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.

I also love the name of the group.

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@jodeej

Good morning! I haven't been so busy this week I haven't logged in at all. I have so much that I am grateful for this week.
My husband's MRI that he had for his cognition, came back normal. Seems that it is probably related to his immunosuppressants from his transplant. It can get better!
He is feeling able to return to work this week since having his transplant in July!
We have beautiful weather this week and it looks like it is going to hold so our kids can safely get home for Christmas!!
Have a great weekend!!
JoDee

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Hey @jodeej - It makes me so happy to read your good news. What a wonderful result from your husband's MRI. I know you are thrilled to death! And he can go back to work... and your kids can visit. I bet it feels like things are getting back to normal.

Now... for others of our Gratitude Connectors... I hope you saw the "spotlight" they did on JoDee today. If not, check it out here and get to know her better...
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed/inspired-by-time-with-mother-nature-meet-jodeej/?pg=1#comment-250822

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Tomorrow night I'm having a little dinner party. I'm making it kind of fancy since its the holidays so I'm serving a seafood casserole with lobster, shrimp and crabmeat. Today, I am eternally grateful that my husband cooked the lobster. Some of you know that my husband has been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that will probably lead to dementia of some type. Alzheimers? We don't know. But every day is a gift and today - when he threw that lobster in the pot and managed the whole process, I was singing thanksgiving praises!

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@debbraw

Tomorrow night I'm having a little dinner party. I'm making it kind of fancy since its the holidays so I'm serving a seafood casserole with lobster, shrimp and crabmeat. Today, I am eternally grateful that my husband cooked the lobster. Some of you know that my husband has been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that will probably lead to dementia of some type. Alzheimers? We don't know. But every day is a gift and today - when he threw that lobster in the pot and managed the whole process, I was singing thanksgiving praises!

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@debraw I'm happy for you and your hubby My Mother ended up having dementia of the Alz. kind as a diagnosis I was glad for everyday she was lucid

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@debbraw

Tomorrow night I'm having a little dinner party. I'm making it kind of fancy since its the holidays so I'm serving a seafood casserole with lobster, shrimp and crabmeat. Today, I am eternally grateful that my husband cooked the lobster. Some of you know that my husband has been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that will probably lead to dementia of some type. Alzheimers? We don't know. But every day is a gift and today - when he threw that lobster in the pot and managed the whole process, I was singing thanksgiving praises!

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@debbraw Hey Debbra, can I come? Just kidding! Your casserole sounds delicious! I can only imagine how happy it makes you to have your husband in that kitchen with you. Can’t wait to hear all the details of the party. Please let us know. I will live vicariously through you!

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@karen00

@debbraw Hey Debbra, can I come? Just kidding! Your casserole sounds delicious! I can only imagine how happy it makes you to have your husband in that kitchen with you. Can’t wait to hear all the details of the party. Please let us know. I will live vicariously through you!

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@debbraw @karen00 Bet there will be many of us there vicariously, for that fancy dinner! How wonderful to see your husband take part, and no doubt he was pleased as well. @lioness, my mother had dementia coupled with Alzheimer's, also, a period of 10 years where she was so lost.
Ginger

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@gingerw

@debbraw @karen00 Bet there will be many of us there vicariously, for that fancy dinner! How wonderful to see your husband take part, and no doubt he was pleased as well. @lioness, my mother had dementia coupled with Alzheimer's, also, a period of 10 years where she was so lost.
Ginger

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@gingerw It was 10 yrs my Mom was lost also what hurt the most Mom thought I was Grandma she didn't know me but you know what she was happy in her world .For that I was grateful

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@lioness

@gingerw It was 10 yrs my Mom was lost also what hurt the most Mom thought I was Grandma she didn't know me but you know what she was happy in her world .For that I was grateful

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@lioness My mother was basically mute the last four years. She would respond to the dog that sometimes came with the visiting nurse, that's all. A photo taken 3 months before her passing shows her in a very pretty gown, staring vacantly into the camera.

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Today I am grateful for my little outside sitting spot. There is a 6'x6' area off the bedroom, accessed by sliding door, with a 6' fence. It was never used by my husband nor previous owners. Yesterday we pulled the accumulated weeds, leveled it, sprayed fungicide, laid weed barrier film, set some decorative pavers and started to fill in with pea gravel. We'll finish it this weekend, and I'll have a nice area for a few potted plants and a chair for reading! It already looks so much better!
Ginger

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Yesterday while I was shopping, one of the workers who was walking past me greeted me with a routine peppy, "Good Morning, How are you?" My reply: "I'm doing well. How are you?" She was already several steps ahead of me by that time, and she stopped, turned around, and with a smile she replied, "I'm fine. Thank you for asking. Nobody ever asks me that." I think noticed a bounce in her step as she proceeded with her business!

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