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.

Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw so glad for this information Its looks beautiful If I was there in Pasadena I..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw so glad for this information Its looks beautiful If I was there in Pasadena I would be there I enjoyed working on the Cal,Poly float fun Ill be looking for it are you riding on it?

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@lioness No, I was behind the scenes only. Not sure this old body could handle the stress of riding a float! Showing up at 4am for last minute things, in the dark and cold, regardless of the weather, then riding a 5 mile parade route that goes to about 11:30am after an 8am start.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw Im going to try Zetangle this afternoon I have it online but is there a..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw Im going to try Zetangle this afternoon I have it online but is there a book?

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@lioness Oh, yes, there are a lot of books out there! Ask my wallet and library!

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1 reply
karen00 | @karen00 | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@parus I have found the focus required for Zentangle and quilting is easy to maintain. Focus..." + (show)
@gingerw

@parus I have found the focus required for Zentangle and quilting is easy to maintain. Focus for crochet, not so good, and it literally will put me to sleep after about an hour! Don't know that anyone else can relate, but due to being excluded by family and others as a child, I choose to celebrate a season rather than specific holidays, to recognize inclusiveness [is that such a word?]. I honor each person's choice, something that was denied to me.
Ginger

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@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now - and need a diversion. All these happy family holiday commercials are getting to me! Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for the season, but what I see is not what I experience! I sound like Scrooge and I don’t mean to. Merry Christmas!

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4 replies
lioness | @lioness | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @karen00 "@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now..." + (show)
@karen00

@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now - and need a diversion. All these happy family holiday commercials are getting to me! Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for the season, but what I see is not what I experience! I sound like Scrooge and I don’t mean to. Merry Christmas!

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@karen00 Adult coloring books also We have several of us get together and color

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @karen00 "@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now..." + (show)
@karen00

@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now - and need a diversion. All these happy family holiday commercials are getting to me! Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for the season, but what I see is not what I experience! I sound like Scrooge and I don’t mean to. Merry Christmas!

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@karen00 Zentangle is a form of meditative drawing, the only tools required are paper and pen. You start with a blank sheet of paper and draw patterns. It is a copyrighted form of art, often used for therapy and meditation, and used for everyday creativity. I find that focusing on this allows me to handle more easily the everyday stresses and the bigger stresses. The people who created this are at Zentangle.com; their motto is "Anything is possible one stroke at a time."
Ginger

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lioness | @lioness | Dec 3, 2018

@gingerw my laptop wouldn't cooperate and open ,have to get someone to look at it but sounds interesting

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1 reply
rosegold | @rosegold | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @karen00 "@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now..." + (show)
@karen00

@gingerw Hi Ginger! I’m wondering what Zentangle is? I’m going through extreme anxiety and depression now - and need a diversion. All these happy family holiday commercials are getting to me! Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for the season, but what I see is not what I experience! I sound like Scrooge and I don’t mean to. Merry Christmas!

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It is nice to know I am not the only one. T.v has commercialized X- mas for so long it can drive you to madness. I love my Lord and the way He came into this world.🙂

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @rosegold "It is nice to know I am not the only one. T.v has commercialized X- mas..." + (show)
@rosegold

It is nice to know I am not the only one. T.v has commercialized X- mas for so long it can drive you to madness. I love my Lord and the way He came into this world.🙂

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@rosegold We go from Halloween 🎃 to Christmas they forgot about Thanksgiving I dont like all the commercials either so retreat to coloring but Im going to buy a Zentangle book this year.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 3, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@rosemarya The first link was the one we worked on last weekend, and showed the road..." + (show)
@gingerw

@rosemarya The first link was the one we worked on last weekend, and showed the road test that is required for all floats. The second link the 2018 float; I glued black pepper seed, anise seed, and split lentils on butterfly wings for that one.
Thanks for the links. This year the floats will be completed "in place" rather then putting them together 90% of the way and moving them to a finish barn near the parade route. Everything will be moved just once this year from the design barn to the parade route. They will be moved into place about 10 a.m. on the morning of the 31December. It takes about 10 hours to move them since they only go two and a half miles an hour at top speed!

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Ginger, that is amazing. I am reading this from afar, and proud to be able to tell my friends that I know someone who is working on th Gift of Life float!

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