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.

beckyy39 | @beckyy39 | Apr 1, 2020

I'm thankful that the sun is still coming up in Florida and I can look outside at the trees and hear the birds chirping. I'm thankful to have a home to lay my head and food on my table. The way I see it, no matter what happens, God is in control and He will provide for those that depend on Him! He has shown this to be true many times recently and I will abide by the suggestions given such as self quarantine and enjoy this time to spend with my youngest son, 17 years old and to rest.

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Funcountess | @funcountess | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@funcountess Yes it is docked in port at San Pedro wish I could go see it..." + (show)
@lioness

@funcountess Yes it is docked in port at San Pedro wish I could go see it but better on T V I did see years ago the USD Iowa which is there too and close by Mercy staying in ,cooking just made Lentil ham soup baked poppyseed rolls Be save how much of your home is under construction?

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Hi lioness,
Every room was affected from the Wolsey canyon fire.
The rooms were torn down to the wood 2x4’s
electric wiring, floors everything, furniture tossed, or cleaned.
It is still a terrible mess,but most has been rebuilt, although there is still plenty left to repair.
Insurance company was slow to pay, so that was a major loss of time last year.
I just go with the flow, and eventually it should get done.
The homes that burned to the ground are still fighting with their insurance companies. What a shame.

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Apr 1, 2020

@funcountess Sorry to hear that all was destroyed hard to start over ,hope the ins co. Come through soon for them glad yours did 🙏 for all affected and now

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 1, 2020

@parus @lioness @merpreb @contentandwell and whoever is in this discussion.

This is take 3. The first and second tries suddenly went who knows where. So,I'm moving from my phone to my tablet.

So far we're doing fine. Living out in the country, houses are at least a quarter of a mile apart, so we already are practicing social distancing. We only go to town for groceries, every 10 days, and do our banking and post office business if we need to. We make our last stop at one of the drive thru fast food restaurants, and take it home to eat. I know that doing those things presents a level of risk, but everyone is taking the virus seriously and as a rule are following the rules. So far, no cases are reported in our county, but that certainly doesn't mean it won't happen here. There are huge Facebook and Apple call centers at the edge of our town, each employing hundreds of people, and that would almost certainly raise the level of risk.

Our son is a truck driver for a plumbing supplier in Indianapolis, so has some risk when he makes deliveries. Their 7 year old daughter is living with her other grandparents until the pandemic is past. His wife is a nurse practitioner and sees patients in several nursing homes, a number of whom have tested positive for covid 19. She's at a huge risk, but for many of her patients she's the only health professional who makes the rounds for face to face visits.

Our daughter's husband is in the Coast Guard in Alameda, which is in the San Francisco bay area. Our daughter and her two girls who are 8 months old and 3 years old, are finding things to do. But there's a limit to what they can do for however many weeks or months without getting serious cabin fever. Her husband has to go to work as usual - we hope he won't be exposed to the virus on base.

It means a lot to us that both of our kids call and message every day. Connection, even online, is a key part of maintaining our sanity and helping us control fear and anxiety in this time of uncertainty. Conversation with the friends we make through this Mayo Clinic Connect can and does help us in many different ways. It helps us to stay grounded and helps us maintain a healthy perspective, and at the same time we can learn all kinds of things that we'd never thought of until we read about it here. At least that's what I've experienced.

Y'all stay safe and sane.

Jim

REPLY
2 replies
Funcountess | @funcountess | Apr 1, 2020

Hello Jim,
Good your sons daughter is staying with her other set of grandparents. Better safe then sorry.as long as she is able to have communication with her parents she should be o.k.
Your son in law in the coast guard, does he have protective gear? I hope things are improving in northern CA.
I am in the southern part of CA. Not far from Santa Barbara,CA.
Take Care

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@parus @lioness @merpreb @contentandwell and whoever is in this discussion. This is take 3. The first..." + (show)
@jimhd

@parus @lioness @merpreb @contentandwell and whoever is in this discussion.

This is take 3. The first and second tries suddenly went who knows where. So,I'm moving from my phone to my tablet.

So far we're doing fine. Living out in the country, houses are at least a quarter of a mile apart, so we already are practicing social distancing. We only go to town for groceries, every 10 days, and do our banking and post office business if we need to. We make our last stop at one of the drive thru fast food restaurants, and take it home to eat. I know that doing those things presents a level of risk, but everyone is taking the virus seriously and as a rule are following the rules. So far, no cases are reported in our county, but that certainly doesn't mean it won't happen here. There are huge Facebook and Apple call centers at the edge of our town, each employing hundreds of people, and that would almost certainly raise the level of risk.

Our son is a truck driver for a plumbing supplier in Indianapolis, so has some risk when he makes deliveries. Their 7 year old daughter is living with her other grandparents until the pandemic is past. His wife is a nurse practitioner and sees patients in several nursing homes, a number of whom have tested positive for covid 19. She's at a huge risk, but for many of her patients she's the only health professional who makes the rounds for face to face visits.

Our daughter's husband is in the Coast Guard in Alameda, which is in the San Francisco bay area. Our daughter and her two girls who are 8 months old and 3 years old, are finding things to do. But there's a limit to what they can do for however many weeks or months without getting serious cabin fever. Her husband has to go to work as usual - we hope he won't be exposed to the virus on base.

It means a lot to us that both of our kids call and message every day. Connection, even online, is a key part of maintaining our sanity and helping us control fear and anxiety in this time of uncertainty. Conversation with the friends we make through this Mayo Clinic Connect can and does help us in many different ways. It helps us to stay grounded and helps us maintain a healthy perspective, and at the same time we can learn all kinds of things that we'd never thought of until we read about it here. At least that's what I've experienced.

