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 | Nov 26, 2019
In reply to @becsbuddy "@parus I love your way of turning the news into something positive! Maybe you could send..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@parus I love your way of turning the news into something positive! Maybe you could send a picture. Please? Need a laugh or something today—we have 16” of snow and it’s still coming down!

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@becsbuddy Brr that is cold now. At one time I was use to this but now not so much . Next 3 days will have a storm coming in that will give us heavy rain and drop the temps but that is just chilly for you . Stay warm. Joke Why did the skeletons want to cross the road?
To get to the body shop

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Nov 26, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Becky, Volunteer Mentor, we here in North Alabama rarely get snow. If it does snow, it..." + (show)
@mamacita

@Becky, Volunteer Mentor, we here in North Alabama rarely get snow. If it does snow, it rarely sticks. We feel lucky if there is enough to make snowballs or a tiny snowman. So we'll take that snow and give y'all some fairly warm, sunny days in exchange.

The weather here has been beautiful lately. A little bit of rain, gray skies. But that just gives us a chance to stay indoors and read that book we have been ignoring for six months.

I am thankful for family, friends, faith, hope, and love. For all the wonderful people here. For life itself.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Mamacita Jane

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@mamacita
Thanks for the offer of sunny days Becky but we have too many of those now, although currently, it's a bone-chilling 54 degrees here. Enjoy your snow, wish I was there.
Jake

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 26, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@parus , @gingerw, @merpreb, and all of you! My eyes are a tad foggy and carpal..." + (show)
@mamacita

@parus , @gingerw, @merpreb, and all of you! My eyes are a tad foggy and carpal tunnel makes me want to stop messaging right away. But I have good news. My optic nerves are just fine. What I do have is cataracts. My surgery is scheduled for 12/28. My eyes were so dry when they tested me, I have to complete a regimen of eye drops before I can be retested. They do measurements which must be precise, in preparation for surgery.

I never thought I would be grateful for cataracts. But there are so many things that can go wrong with the optic nerves. Needless to say, I have really tightened up on my gluten free, low carb way of eating. I don't want to take anymore chances with the gift of sight. I got along with the doctor just fine. I had met a precious lady who had been dismissed by this particular opthamologist. I was a bit anxious after hearing her story.

But I just decided to go into the appointment with an open mind. I treated him like I always do when meeting a new physician. Respect and honoring their time goes a long way.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy whatever treats you make or someone else makes for you. Who else watches the Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

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@mamacita We never know how a dr will be for our own case until we get the appt with them, right? Glad to hear you were pleased and that there is an answer to your vision issue. I guess they will do one eye at a time? You'll have nice new vision [internal and external!] for the New Year!

The fan for our heat pump went out this morning. Bless their hearts, and with our gratitude for responding, the heating techs came out in the beginning of our snowstorm to try to fix the problem, driving a 4x4 truck instead of service van. But, we need a new motor, that won't be here until early next week. Until then, using a space heater in the bedroom, and the fireplace that has a certified heat insert with adjustable fan. We have had about 3" of snow so far. At this time of the afternoon it is 34 outside, but 65 in the house with the fireplace going.
Ginger

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3 replies
lioness | @lioness | Nov 26, 2019

@gingerw One winter in Pa . my furnace went out but the guy came right away and put in a new furnace for me next day . Like you I had a heater in my bedroom so it wasn't bad . On New Years Day of all days.

REPLY
1 reply
imallears | @imallears | Nov 26, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@mamacita We never know how a dr will be for our own case until we get..." + (show)
@gingerw

@mamacita We never know how a dr will be for our own case until we get the appt with them, right? Glad to hear you were pleased and that there is an answer to your vision issue. I guess they will do one eye at a time? You'll have nice new vision [internal and external!] for the New Year!

