1. < Aging Well
Mentor

"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.

Posted by Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor @artscaping, Jan 8, 2021

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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @woogie "I cannot sew, embroider, knit or paint. One thing which drives me crazy is: "I can't..." + (show)
@woogie

I cannot sew, embroider, knit or paint. One thing which drives me crazy is: "I can't carry a tune in a bucket"! I got kicked out of the church choir when I was around six. I really wanted to wear that robe and join the singing. I did. Then, I was asked to hang up my robe. In school, when we were supposed to sing the notes, the teacher cringed. He didn't want to even hear it! I scared my nephew when I sang happy birthday--he ran and hid. That ended my trying. My parents could not sing either. People tell me to make a joyful noise to the Lord--they don't understand we are not all gifted the same way.

Jump to this post

I understand what you are saying. In middle school, I was asked by the choir director to just "mouth the words" and not try to sing. It was a good option. I could still be in the choir and wear the robe, but just not use my voice. We all have different gifts as @lioness said.

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @hopeful33250 "I understand what you are saying. In middle school, I was asked by the choir director..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

I understand what you are saying. In middle school, I was asked by the choir director to just "mouth the words" and not try to sing. It was a good option. I could still be in the choir and wear the robe, but just not use my voice. We all have different gifts as @lioness said.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 I had to laugh that was a bright spot in my day Teresa

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 1, 2021

@sujulast I see this is your first post, after becoming a member last November. Welcome to Mayo Connect! I would love to hear more about what brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect.

To help manage your settings, here is some helpful information:
– How to Stop or Restart all Notifications: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#stop-restart-notifications
– How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe from a Discussion: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#subscribe-unsubscribe-discussion
Ginger

REPLY
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @jocelynk "I knit and crochet when I was young but lost interest after my stint with Hodgkins..." + (show)
@jocelynk

I 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!

Jump to this post

That sounds like a great idea, joclynk. Want to begin learning now, so you have everything you need and on hand when you may be home for a while? For me and my personality, to begin now or soon to organize my new craft endeavors would be a lot of fun and help direct my focus on something new and interesting....You know, it'll be a good thing to focus your energies and thoughts on something else.....but even more to focus on doing something nice for someone else!

I love this....these very talented women can lead you down the knitting lane!
Bless you on this journey.....and you'll be in a lot of thoughts and prayers in June.....elizabeth

REPLY
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @joybringer1 "You are in my thoughts. You have already faced so much. I will think of you..." + (show)
@joybringer1

You are in my thoughts. You have already faced so much. I will think of you in a special way in June. I used to crochet as well, but am not sure I could do it again. It did keep my hands busy and many relatives received not so attractive shawls for Christmas. I think just the doing helped my sanity a bit. I never did knit even after taking lessons. After a lesson I would go home and try to do more. At each class meeting, the instructor ripped out all I had done because I had dropped a stitch or something like that. I dropped the class along with plans to make a sweater. I do admire those who can knit. My sister is the one who can do crafts. She makes lovely cards. She used to do macrame, embroidery, and needlepoint. I was not good in my home ec class in junior high. I despised sewing on a machine and also the cooking part. I still remember having to wear my dress I had made (with lots of help from others) as all of us modeled. The grade I made in that class was a "C", the first ever for me. Ah well, I should have insisted on not taking the class and doing shop with the boys. Maybe I would have done better at that because later in life I took a woodworking class and made a dinner table. It served for many years. As we are trying to downsize, we knew getting rid of that would allow a bookcase from my mother to be in its place. We put the table by the mailbox on a Sunday and put a "Free" sign on it and it was gone when we left the house two hours later. Best wishes to you @joycelynk. @joybringer1

Jump to this post

FYI: I knit a sweet little soft pink cashmere sweater for my red-headed mother when I was maybe 20's???? She was so proud of me, and it was a lovely color for her.....only problem,,,It was so tiny it fit my doll!

Mom knit me a full-length coat several years later. We had a very different set of gifts and skills!
elizabeth

REPLY
2 replies
joybringer1 | @joybringer1 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @woogie "I cannot sew, embroider, knit or paint. One thing which drives me crazy is: "I can't..." + (show)
@woogie

I cannot sew, embroider, knit or paint. One thing which drives me crazy is: "I can't carry a tune in a bucket"! I got kicked out of the church choir when I was around six. I really wanted to wear that robe and join the singing. I did. Then, I was asked to hang up my robe. In school, when we were supposed to sing the notes, the teacher cringed. He didn't want to even hear it! I scared my nephew when I sang happy birthday--he ran and hid. That ended my trying. My parents could not sing either. People tell me to make a joyful noise to the Lord--they don't understand we are not all gifted the same way.

Jump to this post

@woogie,you most likely have other talents if you look for them. I certainly can relate to your first sentence. I can do none of those things as well. I cannot sing, but do so when I am alone or in the shower. Your "noise " is always joyful to the Lord. No, we are not all gifted in the same way. Just look for your strengths. Best wishes, @joybringer1

REPLY
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Feb 2, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "@golden418 and @kathy2020, Discussions do sometimes get off track and it does hurt members who are..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@golden418 and @kathy2020, Discussions do sometimes get off track and it does hurt members who are looking for information relevant to the discussion. I look forward to things getting back to normal where I can go out and meet a friend for lunch or a cup of coffee. Until then one of the things that helps my quality of life is try and get some time outside to enjoy nature. On my bucket list for 2021 is to visit the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN - https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/. It raises my spirits when I see one sitting on the side of the road, soaring in the sky or sitting in a tall tree.

Hate to see you leave the discussion but this should help if you still want to stop notifications:
- How to Stop or Restart all Notifications: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#stop-restart-notifications
- How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe from a Discussion: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#subscribe-unsubscribe-discussion

Jump to this post

The Eagle Center in Wabasha gets my vote as your best option this year. I found it fascinating. It is interesting and disturbing to learn how each eagle arrived, how their differences in food and behavior came to be and can be observed. Enjoy...Chris

REPLY
jocelynk | @jocelynk | Feb 2, 2021

I had a friend who volunteered there for years and I’ve always wanted to go there. Moved up on my bucket list now.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 3, 2021
In reply to @ess77 "FYI: I knit a sweet little soft pink cashmere sweater for my red-headed mother when I..." + (show)
@ess77

FYI: I knit a sweet little soft pink cashmere sweater for my red-headed mother when I was maybe 20's???? She was so proud of me, and it was a lovely color for her.....only problem,,,It was so tiny it fit my doll!

Mom knit me a full-length coat several years later. We had a very different set of gifts and skills!
elizabeth

Jump to this post

Great story, @ess77. Thanks for the smile!

REPLY
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 3, 2021

This is a permanent QOL gift in our family. family Every year (except 2020) we pay for full senior memberships in the local history & science museums as well as a State Park annual permit. These allow us unlimited visits, accompanied by 2 adults and all grandchildren. When friends visit, we have our choice of a couple of dozen interesting places to visit, without asking them to pay admission. Or we can take the grands, and not be upset if we need to leave after only an hour due to a "meltdown" because we can always go back. A bonus is that our memberships are recognized by hundreds of sites around the country, giving us free or discounted admission. We have made side trips to countless interesting places since we retired. Can't wait to feel safe doing it again!
Sue

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.