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.

lioness | @lioness | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Grateful today for a dinner invitation with two couples we have not seen in awhile. @lioness..." + (show)
@debbraw

Grateful today for a dinner invitation with two couples we have not seen in awhile.

@lioness - you asked what I do at the glass studio. I used to work 4 days a week. We don't do glass blowing in the studio, but we do copper foiled pieces as well as leaded stained glass so depending on the day, I might cut work on the patterns, cut glass, assemble the piece, solder foil or lead, frame the piece or help with installation. Then, at some point I realized that I'm retired and didn't mean to work so hard! I cut back to one day a week and I generally help with the office duties now - paying bills, making deposits, balancing the books, etc. Occasionally I venture back over to the "artsy" side, but I'm pretty content on the sidelines. That's one reason this gift was such a treasure!

@gailb- I LOVE your painting of your husband. So much feeling is expressed. When I look at the painting, I think "That's someone I would enjoy talking to!"

@becsbuddy - Please show us a picture of your quilt! I quilt some, and we have other quilters in our group. Congratulations of finishing!

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@debbraw That sounds interesting .Back in Pa we had Lenox glass factory we,d visit and a glass blowing place that,s why I asked yes remember your retired lol

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@merpreb Cool the Robin's did in my pine trees the once that didn't leave" + (show)
@lioness

@merpreb Cool the Robin's did in my pine trees the once that didn't leave

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Wow Linda

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lioness | @lioness | Mar 2, 2019

@merpreb guess the pines where close to each other so close I didn't see much snow in them in R I you probably have same

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 2, 2019

@i live 7 minutes from the ocean so we have an ocean effect. We had 4"

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karen00 | @karen00 | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @becsbuddy "@lioness @parus @karen00 and everyone! Good morning from snowy Colorado. March is our snowiest month. I’m..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@lioness @parus @karen00 and everyone! Good morning from snowy Colorado. March is our snowiest month. I’m glad it’s snowing because we need the moisture and I don’t have to get dressed! Peaches (the dog) are just sitting here under our blankets staying warm. And I can’t stay awake—guess that means I should get up and do something! I really enjoy the friendships as they flow back and forth on this site—makes everyone feel better. Thank you for all the positive talk! Guess I should go work on my quilt as the class ends soon. I’ve only changed the eyes 12 times and the nose more than I can count! I will finish today (I hope). Have a good day, everyone!

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@becsbuddy Hey Becsbuddy! Things were pretty nice this afternoon in central N.C. Finally some sun and warmth. That’s short lived, though. Rain on way again. How did the quilt turn out? I always wanted to learn, but my hands shake too much.
I enjoy the friendships, too. When I share, I feel like there are people who really care!
I’m tired right now. Had a big PT session and just finished dinner, which wasn’t too bad - sweet ‘n sour chicken. I’m grateful for good therapists, nurses, and aides.......Karen

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lioness | @lioness | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Grateful today for a dinner invitation with two couples we have not seen in awhile. @lioness..." + (show)
@debbraw

Grateful today for a dinner invitation with two couples we have not seen in awhile.

@lioness - you asked what I do at the glass studio. I used to work 4 days a week. We don't do glass blowing in the studio, but we do copper foiled pieces as well as leaded stained glass so depending on the day, I might cut work on the patterns, cut glass, assemble the piece, solder foil or lead, frame the piece or help with installation. Then, at some point I realized that I'm retired and didn't mean to work so hard! I cut back to one day a week and I generally help with the office duties now - paying bills, making deposits, balancing the books, etc. Occasionally I venture back over to the "artsy" side, but I'm pretty content on the sidelines. That's one reason this gift was such a treasure!

@gailb- I LOVE your painting of your husband. So much feeling is expressed. When I look at the painting, I think "That's someone I would enjoy talking to!"

@becsbuddy - Please show us a picture of your quilt! I quilt some, and we have other quilters in our group. Congratulations of finishing!

Jump to this post

@Renfrew Grateful today for everyone on here ,I,m enjoying all the friendship from all over ,we are a small world aren't we

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1 reply
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @htinlizzy "Hi I’m new to the group and Mayo Clinic. I’ve been coming here since October 2018...." + (show)
@htinlizzy

Hi I’m new to the group and Mayo Clinic. I’ve been coming here since October 2018. I had an Acoustic Neuroma tumor in my left ear since 2014. I’m 61 years young. The tumor began to grow and cause problems for me. The neurosurgeon I was seeing for it kept telling me it hadn’t changed in size but my symptoms sure had changed. So I looked to my ENT for help and told him I wanted to go to Mayo Clinic for the surgery to remove the tumor and get a cochlear nerve implant because my hearing was diminishing in my only good ear. I was down to 45% hearing in my right ear and no hearing in my left ear. That’s what the Audiologists found her at Mayo. I still had life in my cochlear nerve if they turned the volume up all the way. So this meant I had a 50% chance of the surgery working. I have Dr Matthew Carlson as my Doctor here at Mayo. I come back Monday for them to turn on my implant for me. I also have Aniket Saoji that is doing everything for my implant and Christopher J Plummer that worked with Dr Carlson on me! They are the best angels you can have!!! I’m so anxious to hear out of my left ear. I just know this is going to work. These three angels that operated on me worked a miracle for me on the 21st and they are my 1st and biggest gratitude!!!!

Liz waiting to hear in Illinois

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@htinlizzy Hi LIz! I'm here in IL too and I wish you a great recovery. You certainly have something to look forward too. What I'm hearing now is the flocks of Sandhill Cranes migrating back to their homes to raise families this spring. I live along the flyway along the Fox River and cranes will nest in the wetlands behind our house, so we see and hear them all summer. The chickadees are singing too, and one day soon, the snow will melt and flowers will emerge. Good for you for advocating for yourself. Thanks for sharing your story. Gratitude is wonderful, and I have a lot of that for my Mayo surgeon who changed my life. It was nice to meet you here!

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JK | @contentandwell | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@Yes Queen Mary is in Port here now the Carnival cruise ship is based here also...." + (show)
@lioness

@Yes Queen Mary is in Port here now the Carnival cruise ship is based here also. On one tour I took they should us the stateroom where Eisenhower and Churchill stayed since this was s war ship also

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@lioness That's what we didn't get to see, any staterooms. We were all disappointed in that. Other than it was a good tour though.
JK

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@lioness That's what we didn't get to see, any staterooms. We were all disappointed in that...." + (show)
@contentandwell

@lioness That's what we didn't get to see, any staterooms. We were all disappointed in that. Other than it was a good tour though.
JK

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@contentandwell I think the first tour I took was just upper deck the next time I went they gave us choices so that's the one we took The staterooms where small as I remember

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@contentandwell I think the first tour I took was just upper deck the next time I..." + (show)
@lioness

@contentandwell I think the first tour I took was just upper deck the next time I went they gave us choices so that's the one we took The staterooms where small as I remember

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@lioness I don't think we realized there were different tours. Maybe we just took the wrong one. I am sure our days in CA are over though now that son lives in Denver. CA was more fun to visit but I understand their desire to have a nice home and a place to raise a family, which in CA is so prohibitively expensive. There was no interest in moving inland to the Orange County area.
JK

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