The fan for our heat pump went out this morning. Bless their hearts, and with our gratitude for responding, the heating techs came out in the beginning of our snowstorm to try to fix the problem, driving a 4x4 truck instead of service van. But, we need a new motor, that won't be here until early next week. Until then, using a space heater in the bedroom, and the fireplace that has a certified heat insert with adjustable fan. We have had about 3" of snow so far. At this time of the afternoon it is 34 outside, but 65 in the house with the fireplace going.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw
Come on down to Florida and enjoy 75 degrees with no humidity....thank goodness. I have been through too many NY winters with broken something or other. I don’t shiver well lol.

FL Mary

REPLY
1 reply
imallears | @imallears | Nov 26, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@gingerw One winter in Pa . my furnace went out but the guy came right away..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingerw One winter in Pa . my furnace went out but the guy came right away and put in a new furnace for me next day . Like you I had a heater in my bedroom so it wasn't bad . On New Years Day of all days.

Jump to this post

@lioness
Appliances and any major home heating or cooling systems are in a conspiracy to conk out at the worst times.....I think they are all having a contest. Shhhh they’ll hear you.

FL Mary

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 27, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@mamacita We never know how a dr will be for our own case until we get..." + (show)
@gingerw

@mamacita We never know how a dr will be for our own case until we get the appt with them, right? Glad to hear you were pleased and that there is an answer to your vision issue. I guess they will do one eye at a time? You'll have nice new vision [internal and external!] for the New Year!

The fan for our heat pump went out this morning. Bless their hearts, and with our gratitude for responding, the heating techs came out in the beginning of our snowstorm to try to fix the problem, driving a 4x4 truck instead of service van. But, we need a new motor, that won't be here until early next week. Until then, using a space heater in the bedroom, and the fireplace that has a certified heat insert with adjustable fan. We have had about 3" of snow so far. At this time of the afternoon it is 34 outside, but 65 in the house with the fireplace going.
Ginger

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Sounds cold, @gingerw. I hope that the new motor arrives sooner rather than later!

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 27, 2019
In reply to @imallears "@gingerw Come on down to Florida and enjoy 75 degrees with no humidity....thank goodness. I have..." + (show)
@imallears

@gingerw
Come on down to Florida and enjoy 75 degrees with no humidity....thank goodness. I have been through too many NY winters with broken something or other. I don’t shiver well lol.

FL Mary

Jump to this post

Coming down to FL is a very tempting offer, @imallears. Not sure your hospitality could extend to all of us snowbirds!

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 28, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@parus , @gingerw, @merpreb, and all of you! My eyes are a tad foggy and carpal..." + (show)
@mamacita

@parus , @gingerw, @merpreb, and all of you! My eyes are a tad foggy and carpal tunnel makes me want to stop messaging right away. But I have good news. My optic nerves are just fine. What I do have is cataracts. My surgery is scheduled for 12/28. My eyes were so dry when they tested me, I have to complete a regimen of eye drops before I can be retested. They do measurements which must be precise, in preparation for surgery.

I never thought I would be grateful for cataracts. But there are so many things that can go wrong with the optic nerves. Needless to say, I have really tightened up on my gluten free, low carb way of eating. I don't want to take anymore chances with the gift of sight. I got along with the doctor just fine. I had met a precious lady who had been dismissed by this particular opthamologist. I was a bit anxious after hearing her story.

But I just decided to go into the appointment with an open mind. I treated him like I always do when meeting a new physician. Respect and honoring their time goes a long way.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy whatever treats you make or someone else makes for you. Who else watches the Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

Jump to this post

Jane- What a relief for you! Phew. I had both of my eyes done and it's a piece of cake easy procedure!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 28, 2019

Today I am grateful for the following, in no particular order:
This cyber group of friends and cohorts, for the education/support/strength you all have modeled for me;
My medical team and their wisdom;
This new little town we moved to, for the friendliness shown to two strangers;
Our go-to handyman, who arrived with a load of firewood in the rain yesterday;
The nearby heating and a/c company who braved the snow and black ice on Tues to diagnose the issue with heat pump and will return possibly Sat with a new motor to install;
My husband and his handy-skills, installing the garbage disposal yesterday.
Ginger

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