Y'all stay safe and sane.

Jim

Jump to this post

Good to hear from you @jimhd It sounds as if you and your family are doing all you can to stay safe. That's smart that your granddaughter is with her other grandparents since her mother is in a risky position. I guess anyone who is out there working is in a risky position to some extent.
Stay safe, and if this miserable virus does hit closer to home I hope you will try to eliminate the trips out of your home.

I agree with you, we are so fortunate to be able to communicate via texts and calls, and Facetime with our kids. My son calls pretty much daily, and I text with my daughter daily.

@funcountess Lucky you! I love the Santa Barbara area. We stayed there once, at The Inn on Summer Hill. It was very lovely but we regretted not being within walking distance of Santa Barbara itself. Now that neither my step-son lives in CA (SF area) or my son (LA area), our trips to CA are history.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
Funcountess | @funcountess | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @contentandwell "Good to hear from you @jimhd It sounds as if you and your family are doing..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Good to hear from you @jimhd It sounds as if you and your family are doing all you can to stay safe. That's smart that your granddaughter is with her other grandparents since her mother is in a risky position. I guess anyone who is out there working is in a risky position to some extent.
Stay safe, and if this miserable virus does hit closer to home I hope you will try to eliminate the trips out of your home.

I agree with you, we are so fortunate to be able to communicate via texts and calls, and Facetime with our kids. My son calls pretty much daily, and I text with my daughter daily.

@funcountess Lucky you! I love the Santa Barbara area. We stayed there once, at The Inn on Summer Hill. It was very lovely but we regretted not being within walking distance of Santa Barbara itself. Now that neither my step-son lives in CA (SF area) or my son (LA area), our trips to CA are history.
JK

Jump to this post

Yes Jim my Santa Barbara area is beautiful, but suffered quite a bit of damage to my home in the last round of fires. Still being rebuilt. What about your daughter and grandkids, are they not in Alameda ,ca? Hope the coast guard is supplying your son in law with protective gear.
Sacramento, and other towns in northern ca. Were hot spots some weeks ago, but governor newsom has not mentioned them lately.
The focus has been greater Los Angeles.county.
Take care, stay safe

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@parus @lioness @merpreb @contentandwell and whoever is in this discussion. This is take 3. The first..." + (show)
@jimhd

@parus @lioness @merpreb @contentandwell and whoever is in this discussion.

This is take 3. The first and second tries suddenly went who knows where. So,I'm moving from my phone to my tablet.

So far we're doing fine. Living out in the country, houses are at least a quarter of a mile apart, so we already are practicing social distancing. We only go to town for groceries, every 10 days, and do our banking and post office business if we need to. We make our last stop at one of the drive thru fast food restaurants, and take it home to eat. I know that doing those things presents a level of risk, but everyone is taking the virus seriously and as a rule are following the rules. So far, no cases are reported in our county, but that certainly doesn't mean it won't happen here. There are huge Facebook and Apple call centers at the edge of our town, each employing hundreds of people, and that would almost certainly raise the level of risk.

Our son is a truck driver for a plumbing supplier in Indianapolis, so has some risk when he makes deliveries. Their 7 year old daughter is living with her other grandparents until the pandemic is past. His wife is a nurse practitioner and sees patients in several nursing homes, a number of whom have tested positive for covid 19. She's at a huge risk, but for many of her patients she's the only health professional who makes the rounds for face to face visits.

Our daughter's husband is in the Coast Guard in Alameda, which is in the San Francisco bay area. Our daughter and her two girls who are 8 months old and 3 years old, are finding things to do. But there's a limit to what they can do for however many weeks or months without getting serious cabin fever. Her husband has to go to work as usual - we hope he won't be exposed to the virus on base.

It means a lot to us that both of our kids call and message every day. Connection, even online, is a key part of maintaining our sanity and helping us control fear and anxiety in this time of uncertainty. Conversation with the friends we make through this Mayo Clinic Connect can and does help us in many different ways. It helps us to stay grounded and helps us maintain a healthy perspective, and at the same time we can learn all kinds of things that we'd never thought of until we read about it here. At least that's what I've experienced.

Y'all stay safe and sane.

Jim

Jump to this post

@jimhd Good to hear everyone is safe Pray your son in law will be safe 🙏

REPLY
1 reply
Parus | @parus | Apr 5, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "Hey @parus- You are more than welcome! I'm glad to hear that things are good with..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hey @parus- You are more than welcome! I'm glad to hear that things are good with you. They are here as well. I think that we all just have to grin and bear it. Everywhere things are somber and we are finding that people are really taking this seriously now. Everyone is keeping at least 6 ft apart from one another. One of our markets has 6 ft markers for lines!
We should be seeing a pip soon on one of mom's eggs. A pip is the first break in the shell before hatch. I don't know of anyone who has been stricken either. I hope that it stays that way. How's that little guy of yours? Are you speaking on the phone or having facetime?

Jump to this post

@merpreb My little guy is well. Missing grandma a whole lot as I miss him. I am no longer seeing family as they are still working and I don't want to put myself at risk. Not what I wanted to do and I feel I may be over reacting. Possibly it may seem selfish of me. Better some missed times together for a short time than forever. There are residents here that still have their grandkids come. Hopefully their choices do not affect the others in this community. I just can't do it knowing the risks to others as well as myself. I miss seeing my family too.
I plan to stay put and not even go to the grocery store for a couple of weeks. The county I live in had no reported cases and now it is a hotbed of COVID cases. Seems in this area it has not been taken seriously enough. Only responsible for my own behavior.

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