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.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "Today I am grateful to have been able to visit a neighbor newly diagnosed with a..." + (show)
@gingerw

Today I am grateful to have been able to visit a neighbor newly diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. It is a fast growing biliary duct tumor, and she is preparing for radiation and chemo. We also took her a prayer shawl from my crochet group that has blessings said over it, which she was pleased to receive.
Ginger

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@gingerw- Doesn't it feel wonderful to help someone who needs such support and compassion? I'm sure that she will remember the shawl all her life. Someone knitted me a blanket and my heart just filled up with gratitude and love. It is such giving that keeps us from going crazy I think, and let's us know that we are not alone! Thank you for helping her. She must be very afraid. Will someone be taking her to chemo?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@merpreb Interesting, but I didn't really see the compression, just setting it up it seemed. I..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@merpreb Interesting, but I didn't really see the compression, just setting it up it seemed. I guess it is pretty much the same as a woman who is fairly flat-chested though. He was pretty funny, more than most men would be I think.
JK

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@contentandwell- I saw it because the technician asked him if it felt ok and he said yes. I am never asked that! It's always painful for me.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @becsbuddy "@gingerw What a kind thing for you to do! Your neighbor will really be needing you..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@gingerw What a kind thing for you to do! Your neighbor will really be needing you in the next months. Radiation is not bad except you have to go every day! My mother, age 95, is currently getting 1/2 dose of radiation for a mass on her bladder. She’s actually doing better than me! The usual side effect is tiredness. Maybe you could give her rides to the grocery or to her appointments. I am so thankful for people like you!

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@becsbudy- Good morning. How wonderful that your mother has lived for so long, and is looking forward, not back! why is she doing better than you? What is going on?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes monthly for a massage, I indulge myself in other ways (very expensive hairdresser, manicures and pedicures occasionally) but do go occasionally. My husband also will not go to a guy. I always went to a woman but twice I had to go to a man and I was pleasantly surprised. Both of them were great.

I hope your neuropathy continues to get better, that must be such a good feeling for you. I love happy news like that, I have the ability to enjoy things vicariously. 🙂 I sometimes think I should have been a travel agent, I would have traveled to a lot of places in my mind.

I too am grateful for something today. My brother has been having some serious health issues so we went to visit him last night (he lives a couple of hours away so we stayed overnight at a hotel). I brought dinner because his wife already has enough to deal with and is a full-time teacher. He had improved tremendously from where he had been a week ago so we were very happy to see him doing better than we anticipated.
JK

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JK- Good morning. You are funny. hahaha. I'm also glad that your massages are helping @grandmar. You must feel so relieved. Neuropathy can be so painful and debilitating.

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @merpreb "JK- Good morning. You are funny. hahaha. I'm also glad that your massages are helping @grandmar...." + (show)
@merpreb

JK- Good morning. You are funny. hahaha. I'm also glad that your massages are helping @grandmar. You must feel so relieved. Neuropathy can be so painful and debilitating.

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Happy Sunday!
I am happy the massage helped, too. I don't expect it to be the 'answer', but that is ok, too. I am grateful that I have not experienced pain with the neuropathy like so many do.
Have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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Lyn | @pearlbaby7 | Mar 10, 2019

Today I'm grateful my cell phone automatically updated for the time change since I forgot.

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes monthly for a massage, I indulge myself in other ways (very expensive hairdresser, manicures and pedicures occasionally) but do go occasionally. My husband also will not go to a guy. I always went to a woman but twice I had to go to a man and I was pleasantly surprised. Both of them were great.

I hope your neuropathy continues to get better, that must be such a good feeling for you. I love happy news like that, I have the ability to enjoy things vicariously. 🙂 I sometimes think I should have been a travel agent, I would have traveled to a lot of places in my mind.

I too am grateful for something today. My brother has been having some serious health issues so we went to visit him last night (he lives a couple of hours away so we stayed overnight at a hotel). I brought dinner because his wife already has enough to deal with and is a full-time teacher. He had improved tremendously from where he had been a week ago so we were very happy to see him doing better than we anticipated.
JK

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Good Morning!
That is TERRIFIC news about your brother!!! I hope he continues to improve!I
I often live vicariously through others, too. Travel is my thing. I wish I could travel, but when you can't do much in the way of walking, it is crazy to spend lots of money and not be able to see the sights. In addition, the places I want to go to (Greece and Italy), the streets and roads are hilly and made with cobblestone. Even a scooter would be difficult on those kinds of streets.
So, for now, I look at travel sites and dream. I do have to say, we are planning a trip to Hawaii. We have been many times (we have a timeshare that we use on Maui) so site seeing is not an issues. Maui is my 'happy place' and I would be very sad if we couldn't go. What might eventually stop us is the LONG flight.
Anyway, again, I am trilled for your brother!
Have a wonderful day!
Ronnie

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@grandmar Didn't do anything for me still hurts" + (show)
@lioness

@grandmar Didn't do anything for me still hurts

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@lioness

I am sorry the massage did not help you. It certainly is not a cure. I also do not expect the effects to last. Still, it was exciting.
Perhaps you can find another massage therapist. I have found that if you go to one of those chains, they just massage.
I have also found that when the therapist works with or is recommended by a doc, such as a pain doc or chiropractor, they know and understand more about the body and ailments.

Have a great day!
Ronnie

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 10, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@grandmar Ronnie, that's great that your foot improved, thanks to the massage therapist. My husband goes monthly for a massage, I indulge myself in other ways (very expensive hairdresser, manicures and pedicures occasionally) but do go occasionally. My husband also will not go to a guy. I always went to a woman but twice I had to go to a man and I was pleasantly surprised. Both of them were great.

I hope your neuropathy continues to get better, that must be such a good feeling for you. I love happy news like that, I have the ability to enjoy things vicariously. 🙂 I sometimes think I should have been a travel agent, I would have traveled to a lot of places in my mind.

I too am grateful for something today. My brother has been having some serious health issues so we went to visit him last night (he lives a couple of hours away so we stayed overnight at a hotel). I brought dinner because his wife already has enough to deal with and is a full-time teacher. He had improved tremendously from where he had been a week ago so we were very happy to see him doing better than we anticipated.
JK

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@contentandwell- Wonderful news about your brother! I feel just awful when my sister is ill so I bring food, sustenance makes her feel better and me too! Siblings are the best!

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