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
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Feb 24, 2019

@debbraw Such a beautiful gift from your friends! So special

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Feb 24, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw..." + (show)
@debbraw

I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw a little surprise "get well" party for me and brought me an amazing gift that incorporates so many rich and beautiful symbols of friendship and caring: Our annual lobster bisque lunches, drinking wine and breaking bread together, the Tree of Life, lemons from the Mayer lemon tree in our front yard. They put so much love in such a limited space! And around the border you can see that everyone wrote a special personal note. I will treasure this forever. I am grateful beyond belief.

Jump to this post

@debbraw What a beautiful and thoughtful gift. I am sure you will treasure it always.
JK

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 24, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw..." + (show)
@debbraw

I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw a little surprise "get well" party for me and brought me an amazing gift that incorporates so many rich and beautiful symbols of friendship and caring: Our annual lobster bisque lunches, drinking wine and breaking bread together, the Tree of Life, lemons from the Mayer lemon tree in our front yard. They put so much love in such a limited space! And around the border you can see that everyone wrote a special personal note. I will treasure this forever. I am grateful beyond belief.

Jump to this post

@debbraw Just lovely! Your friends are talented and remarkably thoughtful.

REPLY
Parus | @parus | Feb 25, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw..." + (show)
@debbraw

I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw a little surprise "get well" party for me and brought me an amazing gift that incorporates so many rich and beautiful symbols of friendship and caring: Our annual lobster bisque lunches, drinking wine and breaking bread together, the Tree of Life, lemons from the Mayer lemon tree in our front yard. They put so much love in such a limited space! And around the border you can see that everyone wrote a special personal note. I will treasure this forever. I am grateful beyond belief.

Jump to this post

@debbraw WOW!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 25, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@debbraw That is beautiful I love stain glass Have a picture my grandson did in color..." + (show)
@lioness

@debbraw That is beautiful I love stain glass Have a picture my grandson did in color stain glass you could say

Jump to this post

@lioness,
What a lovely piece of stained glass from your grandson. He must have inherited some of your artistic DNA? Was this his own design?

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 25, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw..." + (show)
@debbraw

I work at a stained glass studio and my friends there are so talented. They threw a little surprise "get well" party for me and brought me an amazing gift that incorporates so many rich and beautiful symbols of friendship and caring: Our annual lobster bisque lunches, drinking wine and breaking bread together, the Tree of Life, lemons from the Mayer lemon tree in our front yard. They put so much love in such a limited space! And around the border you can see that everyone wrote a special personal note. I will treasure this forever. I am grateful beyond belief.

Jump to this post

@debbraw- Awww! Such heart felt love!

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Feb 25, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@lioness, What a lovely piece of stained glass from your grandson. He must have inherited some..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@lioness,
What a lovely piece of stained glass from your grandson. He must have inherited some of your artistic DNA? Was this his own design?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Yes from what his Mother said . My son and him designed and colored earlier a similar picture . Aabid may have copied this from that picture. He was 6 at the time . I started teaching him about art and color early on since I babysit him a lot in his earlier years.

REPLY
Lyn | @pearlbaby7 | Feb 25, 2019

I haven't followed any group for awhile but when this group started I appreciated the posts. I came back to Mayo Connect this month and was reminded of this group. I haven't read all the recent posts but have read a few. Someone mentioned being grateful for neighbors and I felt I needed to post.
My neighbor across from me was a "Hi! How are you?" neighbor until she showed up at my door 3 years ago with a plate of food. Somehow she figured out I wasn't eating anything but snacks like peanuts.
She has been bringing me dinner every evening she's home since then. I started helping pay for groceries and when shopping got too difficult for me she started doing that for me as well. She also takes my trash out to the dumpster. I don't know how I'd get by without her.
I make jewelry and about six months ago read an idea about using Morse Code when making bracelets. So I made her three, one of which says 'I live my faith' in Morse Code.
I am so grateful for her. That's my understatement of the year.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 25, 2019

@pearlbaby7- No no no, come back! We need and want everyone! Hello, welcome back. That lady sounds like the best of people. I have a neighbor just like that, Linda. She'll do everything for everyone but wont let anyone help her. I love her to death and of course I don't pay any attention to her when it comes to my giving to her. How are you doing?

REPLY
1 reply
Lyn | @pearlbaby7 | Feb 25, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "@pearlbaby7- No no no, come back! We need and want everyone! Hello, welcome back. That lady..." + (show)
@merpreb

@pearlbaby7- No no no, come back! We need and want everyone! Hello, welcome back. That lady sounds like the best of people. I have a neighbor just like that, Linda. She'll do everything for everyone but wont let anyone help her. I love her to death and of course I don't pay any attention to her when it comes to my giving to her. How are you doing?

Jump to this post

I have my multiple health issues like everyone but, honestly, reading the posts in the various forums, especially this gratitude one, make me feel better. Thank you all for your participation.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.