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.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@johnbishop Goodmorning John hope your having good day . I just got on and my like..." + (show)
@lioness

@johnbishop Goodmorning John hope your having good day . I just got on and my like button has disappeared do you have any answers ? you helped me last time so I thought you might have some answer ? Linda

Jump to this post

Good morning @lioness, Not sure – what type of device are you using to view and post on Connect? Computer, smart phone, tablet?? If computer, which web browser – Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, FireFox? Sometimes clearing the cache helps with browser related issue – Google search how to clear cache for which web browser you are using.

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Mar 7, 2019

@johnbishop Its working now thanks it was your magic powers

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Mar 7, 2019

I am grateful today for a good night sleep and wonderful dreams.

REPLY
Lyn | @pearlbaby7 | Mar 7, 2019

Today I'm grateful for each of you as I watch you supporting and sharing with each other.

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 7, 2019

@pearlbaby7– And you are part of this!

REPLY
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Mar 7, 2019

Today I got a haircut. I'd gone a little longer than usual. In fact, I deliberately had my hair cut extra short in January so I wouldn't have to go back too soon while I was recovering from knee surgery. But today was MY day! He cut so much hair I thought I probably lost 5 pounds. I loved how light and summery my new-do made me feel. I'm grateful for my hairdresser and how a new haircut can make me feel brand new!

@pearlbaby7 – @merpreb Merry was so right. You are definitely an important part of this group. Without the energy of every single one of us, this would just be words. Instead, all of our contributions make it into a real community whose members all care about one another. I love us!

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Today I got a haircut. I'd gone a little longer than usual. In fact, I deliberately..." + (show)
@debbraw

Today I got a haircut. I'd gone a little longer than usual. In fact, I deliberately had my hair cut extra short in January so I wouldn't have to go back too soon while I was recovering from knee surgery. But today was MY day! He cut so much hair I thought I probably lost 5 pounds. I loved how light and summery my new-do made me feel. I'm grateful for my hairdresser and how a new haircut can make me feel brand new!

@pearlbaby7 – @merpreb Merry was so right. You are definitely an important part of this group. Without the energy of every single one of us, this would just be words. Instead, all of our contributions make it into a real community whose members all care about one another. I love us!

Jump to this post

@debbraw Yeah! for a "you" day! Two weeks ago I got a haircut. Three times I have grown my hair out to waist length for donation. It is naturally very wavy/curly, and thick, and went to almost-shoulder length bob, long enough to pull outta the way in summer. Either that or go short!
Today I am grateful for semi-blue skies, kitties who follow when we move room-to-room, and the chance to do some more crochet on my "Joseph's shawl". This is a shawl for me, out of yarn bits and pieces.
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @gailb "@lioness @parus @gingerw At Kaiser and some other places now you must call and request the..." + (show)
@gailb

@lioness @parus @gingerw

At Kaiser and some other places now you must call and request the results of your tests. I think insurance, for-profit healthcare, and limited number of doctors have caused the problem. To be profitable (or in some instances to break even) doctors are required to see a certain number of patients each day. This means they can only spend minimal time with patients who aren't acute. If they fall below their required number they often must take a cut in pay, or they may lose their jobs.

Computers have actually helped the doctors and nurses, and ultimately patients. Previously doctors would see their patients and at the end of each day they dictated their findings to tape to be transcribed the following day by staff and assigned the ICD number that corresponded to the patient's medical problem. The staff often needed to review the doctors handwritten notes to confirm their transcription. Have you tried to read doctor handwriting? It's terrible! Also, doctors often didn't like to to dictate their findings after a long day at work (12+ hours), so they let the patient files build up for a few weeks before trying to do them in a marathon session. This resulted in errors and difficulty for the patient who was awaiting their insurance reimbursement. With the computers doctors spend much less time transcribing information and are assured that the information entered is correct as they have you in the room when they are recording it. Things are more accurate and mistakes are hopefully fewer in number.

All change is difficult to adjust to, but in the long run computer use will improve the care given. I can't say the same about having to change doctors so often! I feel for you Parus. I hope Medicare for All (universal, single payer) will solve some of these problems for all of us. It will at the least, not be profit-oriented! It seems that "the Golden Calf" worship has led us to the state we're in these days. I hope my explanation has been helpful. This is from my 8 years working in healthcare/hospitals/clinics at an administrative level and seeing the challenges and changes that doctors and nurses are dealing with. The vast majority of healthcare professionals are truly interested in helping their patients improve. Only a few are truly bad at their jobs.

I am grateful for my 8 years of experience in Healthcare as it has given me compassion and empathy for those who work tirelessly to help those of us who need their expertise.

Jump to this post

@gailib. Computers have taken over our lives, haven’t they? Some days I hate them, and other days I can’t live without them! Especially when I’ve just had an MRI and I can see the films as the doctor explains what’s going on. I encountered a new technology when I saw my oncologist 2 weeks ago. He had a small “screen” clipped to his glasses that was actually a computer monitor! He said that the transcription isn’t could hear everything we both said and she could transcribe it. Saved the doc from doing it later. She/he could also show things on the computer screen for him to look at. Very unobtrusive system. The doc was trialing it for their practice.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Mar 7, 2019

@ everyone! I just wanted to say that I’m so thankful that the sun finally came out! We had freezing fog and couldn’t see anything. And multiple avalanches in the mountains and on the highways, but no ones been hurt.
But I really want to say how positive this page is! Everyone is so supportive of everyone else and encouraging and loving and, and….I’ve really been able to change my attitude towards this disease and able to admit to becoming a new me. Thank you to all of you!

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @becsbuddy "@gailib. Computers have taken over our lives, haven’t they? Some days I hate them, and other..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@gailib. Computers have taken over our lives, haven’t they? Some days I hate them, and other days I can’t live without them! Especially when I’ve just had an MRI and I can see the films as the doctor explains what’s going on. I encountered a new technology when I saw my oncologist 2 weeks ago. He had a small “screen” clipped to his glasses that was actually a computer monitor! He said that the transcription isn’t could hear everything we both said and she could transcribe it. Saved the doc from doing it later. She/he could also show things on the computer screen for him to look at. Very unobtrusive system. The doc was trialing it for their practice.

Jump to this post

@becsbuddy Wow that is amazing and to think we are seeing this in our lifetime Computers are taking over the world both good and bad From that glasses computer to Robots in surgery that's something isn't it .The world is smaller because if the internet .I'm glad to hear you sounding so good in attitude that makes a Hugh difference in our problems Hooray for you

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