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"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.
The 2020 Holidays are over. What was your favorite gift? Was one of your gifts what I call a “quality of life” gift? Was it a new special pillow that made you sleep better? Perhaps you were given something that made your life a little easier like new shoes with a softer sole. Or maybe your family gave you a Mayo gift like the Pain course or a Habit workshop?
It’s never too late to think of and thank yourself for your endurance, generosity, and kindness to yourself. And these may be things that you have never mentioned because you didn’t want to be a burden or a nuisance or appear to be selfish.
I went crazy this year and got three of my quality of life gifts. I’ll share them with you and hope you realize how very important they were and are to me.
1. My MFR therapist began to feel that one session a week was not sufficient. So, we set up a six week trial of 2 sessions per week. The difference in tolerance was amazing. I didn’t have to endure increasing discomfort for 7 days….just 3. And so….gift #1. When I let my family know they found a way to help with the additional cost called a “stocking stuffer”.
2. For over a year I have been noticing more and more pain in my hip. Several years ago, I had an injection which was done poorly and so I wasn’t too excited about trying again. This time I had a chat with myself. “Why, Chris, are you going through increasing pain when there is a solution?” So I gathered my strong determination, had the injection, and am just jumping for joy. And my insurance covered it. Great…..another quality of life gift received and appreciated.
3. My 2021 quality of life gift brigade begins tomorrow when I have my preliminary appointment to fix my arthritic thumb. I can no longer open a jar or turn a key in the door lock. Seven years ago I had anchovy surgery on the left thumb. It is perfect. Now, why have I let the other one reach such a painful stage? I really don’t like surgery but this one is relatively doable and I won’t need too much help at home.
So Happy Holidays to me.
And thank you friends and family who shouted encouragement and helped support my wishes for a few things that just needed to get done.
What items would qualify for your quality of life? Let’s all share and help each other develop our 2021 list of can dos and must-dos.
Be happy and content in 2021.
Chris
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10 Reactions@fiesty76 I was on hiatus for awhile but when you mentioned about going back to knitting I just thought the other day Id like to take doing embrodering again. I did a whole table cloth and placemats at one time but havent done anything in 20 years at least . As soon as I can get out Im going to JoAnn,s and look for something . Besides my memory getting bad so is my spelling . Hope your doing well Lioness
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4 ReactionsI knit and crochet when I was young but lost interest after my stint with Hodgkins when I was 24. Even used to sew quite a bit. Now that I found out I need a double mastectomy (June probably) was thinking if crocheting again but I’d need to relearn how to even start. I am stressing about my situation and think it will help focus my attention something else. Sounds like everyone enjoys having a hobby like this and you are quite good at it!
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4 Reactions@ginger I think I,m going to embroider I use to and may try it again.
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2 ReactionsMy goodness, gracious sakes alive!!!!!! I'm in awe of each of you! Every one of you wonderful women is talented, creative up a gump stump, extremely engaged with family of several generations and all ages, even still involved with community. I'm truly impressed. While I marvel at each of you, I'm feeling more depressed, alone, uninvolved and isolated!!!!! Think it's time to switch to another site!
I used to do needle work, in my much younger days, music...pianist since 7 years old, sang a bit....in church choirs all my life and acapella group, smaller groups in church, etc. Loved watercolors, hoped to pick it back up last couple years, but never could get to it. Hands don't let me do any of it anymore. Health and other issues in life just got in the way......But, you are bringing me joy through your joy! I hope and pray you each keep this so special part of your life active and center stage. Don't ever let go of these creative juices, keep them flowing until your last breath.
And, Chris, you tell that husband of yours his paintings brought joy and happiness to my life. I love those paintings showing us a special part of his private self. His use of color, interesting shapes and composition. I'm honored to 'know' even this tiny bit of his gift.
I'm off to bed now. It's much, much too late for me, but I got so caught up in your exchanges, I was stuck with you in your fabrics, recipes and the cooking process!
Resting tomorrow. Must work with HP and cell phone experts to figure out why I don't get most of my emails anymore. Not getting anything from Mayo, not even notifications of patient online portal messages. Don't get Connect notification, either.... Hate to mention things I have to address that have no smidgen of creativity in them, but my electronic life must go forward!
Keep up the creativity, ladies! Enjoy!
Blessings to you all.
elizabeth
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6 ReactionsA gift I gave myself for 2021 is an online gym membership. A great gift that keeps on giving !
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7 Reactions@tim1028 Thats nice we need to give ourselves a gift now and then . With my problems with doing the floors I gave myself a Rumba boy has it helped me alot . During these times especially we need to be kind to ourselves
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8 Reactions@suzanne2, Thanks for that tip, Suzanne. Although I am limiting my time at each knit session because I've feared increasing the pain, I have been happily surprised that the hand motion involved hasn't increased arthritic pain. Maybe, like docs encouraging arthritic patients to walk, this "exercise" is good for the hands as well?
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2 Reactions@lioness, Yes, JoAnn's is a shop I look forward to visiting again too when it becomes safer for me to re-enter shops, etc. Your mention of embroidering a table cloth and placemats reminded me of a simple, early attempt of cross stitching a reg. sized bedspread. Oh my word, it took forever and I never attached it to a backing to complete for use.
I did develop a long interest in crewel embroidery and before changing hobbies again, had begun to create my own designs for occs'l pillows which once completed I used and also made as gifts for friends. While I still have the hoops and various needles, I'd need to buy new threads but another hobby to re-kindle once I tire of making hot pads and slipper socks to share.
Glad to be seeing your posts again! And yes, I've done very well through this long pandemic and so grateful to have had my first Moderna vacc. The next one is scheduled for Feb. 5th. Have you received yours yet?
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1 ReactionHi, joscelynk, Like you, I was nervous about needing to re-teach myself to knit after so many yrs away from it. I still had the initial instruction book and also found some "how to knit videos" on Utube for beginners which really made the start over process easier.
I agree that knitting is keeping my attention focused on the "task at hand" rather than ruminating on worrisome issues. Wishing you the best and hope you'll keep us updated on your approaching surgery.
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