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 | Sep 20, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "I’ll be grateful if I get through my surgery okay today, leaving now. Hope they don’t..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

I’ll be grateful if I get through my surgery okay today, leaving now. Hope they don’t all have their way with me when I’m under but if they wanna be disappointed that’s up to them. Still waiting to be admitted, this is unreal.
Jake

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@jakedduck1 I’m glad you finally got your stone removed! I’ll bet you feel lighter and younger! Now please, follow the doctor’s and nurses advice and get better. And treat yourself to some chocolate

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 20, 2019
In reply to @imallears "@jakeduck I would get loads of joy while busting your chops. I have a dishwasher but..." + (show)
@imallears

@jakeduck
I would get loads of joy while busting your chops. I have a dishwasher but don’t wash pots, pans or my good knives in it. And, like all good cooks, I clean up as I go along or do stretches while waiting for something to cook. Also wine yoga. Assume a yoga position while holding a glass of wine in one hand...nary a drop spilled.

Story...found a $5 bill in a parking lot Thursday. No one was around so ...finders keepers. Went into Fresh Market and lo and behold it was $5 whole roasted chicken day. Went home and had the wings and drumsticks for lunch and a couple pieces of white meat. Today I made chicken salad for lunch. Just now I sautéed onion, carrots and zucchini in toasted sesame oil....when they started to brown, threw in the rest of the white meat, added a little chicken broth added hoisin sauce, a little PF Chang sauce.
Defrosted some brown rice. Tasted it ....so good....free dinner and using up all my veggies. Dinner around 6:30 or so...wine time now.....Toasted sesame oil is the bomb

These posts should really be in Healthy Living but I’m thankful for my health

FL Mary

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@imallears
Back in the day when I didn’t have the good sense to know I shouldn’t like to cook I cleaned up as I went along too. Guess I use to be a good cook. Glad those days are gone!!!
You can bust my chops if ya wanna as long as ya feed me. Hoisin & PF Chang Sauce??? Zucchini ick, well I can gag it down if it’s not squishy, I like my veggies al dente.
Congrats on finding 5 bucks. I usually only find pennies but I found a quarter once and thought I hit a super jackpot.
Take care,
Jake

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @stuckonu "Most mornings that I open my eyes I feel happy although “ happy “ may not..." + (show)
@stuckonu

Most mornings that I open my eyes I feel happy although “ happy “ may not be the best word but with pains and all I feel ready to do what needs to be done and I have admitted that the thought of my first cup of coffee is close to exciting. I love the smell of grinding fresh coffee beans that I once mixed myself when I shopped. I like strong dark coffee so I discovered that mixing French, Italian, and that which moves me when shopping. I’m not a fan of flavored coffee especially hazelnut.
I’m grateful for morning coffee and there’s a special place for those who surprise me... a cup of jo and breakfast afterwards is even better!😍🥰😜

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@stuckonu
Try some civet coffee. Try not to think of where it’s been. It is incomprehensible to me how anyone can ingest such a nasty vile tasting brew.
Jake

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2 replies
imallears | @imallears | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@stuckonu Try some civet coffee. Try not to think of where it’s been. It is incomprehensible..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@stuckonu
Try some civet coffee. Try not to think of where it’s been. It is incomprehensible to me how anyone can ingest such a nasty vile tasting brew.
Jake

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@jakeduck
I wouldn’t drink it but how do you know it’s vile tasting? You’re not projecting your food bias, are you?😏

FLMary

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @stuckonu "Thanks you Becky for your obvious caring for others then doing for them “ volunteering “...." + (show)
@stuckonu

Thanks you Becky for your obvious caring for others then doing for them “ volunteering “. I’m GRATEFUL for people like you who invest your time helping other who may struggle.
Am I correct that volunteering is like its own reward and therefore a form of gratitude?

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@stuckonu
Like Becky I love volunteering. It is very rewarding. You meet amazing people, I met my best friend at the Police Dept, she brings me food so she really is my bested best friend ever.
While volunteering at the Police Dept I had a different opinion when a sergeant locked me up in an interrogation cell and told a bunch of people I worked with I was in there. They came by looked in and of course made fun.
Volunteering provided me with a sense of purpose since I couldn’t hold down a regular job because of so many seizures. Volunteering also helps prevent depression and anxiety if you don’t have it and improve it if you do. My experiences were educational and made me happy.
I hope you give it a try, it’s therapeutic in many ways as well.
Jake

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imallears | @imallears | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@imallears Back in the day when I didn’t have the good sense to know I shouldn’t..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@imallears
Back in the day when I didn’t have the good sense to know I shouldn’t like to cook I cleaned up as I went along too. Guess I use to be a good cook. Glad those days are gone!!!
You can bust my chops if ya wanna as long as ya feed me. Hoisin & PF Chang Sauce??? Zucchini ick, well I can gag it down if it’s not squishy, I like my veggies al dente.
Congrats on finding 5 bucks. I usually only find pennies but I found a quarter once and thought I hit a super jackpot.
Take care,
Jake

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@jakeduck
If you slice a zucchini down the middle and scoop out the seeds it won’t be soggy when it’s sautéed or roasted. Otherwise you do end up with mush. I like veggies firm also.

