecting incoming rain storms later today. I am prepared, and thankful for that. Nearby..." + (show)
@gingerw

We are expecting incoming rain storms later today. I am prepared, and thankful for that. Nearby fire-affected areas are very nervous, lots of sandbags to deflect storm runoff are being readied.
Ginger

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@gingerw Hard to imagine such because of my location. Are these sandbags at your home?

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Parus | @parus | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @debbraw "I woke up feeling very, very grateful for acupuncture. I had been having some discomfort in..." + (show)
@debbraw

I woke up feeling very, very grateful for acupuncture. I had been having some discomfort in my knee - probably strained it with a walk that was a little too vigorous. Yesterday I had an acupuncture treatment and today that knee is so much better. It's amazing what improved mobility can do for one's attitude!

I'm going to share an Emerson quote I came upon yesterday. It talks about what he was grateful for and I thought it might help get our day started on the right track: For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, ...For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. --Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Anybody else want to share some positive thoughts for the day?

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@debbraw Thank you for those words. Good to hear some quotes from the “oldies”. They did have a way of painting pictures with words. As I read these words I saw the illustration by Norman Rockwell of Thanksgiving.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "We are expecting incoming rain storms later today. I am prepared, and thankful for that. Nearby..." + (show)
@gingerw

We are expecting incoming rain storms later today. I am prepared, and thankful for that. Nearby fire-affected areas are very nervous, lots of sandbags to deflect storm runoff are being readied.
Ginger

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Wow, your community is really good at preparing for the unkind elements, @gingerw
I hope all goes well in your area. Thanks for letting us know (and for being thankful!)

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 28, 2018

Hi All:

I am grateful today for the ability to change. To change my way of thinking, behaving and approaching life. My gratitude quote for today comes from a doctor at Mayo Clinic (from one of Mayo's newsletters).

"Find what motivates you. Post your reasons for making a change where you'll see them most often. If your reasons change as time goes on, make changes to your list."— Philip T. Hagen, M.D.

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jodeej | @jodeej | Nov 28, 2018
In reply to @parus "@rosegold Always lik d shoveling snow because I could see where I had been. Around here..." + (show)
@parus

@rosegold Always lik d shoveling snow because I could see where I had been. Around here all I hear are snow blowers-bunch of pansies.

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I've always liked to shovel also. It feels good to move!

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