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.

@debbraw

Hi @naturegirl5 - Welcome to Connect! And I am so glad you found our Gratitude Group. You will definitely find kindred spirits here. I love the sound of your little patch of paradise! And it sounds wonderfully cool. I live in St. Augustine, FL and although its a beautiful place to live and I love my morning walks by the water, I can't brag too much about it in July and August. Too dang hot! But I will sing its praises again in September. Just for the heck of it, I'm going to share a picture I took on my morning walk this morning by our national cemetery. Meantime, back to you. Your multi-generational retreat sounds so interesting. Can you share more about it?

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Thank you for the kind welcome and the photo of the National Cemetery near where you live. We are experiencing warm weather but nothing like Florida. To answer your question, Jewish congregations in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula formed an association called L'Dor v'Dor (from generation to generation) about 10 years ago. About 9 years ago we had our first retreat and have continued since then. We meet once or twice per year, for a weekend of connection, spiritual growth and relaxation. And lots of really good food. The most wonderful outcome (in my opinion) is the connections we have made with one another that would not have been possible without these retreats. The children look forward to seeing one another as do the adults. Friendships have been formed and we are all one big family.

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@naturegirl5

Thank you for the kind welcome and the photo of the National Cemetery near where you live. We are experiencing warm weather but nothing like Florida. To answer your question, Jewish congregations in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula formed an association called L'Dor v'Dor (from generation to generation) about 10 years ago. About 9 years ago we had our first retreat and have continued since then. We meet once or twice per year, for a weekend of connection, spiritual growth and relaxation. And lots of really good food. The most wonderful outcome (in my opinion) is the connections we have made with one another that would not have been possible without these retreats. The children look forward to seeing one another as do the adults. Friendships have been formed and we are all one big family.

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@naturegirl5 - I wish there was a "wow" button on here. What an amazing event you all have created. I'm sure there is plenty of gratitude going on there. Will you keep us posted and continue to share?

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@lioness

@merpreb Yes everyone got a lot of sleep over the weekend . Howie hit his hot tub right away as well as Chuck. So you know the feeling then Merry. He is back to work minus his beard.

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Ms. Lioness, Where were they hiking?
Suncance (RB)

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@debbraw

@lioness - Wow. I am so glad for you that your family and friends are safe. Where was the hike? It sounds arduous!

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@debbraw It was up at Yosemite they followed the John Muir trail up to Mt Whitney but didn't get that far , so next year they are going to try again but starting where they left of this time . Poor Chuck his legs are so swollen,painful and he looks bad.

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@lioness

@merpreb Yes everyone got a lot of sleep over the weekend . Howie hit his hot tub right away as well as Chuck. So you know the feeling then Merry. He is back to work minus his beard.

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@lioness. What a relief to have all home, safe and sound. How many days did they hike for? My son hikes a lot but I don’t think he’s gone on overnight hikes. Last weekend they did go camping at a lake and hiked during the day.

@bobbyboomer I love your message. It could have been written by my husband, all of those things are true for him too.

@naturegirl5 Your location sounds idyllic. I am primarily a city person but I do enjoy the peace and quiet of our home, sitting on the screened porch and looking out at a wooded area.
JK

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@debbraw- Morning. There's a cemetery by the beach in Florida?

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Today I am grateful that we leave in less than 24 hours on our first load to our retirement home. We leave at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning in a caravan of the pickup truck pulling a utility trailer and my car packed. I am grateful to the community where we are moving, for the town hall meeting they had Sunday night that they live streamed regarding the fire in the area there. Our house is okay. I am grateful to my doctor as I made a run 200 miles total yesterday to get results of my PET CT scan, which are inconclusive. It means further testing when I get to my new house. I am grateful to have a new specialist already set up there.
Ginger

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@gingerw - You must be exhausted! Your PET might be inconclusive because whatever they were looking at might have been too small or just isn't cancer. Head up and shoulders back, eyes ahead, which is a familiar position for you, it just allows you to move ahead!

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@contentandwell

@lioness. What a relief to have all home, safe and sound. How many days did they hike for? My son hikes a lot but I don’t think he’s gone on overnight hikes. Last weekend they did go camping at a lake and hiked during the day.

@bobbyboomer I love your message. It could have been written by my husband, all of those things are true for him too.

@naturegirl5 Your location sounds idyllic. I am primarily a city person but I do enjoy the peace and quiet of our home, sitting on the screened porch and looking out at a wooded area.
JK

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@contentandwell They hiked from July 4 through 26 intending to reach MtWhitney by 28th but had to come back earlier . Howie is an experienced hiker but so is Chuck and he fell and twisted his knees legs swollen . They did come down when I was there but still he is going to have trouble with them I'm sure . They intend to finish the hike next year . On the trail which was the John Muir trail Howie found a horseshoe he brought home.

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@merpreb

@gingerw - You must be exhausted! Your PET might be inconclusive because whatever they were looking at might have been too small or just isn't cancer. Head up and shoulders back, eyes ahead, which is a familiar position for you, it just allows you to move ahead!

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@merpreb yesterday was a long day. From 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. before I could rest. I don't plan to do too much today except pack the rest of the car and get gas. Tonight is the 765 mile drive.
Ginger

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