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 | Dec 1, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello All: While I just posted this message in the Loss and Grief group, I wrote..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello All: While I just posted this message in the Loss and Grief group, I wrote about Thanksgiving Day and gratitude, so I wanted to post it here as well.

As I look back on Thanksgiving Day, I find myself thankful for my church family as well as hospice. As some of you already know, my mother passed away on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. She was accepted into hospice care just a few days before she died. When she began to experience the symptoms that the hospice nurse had predicted would come at the end of her life, there were comfort meds on hand that I could administer with phone directions from the hospice nursing staff. She took her final breath in her own senior apartment with me by her side rubbing her arm so that she would know I was there.

While it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving, the support of hospice and my church's staff gave me much to be thankful for. I made many calls to the nurses on-call at the hospice organization during her final minutes. After her death friends from church and my two pastors connected with me by phone to tell me of their prayers and support.

While future Thanksgivings will carry the memories of my mom's transition from this life to her heavenly home, I'm very grateful for God's mercies to her and to me. She experienced what I had prayed for, "a peaceful homegoing."

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@hopeful33250 I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. It sounds as if you had a lot of support to help you get through such a difficult time. My mother passed away when I was 27. We knew it was coming but that didn't make it any easier. Thankfully, we too were there with her, the hospital called to let us know she would not make it through the night so all four children were at her bedside. It sounds as if you were the only family with your mother so the support of the hospice care and your church must have been especially helpful.
JK

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 2, 2019

Today I am beyond grateful. Our heat pump went out last week, and they replaced the motor in the attic. However that wasn't enough and it turns out the entire condenser outside needs to also be replaced. It could cost over $6,000. Because we got a home warranty policy [that I insisted on], our cost will be $260 total. Right now running on emergency heat coils, keeping the house at 61 degrees. Hot tea and bundling up works well, and I am absolutely thrilled with this company doing the work. As you know we are in a very rural area, and the weather this time of year is always iffy. They will be out end of next week to install the new system.
Ginger

REPLY
2 replies
Sundance(RB) | @sundance6 | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Gingergingerw , yes ma'am, they are doing one eye at a time. I would like to..." + (show)
@mamacita

@Gingergingerw , yes ma'am, they are doing one eye at a time. I would like to be brave and just have it all done within a week, but I am hesitant to do so. I would hate to have both eyes done around the same time, if something went awry. We shall see! ( No pun intended!)

I an so thankful for this beautiful gathering of encouragers . Cyber friends are indeed real friends. Sometimes it is easier to communicate on here than it is to interact with some of our own family. Conversely being on here helps me to communicate my true feelings to others in real time.

Now for a post dinner nap!

Mamacita

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Mamacita, Hope all is going well with the cataract surgery. I opted to have them done in the samme day. Was Great because I didn't have to have anixity waiting for the second one to be done. There are not a lot of doctors to do them on the same day.
I was lucky and had one.
Turned out great.
I ended up getting a pair of glasses with clear on top and reading perscription on the bottom. Tried just plain readers but they were a pain. I leave one pair downstairs for reading and another pair for conputer work up stairs in my office.
Good Luck!
Sundance(RB)

REPLY
Parus | @parus | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "Today I am beyond grateful. Our heat pump went out last week, and they replaced the..." + (show)
@gingerw

Today I am beyond grateful. Our heat pump went out last week, and they replaced the motor in the attic. However that wasn't enough and it turns out the entire condenser outside needs to also be replaced. It could cost over $6,000. Because we got a home warranty policy [that I insisted on], our cost will be $260 total. Right now running on emergency heat coils, keeping the house at 61 degrees. Hot tea and bundling up works well, and I am absolutely thrilled with this company doing the work. As you know we are in a very rural area, and the weather this time of year is always iffy. They will be out end of next week to install the new system.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw Oh my, my, my...I will pull up a blanket and a cup of tea. 61 degrees is not comfortable. Hugs my cyber friend.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @parus "@gingerw Oh my, my, my...I will pull up a blanket and a cup of tea. 61..." + (show)
@parus

@gingerw Oh my, my, my...I will pull up a blanket and a cup of tea. 61 degrees is not comfortable. Hugs my cyber friend.

Jump to this post

@parus Actually it is not too bad! Biggest issue is keeping my hands warm, but then I cannot do any crochet/artwork/sewing with hands in heavy gloves ;(( Doing a lot of reading...
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
Parus | @parus | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello All: While I just posted this message in the Loss and Grief group, I wrote..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello All: While I just posted this message in the Loss and Grief group, I wrote about Thanksgiving Day and gratitude, so I wanted to post it here as well.

As I look back on Thanksgiving Day, I find myself thankful for my church family as well as hospice. As some of you already know, my mother passed away on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. She was accepted into hospice care just a few days before she died. When she began to experience the symptoms that the hospice nurse had predicted would come at the end of her life, there were comfort meds on hand that I could administer with phone directions from the hospice nursing staff. She took her final breath in her own senior apartment with me by her side rubbing her arm so that she would know I was there.

While it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving, the support of hospice and my church's staff gave me much to be thankful for. I made many calls to the nurses on-call at the hospice organization during her final minutes. After her death friends from church and my two pastors connected with me by phone to tell me of their prayers and support.

While future Thanksgivings will carry the memories of my mom's transition from this life to her heavenly home, I'm very grateful for God's mercies to her and to me. She experienced what I had prayed for, "a peaceful homegoing."

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Thank you for the share. I was able to go to a family gathering with my son and his wife. The Rhizotomy has helped enough I can do a little more. Had the left side done yesterday and now in extreme pain again which should improve in a couple of days. I do this under a local and this one was extremely painful!!! Still thankful I can do this under a local and transport myself to the procedure and drive back home again. Hoping I will be able to attend family Christmas gatherings too!!

REPLY
4 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "Today I am beyond grateful. Our heat pump went out last week, and they replaced the..." + (show)
@gingerw

Today I am beyond grateful. Our heat pump went out last week, and they replaced the motor in the attic. However that wasn't enough and it turns out the entire condenser outside needs to also be replaced. It could cost over $6,000. Because we got a home warranty policy [that I insisted on], our cost will be $260 total. Right now running on emergency heat coils, keeping the house at 61 degrees. Hot tea and bundling up works well, and I am absolutely thrilled with this company doing the work. As you know we are in a very rural area, and the weather this time of year is always iffy. They will be out end of next week to install the new system.
Ginger

Jump to this post

I am so relieved for you that your man fixed your heater. wrap up tight with some comfy clothes and warm blanket!

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@parus Actually it is not too bad! Biggest issue is keeping my hands warm, but then..." + (show)
@gingerw

@parus Actually it is not too bad! Biggest issue is keeping my hands warm, but then I cannot do any crochet/artwork/sewing with hands in heavy gloves ;(( Doing a lot of reading...
Ginger

Jump to this post

Get yourself a pair of ski hand warmers if you can get out or order from Amazon.

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 3, 2019
In reply to @parus "@hopeful33250 Thank you for the share. I was able to go to a family gathering with..." + (show)
@parus

@hopeful33250 Thank you for the share. I was able to go to a family gathering with my son and his wife. The Rhizotomy has helped enough I can do a little more. Had the left side done yesterday and now in extreme pain again which should improve in a couple of days. I do this under a local and this one was extremely painful!!! Still thankful I can do this under a local and transport myself to the procedure and drive back home again. Hoping I will be able to attend family Christmas gatherings too!!

Jump to this post

Parus- AM so glad that you spent Thanksgiving with your family and that you are able to move around more. Take it easy now until you heal. Big hug.

REPLY
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