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.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jul 6, 2019

In reply to @lioness "@jakedduck1 Did you have to move?" + (show)

@lioness
Sorry, didn’t mean to ignore you. Was having Email troubles.
No it was minor damage but the cost of repairs wasn’t so minor, lol.
Jake

Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jul 6, 2019

In reply to @nancy82415 "One of the many things I am grateful for is all the wonderful care I have..." + (show)

@nancy82415 - Welcome to Connect! I am so glad you found this online resource. We have so many caring and concerned people here. I loved your gratitude statement and it reminded me that I have not been faithful in finding things to be grateful for each day. You inspired me to do better. Here you are in the hospital and you are being grateful for your care. Can I ask what you are in for? We have lots of great groups here and I can help you find one. Do you feel like sharing that?

nancy82415 | @nancy82415 | Jul 6, 2019

In reply to @debbraw "@nancy82415 - Welcome to Connect! I am so glad you found this online resource. We have..." + (show)

I had brain decompression surgery at Mayo back in Sept 2015. I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia the month before at Mayo. I also had tendon transfer surgery on my right thumb in July 2018. Currently I come back yearly to be monitored. My medical team ROCKS and I love them like family! I was always told, when I was little and complained about something insignificant, just be thankful as you could have it worse. This and that whatever difficult situation you go thru there is always a a blessing to be found. These two lessons I learned as a little girl has served me well.

Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jul 6, 2019

In reply to @nancy82415 "I had brain decompression surgery at Mayo back in Sept 2015. I was diagnosed with Chiari..." + (show)

@nancy82415 - What a great attitude you have. There is a group that focuses on Brain and Nervous System disorders and they have posts about Chiari Malformation. It's here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-and-nerve-diseases/
Could you see if this is a place you'd like to explore?

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 7, 2019

Today I am grateful. Plans for the move in 3 weeks are slowly coming together. Yesterday we found [locally here] a small dining room table and chairs for a great price. The sellers are nice people and we have to trust they will not destroy our house during the rentback. This Wed I travel to my specialists [nephrologist and hematologist oncologist] for appts, and am looking forward to their interpretations of the lab work done two weeks ago. There is a lot to do, and praying my physical and mental strength maintains.
Ginger

nancy82415 | @nancy82415 | Jul 7, 2019

In reply to @debbraw "@nancy82415 - What a great attitude you have. There is a group that focuses on Brain..." + (show)

Thank you. And thank you for the link. I will check it out.

JK | @contentandwell | Jul 8, 2019

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@contentandwell Yup, private pay. Wish you were close by. Are ya gonna send me a ready..." + (show)

@jakedduck1 Funny, but last night when we were driving our son to Boston to fly home we got talking about that ham and swiss braid. He is an extremely healthy eater but he would still eat that even though it's white bread and ham.
Don't hold your breath waiting for it to arrive in the mail though. 😉
JK

JK | @contentandwell | Jul 8, 2019

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@gingerw Maybe not but it looks like you have to match previous lines and have an..." + (show)

Geez, @jakedduck1 You and I definitely have that in common. You too apparently, @jodeej

@gingerw What a nice little house to retire to. I love that it has a little deck off to the side too. We would really like to be able to go much smaller but having a son and a daughter who both live a distance we want to have room for them when they visit, as they were over the weekend. It's great having them and their "significant others" (daughter has husband, son has fiancee) around. I am enjoying the quiet now though.
JK

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jul 8, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@jakedduck1 Funny, but last night when we were driving our son to Boston to fly home..." + (show)

@contentandwell
“Don't hold your breath waiting for it to arrive in the mail though.”
But I’m already starting to turn blue!!! You better get it to the Post Office quick!!
Jake

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 17, 2019

Today I am grateful. The heat wave has broken for the day and that is always a good thing. I am grateful for my nephrologist and my hematologist-oncologist. They are a great team and even though they're not in the same Medical Practice they communicate with each other. Last week they had a conference and my blood work is showing some possible grave irregularities. I am now set up for a PET CT scan next week, to find out some more information. I am grateful that the Imaging Center is patient to let me call three times a day and see if there are cancellations so the appointment can be advanced. I am not grateful for the fact that it is a 6 hour fast ahead of time, and I'm sitting here with no coffee until they open at 7:30 and I can call them! I miss my coffee at 4:30 each morning. All of this comes right as I am packing up to move two weeks from today, but I am grateful to have doctors that care.
Ginger