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.

@jenniferhunter

@catmom777 Awe shucks....thank you. Please join us in the Art for Healing discussion, and get out your paints and make something to share with us. Do it just for you, just because it will make you feel so alive and will ease some stress. You are among friends here. Do you have kitties? We'd love to see them!

We all have made bad decisions including me. A bad decision just means you made a mistake, and we can learn a lot from our mistakes. Plenty of good people make mistakes and sometimes we just don't have enough information to make a good decision or fear gets in the way. Tomorrow is a new day and you can take charge of your health and emotional well being right now because you've already started taking action to empower your health. Words are powerful and if you express something negative and believe it, you can affect what happens. It's stressful, and stress causes about 80% of disease according to studies. You CAN do this. Already you got an earlier appointment. Doesn't that feel good to be taking charge? Give yourself a gold star for that and for being present today here on Connect to sort through all this stuff. Have you thought about going to counseling about your guilt and regrets? That's a a big burden to carry around, and you might just find a way to forgive yourself and begin livinag without regrets. I've carried some big burdens too and learned to let them go. You might feel better if you're not alone. Do you have any friends or relatives that can stay with you for a little bit?

As an artist, I know it's hard, and sometimes there is a very long drought in between sales. It doesn't matter. The art is really for you, and it is very healing. Just keep practicing and don't worry what anyone else thinks. We all start from a place in art where we experiment and can't do it as well as we like, but its just practice and learning about what went wrong and what went right, and going to museums and looking at good art to figure out how they did it....... and ultimately learning how to see differently. I was very inspired to paint my surgeon because of my experience with this surgery and the emotions of getting through something I didn't think I was capable of doing. The painting was an expression of gratitude which feels great, but also it was because I needed to climb that mountain to prove to myself that I could do it again and reclaim what I had lost from my spine injury. When something comes from this close to your heart, the results are inspired and it seems to flow from somewhere else. We can all help you with the waiting for your appointment. Can you get a sleep study scheduled for the sleep apnea? Talk to your primary doctor and maybe you can get that done sooner too.

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I went to counseling for years. Didn't help much. I'm 65 now. I've just learned to live with my past and what all my mistakes have done to one of my daughters. She has forgiven me. She'll never trust me again, but at least she talks to me and has forgiven me.
But yes, when I feel a bit better I'll get back to painting. I've been quilting. I had actually been quilting for two long days when I had my first big afib attack. One of the most relaxing things to do on the planet, and my heart went crazy. No rhyme or reason to this. But, like you say, moving forward. One day at a time. My heart rate has been good today. My fitbit says it's 77 bpm.
Have a good evening and thanks again.

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@catmom777 Forgive me for interrupting but you said your daughter has forgiven you but have you forgiven yojrself? Iv,e had to learn to forgive myself in order to be free just a thought

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@catmom777

You do beautiful artwork!!!! I am an artist also, but you are better than I am. I do landscapes now. I have done portraits and dog portraits, but gave those up because people didn't seem to want them. Sometimes people like my landscapes.
I've been too depressed to paint since last fall though. These health issues got me down on top of guilt and regret over a few life decisions. But, good news. I just got an earlier appointment with another cardiologist. May was too long to wait, esp after last night. That was so scary. My new appointment is for 4/16. My hopes are up that I can get a handle on this. It is literally killing me.
Keep painting. I'm glad you have that.

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@catmom777 That's great that you could get an earlier appointment. I hate long waits for appointments when something is really worrisome. I hope your appointment goes well.
JK

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I am grateful for the Decorah Eagles. The videos on YouTube are encouraging as I watch them. Glad Uncle Benny’s suggestion of the Wild Turkey was not used. I have nothing against Wild Turkeys in their place. 😉

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@contentandwell

@catmom777 That's great that you could get an earlier appointment. I hate long waits for appointments when something is really worrisome. I hope your appointment goes well.
JK

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Thank you.

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@lioness

@catmom777 Forgive me for interrupting but you said your daughter has forgiven you but have you forgiven yojrself? Iv,e had to learn to forgive myself in order to be free just a thought

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No, I don't think I've forgiven myself. I just can't seem to be able to. I was so wrong. Can't change the past, but what happened is pretty much unforgiveable. It ruined her life. Mine too, but it's unforgiveable that it ruined HER life. She has managed to get by, but her life could have been so much better. Too much damage--emotional, psychological, physical--everything. She has children of her own now and is trying hard to be a better mom than I was.

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@catmom777

No, I don't think I've forgiven myself. I just can't seem to be able to. I was so wrong. Can't change the past, but what happened is pretty much unforgiveable. It ruined her life. Mine too, but it's unforgiveable that it ruined HER life. She has managed to get by, but her life could have been so much better. Too much damage--emotional, psychological, physical--everything. She has children of her own now and is trying hard to be a better mom than I was.

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In thinking about self forgiveness-when others cannot forgive me it is hard to forgive myself. Grateful I am learning to not dwell on all of my failures. I still get sucked into the dark pit. Not a happy place.
This thread is about gratitude and I have much to be grateful for and at times stray from the being grateful. I believe we all do and doubtful anyone can be grateful 24/7.
We are all trying and this is what matters. Trudging onward!!!!

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@parus

I am grateful for the Decorah Eagles. The videos on YouTube are encouraging as I watch them. Glad Uncle Benny’s suggestion of the Wild Turkey was not used. I have nothing against Wild Turkeys in their place. 😉

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@parus- That's quite a sourpuss that you have as your photo-I am thankful for the Decorah Eagles too. Did you catch when mom wing slapped the mouse? lol. I'd love to see your picture as more positive, even if things don't seem that way right now.

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@merpreb

@parus- That's quite a sourpuss that you have as your photo-I am thankful for the Decorah Eagles too. Did you catch when mom wing slapped the mouse? lol. I'd love to see your picture as more positive, even if things don't seem that way right now.

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@merpreb The current profile photo was the request of @hopeful33250 as she liked the duck I used long ago. I had mentioned changing my profile picture again and she asked for the return of the duck of long ago.
This can be changed. I realize the dismal duck may appear a bit too negative. Everyone sees things differently. I see him as saying, "what next?".
Grateful some things have been found even though I feel they were ignoring the symptoms I was giving. The new doctor I am seeing looked at my chart and looked up from her laptop and commented about the depression and anxiety. I did speak up and told her I do not have a history of pain and fatigue with depression/anxiety. Thankful I could speak up for once. So now all of my maladies are because I of mental health issues!!! Mayhap I am too sensitive in this area. I did point out the recent CT of May 20. First thing she wanted to do was put me on a statin without any further testing. Then wanted to refer me to another specialist. I do know the hoops and requested further testing prior to doing so. She was not pleased with my request. Not my problem!
Why is it they ignore things until things become too severe to fix?! I am plum tuckered out going all these places only to be sent back to start. Grateful I did not lose my cool even though I felt like smashing the laptop!! Had I not pointed out the recent testing she would not have done a thing more. Will admit I was feeling snarky, but managed to hold my tongue as I am the mercy of the system.
Thank you again for your honesty. Can always count on thus. 🙂

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@parus I am so glad you spoke up at your appointment. Good for you. Yeah, @parus !!!!!

By the way, the picture of the duck I remember was a different one. He was yellow (and maybe had an umbrella?) I should have kept the picture, but I'm not too tech-savvy with pictures on the computer. Can you find the other duck? He really was my favorite.

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