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.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@gingers In Long Beach it is just cloudy not raining yet I can't see Rancho Palas..." + (show)
@lioness

@gingers In Long Beach it is just cloudy not raining yet I can't see Rancho Palas Verde from here so it's coming Have a good day.

Jump to this post

@lioness
Hey Linda, I thought Ginger said she was from the Inland Empire. That’s quite a ways from Long Beach isn’t it?
Jake

REPLY
2 replies
Parus | @parus | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "If you don't hear from me after tomorrow I may not have survived the ordeal I'm..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

If you don't hear from me after tomorrow I may not have survived the ordeal I'm seriously considering undertaking. I was looking over some lentil recipes and saw one I might try. It's a bit involved and it scared me off at first but I went back to it and want to try it. If I make it through ok and I post don't be surprised if I'm a little out of sorts, that's why. Just ignore me or tell me to shit up. Just a warning. Anyway, here is the recipe. What do you think? Should I go for it or is it too much to tackle.

ingredients
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup brown lentils
3/4 cup long-grain brown rice
3 cups vegetable broth
1 can (15-ounce) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (4-ounce) diced green chilies
1 tablespoon taco or other Southwestern seasoning blend
2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, Pepperjack or white Cheddar), divided
Get Ingredients Powered by Chicory
directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine all ingredients, except the cheese, in a deep 8 x 8-inch glass or ceramic baking dish and mix well. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 1 1/2 hours, stirring once while the mixture is baking.

Remove the foil, stir in half the cheese and place the remaining cheese over the top.

Return to oven (uncovered) and bake until cheese has melted, approximately 20 minutes. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

Guess I can't use the brown minute rice?
I'll get the onion already chopped and the cheese grated. Can you get chopped garlic and bell pepper?

Thanks kids,
Jake

Jump to this post

@jakedduck1 Sounds yummy and spicy. Do you by chance have a crockpot? Hang tough.

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@lioness Hey Linda, I thought Ginger said she was from the Inland Empire. That’s quite a..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@lioness
Hey Linda, I thought Ginger said she was from the Inland Empire. That’s quite a ways from Long Beach isn’t it?
Jake

Jump to this post

@jakedduck1 @lioness I live against the Sierra Madre mountains. Where Lioness lives is maybe 35 miles "as the crow flies", but more like 60 based on freeways.
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@lioness Hey Linda, I thought Ginger said she was from the Inland Empire. That’s quite a..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@lioness
Hey Linda, I thought Ginger said she was from the Inland Empire. That’s quite a ways from Long Beach isn’t it?
Jake

Jump to this post

@jakedduck1 About an hour or so I use to live in Montclair up there so I'm familiar with the area

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@jakedduck1 @lioness I live against the Sierra Madre mountains. Where Lioness lives is maybe 35 miles..." + (show)
@gingerw

@jakedduck1 @lioness I live against the Sierra Madre mountains. Where Lioness lives is maybe 35 miles "as the crow flies", but more like 60 based on freeways.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw Right My son lived in Pasadena visited there a lot Love that little town

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@jakedduck1 You have a unique sense of humor, Jake. The fact that you were "going into..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@jakedduck1 You have a unique sense of humor, Jake. The fact that you were "going into shock just getting it out of the cupboard" made me smile and given the 30 below wind chill temps here in Michigan, a smile takes some doing 😊
If you can't do it today, how about tomorrow/ I'm rooting for you, Jake!
(By the way, before this sparks a discussion on what weather wimps we are, I want to state right up-front that our ability to tolerate extremes in weather (both heat and cold) definitely changes as we age and acquire health problems. What I could easily deal with at age 20 is much different than now, so no lectures on my wimpy attitude toward the weather😂thank you)

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Teresa, you folks living with the cold in the Midwest are surely not wimps. I think I would avoid leaving the house as much as possible. Seriously, those temperatures out there are ridiculous.
JK

REPLY
2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @karen00 "Hey Paris, can I get in on this? I read about you guys’ weather and am..." + (show)
@karen00

Hey Paris, can I get in on this? I read about you guys’ weather and am glad I am where I am - North Carolina. It was in the low 20’s this morning on my way to the doctor- but no snow! We rarely get it-maybe once a year. I’d like a little bit more!

Jump to this post

@karen00 We haven’t even had that much snow up here in NH this year. The weather reports tend to predict large amounts but it fizzles out to about 6”. I don’t mind snow (I don’t do the shoveling) but when it’s heavy, wet snow it sometimes brings the electrical wires down, and I do mind that.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "If you don't hear from me after tomorrow I may not have survived the ordeal I'm..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

If you don't hear from me after tomorrow I may not have survived the ordeal I'm seriously considering undertaking. I was looking over some lentil recipes and saw one I might try. It's a bit involved and it scared me off at first but I went back to it and want to try it. If I make it through ok and I post don't be surprised if I'm a little out of sorts, that's why. Just ignore me or tell me to shit up. Just a warning. Anyway, here is the recipe. What do you think? Should I go for it or is it too much to tackle.

ingredients
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup brown lentils
3/4 cup long-grain brown rice
3 cups vegetable broth
1 can (15-ounce) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (4-ounce) diced green chilies
1 tablespoon taco or other Southwestern seasoning blend
2 teaspoons dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, Pepperjack or white Cheddar), divided
Get Ingredients Powered by Chicory
directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine all ingredients, except the cheese, in a deep 8 x 8-inch glass or ceramic baking dish and mix well. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 1 1/2 hours, stirring once while the mixture is baking.

Remove the foil, stir in half the cheese and place the remaining cheese over the top.

Return to oven (uncovered) and bake until cheese has melted, approximately 20 minutes. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

Guess I can't use the brown minute rice?
I'll get the onion already chopped and the cheese grated. Can you get chopped garlic and bell pepper?

Thanks kids,
Jake

Jump to this post

@jakedduck1 If you can read you can cook. That recipe does seem a bit involved though for a neophyte.
JK

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Always remember, @jakedduck1. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder😊" + (show)
@hopeful33250

Always remember, @jakedduck1. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder😊

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 @parus
I’m starting to become attached to the little fellas. The one on the far left side is quite looksome, about the 5th or 6th one from the top under the round white one. Looks like he’s got a green hat on. A definite cutie. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to cook them. I hope they don’t suffer.
Jake

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@jakedduck1 I feel the same way about housekeeping, Jake. That is why I pay my cleaning..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@jakedduck1
I feel the same way about housekeeping, Jake. That is why I pay my cleaning person well. She comes twice a month and is worth her weight in gold. 😊

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 I do the same, Teresa, but frankly she does not do as good a job as I do when I do the cleaning. I get into every nook and cranny.
JK

REPLY
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