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.

@gingerw

@funcountess It is about a 2 hr drive to the coast, I think. We plan to take a few days and go camping there when restrictions are lifted. I crochet, quilt, and practice Zentangle [was certified as a teacher last year].

The towns of Ojai and Solvang are only a little familiar to me. Just never felt the draw since I lived/grew up so close. @lioness I hope you get to Pea Soup Andersen. But there is a little local restaurant across the street called Mother Hubbard's that has much better food. You won't find ableskivers except in Solvang itself, at the Danish restaurant on Copenhagen Drive. @contentandwell, there are three bakeries I can think of in that area that might have made those muffins.

@parus Isn't it funny how things get placed on our priority list in these times? I'm glad you found what you were looking for!

@mamacita I am grateful to see you posting here! We have missed you so much and know that there is a lot going on in your life right now. Hope to see you back here soon.
Ginger

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@gingerw thanks I remember Copenhagen Drive .

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@gingerw

@funcountess It is about a 2 hr drive to the coast, I think. We plan to take a few days and go camping there when restrictions are lifted. I crochet, quilt, and practice Zentangle [was certified as a teacher last year].

The towns of Ojai and Solvang are only a little familiar to me. Just never felt the draw since I lived/grew up so close. @lioness I hope you get to Pea Soup Andersen. But there is a little local restaurant across the street called Mother Hubbard's that has much better food. You won't find ableskivers except in Solvang itself, at the Danish restaurant on Copenhagen Drive. @contentandwell, there are three bakeries I can think of in that area that might have made those muffins.

@parus Isn't it funny how things get placed on our priority list in these times? I'm glad you found what you were looking for!

@mamacita I am grateful to see you posting here! We have missed you so much and know that there is a lot going on in your life right now. Hope to see you back here soon.
Ginger

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Ginger, I just finished dinner, and now I am drooling for some baked goods from Solvang.
Some of the bakeries closed up the last time I was there. Maybe it was off season for them.
Guess I will settle for a couple of Pepperidge Farm cookies.
I used to knit, and do needlepoint, but have not touched it in years. Now it’s art work.
I like anything water based.
2 hours away, you are really inland.
Do you miss the,beautiful flowers in Lompoc?
Did you ever drive up to Ballard? And all the back winding roads.
Now for my regular store bought cookie.
Funcountess

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@funcountess

Ginger, I just finished dinner, and now I am drooling for some baked goods from Solvang.
Some of the bakeries closed up the last time I was there. Maybe it was off season for them.
Guess I will settle for a couple of Pepperidge Farm cookies.
I used to knit, and do needlepoint, but have not touched it in years. Now it’s art work.
I like anything water based.
2 hours away, you are really inland.
Do you miss the,beautiful flowers in Lompoc?
Did you ever drive up to Ballard? And all the back winding roads.
Now for my regular store bought cookie.
Funcountess

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@funcountess I appreciated the natural beauty in that area, and as someone tuned into colors, loved the variety and shades in one color that occurred by nature. I did a quilted wall-hanging that used 14 shades of sunrise in it, in individual pieces. Called "Fan Tango at Dawn"; it was inspired by the Santa Ynez Valley winter sunrises. On topic, I am very grateful for the time spent and lived in the area. I lived in Lompoc for 4+ years. Drove many back roads. Lots of memories, thanks.
Ginger

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@gingerw Your quilt sounds lovely can you put a picture on line Id love to see it I admire people that can quilt closest I came to it was knotting one we started in our church group. take care be safe

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@debbraw I am grateful today that the sun is shining and right now cool so will walk glad I can do the walking outside . Later today it is to go in the 90,s but am grateful at this time I am safe from the virus and pray it will be over soon .

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Thanks for this blog site...I am grateful for all of these discussion sites at the Mayo Clinic....it eases the isolation a great deal....my wife is better at this than I am.....I am most grateful for her.....and grateful for the people on this site.

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Today I am grateful for a hard-working young man. I had asked someone who advertised on our local Facebook page to quote me on doing some yardwork. He stated he would come by, but never did, even after I reminded him. Next I turned to an old [than me!] couple around the corner, figuring Frank would know of someone. Immediately a young man showed up at our house, ready to start work. Frank had told him what to charge, E told me, but when I showed him the first job, I raised the pay higher. He showed up this morning and did an awesome job clearing a 20' x 20' sloping bed of blackberry jungle. We discovered some huge retaining boulders, and a few other oddball things. He worked until it started raining, and will come back to finish removing all the roots. He came to work, and work hard he did! We will be using him some more, no doubt about it. As a senior in high school, there are not a lot of jobs around here. We are grateful to him, our neighbors, and his guardians who have taught him the value of a good day's work.
Ginger

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@gingerw , I am grateful for a hardworking next door neighbor, her son, and her grandson.

Together they planted the most beautiful flower bed in my backyard. They also planted the vegetable plants I purchased from Lowe's.

My sweet husband was able to enjoy their efforts very much. He had just been home from a very long hospital stay. The growing life right there before his eyes was very motivating.

We anticipate a bit of rain every day this week. So, perhaps I will not have to water quite so much, if at all.

It's also nice to sit outside and listen to the birds. I never appreciated them as I do now.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.
Oh....Almost forgot. I am grateful for all of you.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

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@mamacita

@gingerw , I am grateful for a hardworking next door neighbor, her son, and her grandson.

Together they planted the most beautiful flower bed in my backyard. They also planted the vegetable plants I purchased from Lowe's.

My sweet husband was able to enjoy their efforts very much. He had just been home from a very long hospital stay. The growing life right there before his eyes was very motivating.

We anticipate a bit of rain every day this week. So, perhaps I will not have to water quite so much, if at all.

It's also nice to sit outside and listen to the birds. I never appreciated them as I do now.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.
Oh....Almost forgot. I am grateful for all of you.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

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And we are most grateful for you, @mamacita. So glad that your husband is on the mend. How is your daughter doing? (If you posted about her previously, I must have missed it.)

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@mamacita

@gingerw , I am grateful for a hardworking next door neighbor, her son, and her grandson.

Together they planted the most beautiful flower bed in my backyard. They also planted the vegetable plants I purchased from Lowe's.

My sweet husband was able to enjoy their efforts very much. He had just been home from a very long hospital stay. The growing life right there before his eyes was very motivating.

We anticipate a bit of rain every day this week. So, perhaps I will not have to water quite so much, if at all.

It's also nice to sit outside and listen to the birds. I never appreciated them as I do now.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.
Oh....Almost forgot. I am grateful for all of you.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

Jump to this post

@mamacita I'm happy to hear that your husband is now home. You and he have been through a lot, hopefully all will improve now.

That's so nice that your neighbors planted a garden for you. I could use neighbors like that!
JK

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