FL Mary

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2 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @imallears "@jakeduck If you slice a zucchini down the middle and scoop out the seeds it won’t..." + (show)
@imallears

@jakeduck
If you slice a zucchini down the middle and scoop out the seeds it won’t be soggy when it’s sautéed or roasted. Otherwise you do end up with mush. I like veggies firm also.

FL Mary

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@imallears
Thank you for that bit of culinary wizardry. I just might try that. However, the definitive word here is “Might.” Probably won’t because in MY PERSONAL OPINION it still won’t taste good but who knows. I might. And yes, I know you don’t care. But I might, really.
Jake

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imallears | @imallears | Sep 21, 2019

@jakeduck
You make me laugh.....I have a five star chili cooking on the stove. It was one of those recipes that actually turned out to be 5 stars. I omitted the water that it said to originally so now it’s my 5 star chili....from scratch. Made it numerous times and would bring to you if you were nearby and can eat beans.

Have you ever eaten a zucchini? I think you have it in your mind to dislike things before you try them. Be a little more adventurous. I’ve made zucchini pizzas...little rounds of zucchini with sauce and cheese...so cute.

Can’t wait for my award winning chili...letting my cab breathe now.

FL Mary

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2 replies
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @imallears "@jakeduck You make me laugh.....I have a five star chili cooking on the stove. It was..." + (show)
@imallears

@jakeduck
You make me laugh.....I have a five star chili cooking on the stove. It was one of those recipes that actually turned out to be 5 stars. I omitted the water that it said to originally so now it’s my 5 star chili....from scratch. Made it numerous times and would bring to you if you were nearby and can eat beans.

Have you ever eaten a zucchini? I think you have it in your mind to dislike things before you try them. Be a little more adventurous. I’ve made zucchini pizzas...little rounds of zucchini with sauce and cheese...so cute.

Can’t wait for my award winning chili...letting my cab breathe now.

FL Mary

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@imallears Or how about chocolate cake with zucchini! Very good

REPLY
2 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 21, 2019
In reply to @imallears "@jakeduck You make me laugh.....I have a five star chili cooking on the stove. It was..." + (show)
@imallears

@jakeduck
You make me laugh.....I have a five star chili cooking on the stove. It was one of those recipes that actually turned out to be 5 stars. I omitted the water that it said to originally so now it’s my 5 star chili....from scratch. Made it numerous times and would bring to you if you were nearby and can eat beans.

Have you ever eaten a zucchini? I think you have it in your mind to dislike things before you try them. Be a little more adventurous. I’ve made zucchini pizzas...little rounds of zucchini with sauce and cheese...so cute.

Can’t wait for my award winning chili...letting my cab breathe now.

FL Mary

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@imallears
Oh my, I sure wish I had a bowl of that chili!!! You can mail me some. Jeez, do you cook all the bloody time? I still haven’t gotten over making the Mac & cheese your ordered me to make.
YES, I’ve eaten zucchini before. I can stomach it raw, but a dip helps get it down. I really dislike it squishy. And I’ve had it that way too. Deep fried is best if you have to have it.
As far as having my mind already made up I’m not gonna like something, that’s not entirely accurate. Granted, your correct as far as liver is concerned. I haven’t tried it and I'm not going to try it and if by some miracle I do try it I’m definitely not going to like it. However, I have tried some of the repugnant things that you don’t seem to the good sense not to eat. Octopus ranking right up there with liver. But I have tried some icky foods like shrimp, those giant shrimp like things in Chinese restaurants, lobster, crab, abalone, sashimi. I ordered alligator once, it wasn’t bad. Your right about fish. I haven’t had any I liked salmon, if I had to I could get some smoked salmon down and I tried cod and some other yucky fish I can’t think of. I do like tuna. I’ve tried other stuff but can’t remember what. As far as zucchini pizza is concerned, it may be as cute, darling and precious as it can be but that doesn’t make it tasty.
Feel free to overnight me some chili.
Enjoy your 5 star chili while I have cereal.
Starving in California
Jake

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