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.

JK | @contentandwell | May 11, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Today I'm grateful for this group, my caregivers support group at Council on Aging, the HABIT..." + (show)
@debbraw

Today I'm grateful for this group, my caregivers support group at Council on Aging, the HABIT support group at Mayo, and the Hospice counselor who is helping me with grief counseling. Whoever said "It takes a village to raise a child" didn't know the half of what it takes to "age in place"! I think many of you know that my husband has dementia and I'm the primary caregiver. We've had a rough week and without the huge support network I have, I just don't know how I would have made it. Many thanks.

@harriethodgson1 - I thought of you with admiration many times this week and about all of the years you've spent as a caregiver. And I'm thinking of you this morning as you go into surgery. All of my best wishes for a great outcome and speedy recovery.

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@debbraw You are right-on in saying it takes a lot to "age in place". Who, when young, whoever imagined themselves in the positions we are in now? Young people see themselves as being young forever.

I admire you tremendously in being the caregiver for your husband. The daily challenges must be immense. I am happy that you find some relief and support here. We are all always here for you.
JK

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 11, 2019

Today I am grateful for the cooler weather that we are having, which means that tomorrow I can get out and trim plants and pull weeds! Funny that I should be grateful for the Trashmen forgetting to pick up our trash this week, but they have agreed to pick up extra next week, so things be loaded up! I am grateful to the travel agent at the local AAA office for my upcoming trip. The airline changed my outbound flights around, and she was able to rearrange the outbound flight to not quite as severe as the first change. I am indebted to her cutting my travel from 18 + hours to 15+ plus hours from west coast to east coast. Doesn't sound like a lot but hey I'll take anything I can!
Ginger

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "Today I am grateful for the cooler weather that we are having, which means that tomorrow..." + (show)
@gingerw

Today I am grateful for the cooler weather that we are having, which means that tomorrow I can get out and trim plants and pull weeds! Funny that I should be grateful for the Trashmen forgetting to pick up our trash this week, but they have agreed to pick up extra next week, so things be loaded up! I am grateful to the travel agent at the local AAA office for my upcoming trip. The airline changed my outbound flights around, and she was able to rearrange the outbound flight to not quite as severe as the first change. I am indebted to her cutting my travel from 18 + hours to 15+ plus hours from west coast to east coast. Doesn't sound like a lot but hey I'll take anything I can!
Ginger

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@gingerw Sounds like a fun educational trip for you Zentagle bound right have a good safe flight to @fro. How long will you be there?

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 11, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw Sounds like a fun educational trip for you Zentagle bound right have a good safe..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw Sounds like a fun educational trip for you Zentagle bound right have a good safe flight to @fro. How long will you be there?

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@lioness Actual training is Sunday thru Wed. I'll get in Sat afternoon, and stay extra night [Wed], getting home Thurs night.
Ginger

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@lioness Actual training is Sunday thru Wed. I'll get in Sat afternoon, and stay extra night..." + (show)
@gingerw

@lioness Actual training is Sunday thru Wed. I'll get in Sat afternoon, and stay extra night [Wed], getting home Thurs night.
Ginger

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@gingerw have fun it will be nice to see some of your work

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | May 12, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@merpreb Where are these eagles? There are eagles that nest next to the Merrimack River where..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@merpreb Where are these eagles? There are eagles that nest next to the Merrimack River where it goes through our town. There's a walking path there but they close it during mating season so the eagles are not disturbed.
JK

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Morning @contentandwell- They are the Decorah Eagles in Decorah Iowa :https://www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/decorah-eagles/

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | May 12, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi all, I've had a crazy-busy week so barely had any time on the computer. I..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi all, I've had a crazy-busy week so barely had any time on the computer. I am happy to finally have a few moments though, and also that the sun is shining, and our rhododendrons are blooming, despite the bottom half of them being bare from being eaten by deer. I am grateful too for the lovely roses that arrived this morning from my daughter, wishing me a Happy Mother's Day.

Have a great Mother's Day everyone. We had dinner reservations but went out to lunch on Wednesday and out to dinner on Thursday night and that's about as many times as I care to dine out that close together, it's just too difficult to keep an eye on what I order. Speaking of which though, I am also grateful that I have reached my first milestone in weight loss. Now if I can keep that ball rolling to my next milestone I will be pretty happy.

On to catching up now.
JK

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Happy mother's day @contentandwell and All!

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lioness | @lioness | May 12, 2019

@merprep Happy Mother's day to you also and everyone else who is a Mother or nourished a child as a Mother

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JK | @contentandwell | May 12, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "Today I am grateful for the cooler weather that we are having, which means that tomorrow..." + (show)
@gingerw

Today I am grateful for the cooler weather that we are having, which means that tomorrow I can get out and trim plants and pull weeds! Funny that I should be grateful for the Trashmen forgetting to pick up our trash this week, but they have agreed to pick up extra next week, so things be loaded up! I am grateful to the travel agent at the local AAA office for my upcoming trip. The airline changed my outbound flights around, and she was able to rearrange the outbound flight to not quite as severe as the first change. I am indebted to her cutting my travel from 18 + hours to 15+ plus hours from west coast to east coast. Doesn't sound like a lot but hey I'll take anything I can!
Ginger

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@gingerw Please refresh my addled old mind, where is it you are going? 15 hours sounds like a long time, coast-to-coast.

My son went to India for work recently and he spent 30 hours in transit! I would have been climbing the walls. I hate being cooped up in a tube moving at hundreds of miles an hour through the sky.
JK

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1 reply
lioness | @lioness | May 12, 2019

@contentandwell I had to laugh at the tube I was in a sardine can flight , couldn't wait to get out of it

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