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.

@hopeful33250

I'm glad to hear that the speech therapist can help with cognition issues, @jodeej. That is great. I'm a big believer in speech therapists. I had vocal cord surgery four years ago and the speech therapist has helped with both voice issues and swallowing issues! I wish your husband well.
How often will he be going for speech therapy? Will you report back on how he is doing? I would also be interested in the types of exercises used for cognition issues.

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@hopeful33250 he is starting out more intensive with 2-3 times a week. I will post his progress and some of the exercises she recommends!

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@parus

@lioness I have been through the moves with Don this morning as well. Does not help with head neck and shoulder pain which has gotten so much worse. White stuff on the ground this morning. Just enough to be pretty. Again, grateful for shelter and warmth.

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@parus Yes pretty to look at we have started our rain days Those poor burn areas lots of mudslides In my area Malibu is like a river .Stay warm Do you use the ice-heat on your neck?

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@parus

@jodeej Good news indeed!

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@jodeej Id like to add also glad you found a therapist that is going to help your husband.

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@jodeej

Today I am grateful that my husband is finally getting some help for his cognition issues from a speech therapist.
I am also grateful for snowblowers!
Blessings on your day,
JoDee

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@jodeej I hear you about snowblower,s Im in Ca. Now but lived in Pa we had 2snowblower,s and a plow for our tractor 🚜 One time we had a white out my husband was on the tractor 🚜 with plow ,the only time I was scared I couldn't see him then he came out of the whiteout

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@debbraw

My Kiwanis Club is having a Character Breakfast for preschoolers that is like the Disney Character breakfast where there are people dressed as pirates, superheroes, princesses, etc. who wander through the crowds to entertain the little ones as they enjoy their brunch foods. Last year, it was a sell-out with 250+ tickets sold and we hope this year will be just as successful. I have worked my heart out on having signs printed, helping with decorations, etc. Today, I was out delivering flyers and brochures to the day care centers around town. After I dropped off my last flyers, I drove by an antique store and decided to stop in and have a look. I had my eye out for Christmas dishes that might be on sale after the holiday. I didn't find any, but I did find a gorgeous set of 11 champagne flutes. (Obviously, one was broken from an original set of 12, but who cares.) I bought the whole 11-piece set for $21.30! What a happy surprise that was. I could say I was grateful but it was more like pure, childlike joy about the treat I had gotten. It was as if somehow the universe had rewarded me personally! I am still smiling.

OH JK @contentandwell - interesting that your son is in Denver. Mine moved there a couple of years ago from Raleigh, NC. His wife is from there. I love visiting!

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@debbraw So far we have just visited Denver one time, in October. It's a nice city. I had only been through it before, two times on the way to Aspen. His neighborhood is fairly new and his house has room for us to easily to stay with him, so that's nice.

Congrats on your snagging such a good buy on flutes. I used to pick things up like that but I don't these days since I can no longer drink any alcohol. I actually rented flutes along with a bunch of other stuff, when we had my daughter's wedding ceremony in our home in November, 2017.
JK

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@lioness

I'm grateful today I received my referral for P. T. And made my appt ,but so happy I don't have the leg pain Thanks Don

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@lioness something tells me I need to look into Don! TV or online?
JK

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@parus

@contentandwell It is hard to regain determination. I have been off track as well. My diet is healthy. I just don’t move enough. There are days I hurt too much to do any quality moving. You are welcome to join some of us to spend time with Don Fiore. My energy level is at the bottom of the vortex and I am grateful for the encouragement, support and ideas I find here at connect.

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@parus I am getting to my club still, about six days a week -- half for water exercise, the other half for the gym. It's the diet that's killing me. I do eat healthy foods, but I eat too much of them.
JK

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@lioness

@parus Yes pretty to look at we have started our rain days Those poor burn areas lots of mudslides In my area Malibu is like a river .Stay warm Do you use the ice-heat on your neck?

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@lioness You live in Malibu? Beautiful! We drove up there a few times when my son lived in Hermosa Beach, and we dined once at a place name Geoffrey's. It really is a beautiful area.
JK

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@contentandwell

@lioness something tells me I need to look into Don! TV or online?
JK

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@Contantandwell its on You Tube Don Fiore just did mine I do 3different ones a day ,yes look into them after a couple of days I noticed a free painless day

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@contentandwell
Diet. Unfortunately I can relate. My doctor called and said “Your going on a diet” and “I’ve arranged for a you to see a Dietitian” and I was informed I’d be exercising every day. My doctor actually called the gym every week to make sure I had been there every day. She wants me to eat one way but my kidney stone doctor says I can’t eat those foods, at least not often because of the oxalates. I’ve lost at least 61 pounds. Getting ready to leave to donate platelets where I always get weighed. Hoping to have lost another 4 pounds.
Jake

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