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
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@jenniferhunter Thanks for the picture of Chester he,s a pinto right ? I use to have..." + (show)
@lioness

@jenniferhunter Thanks for the picture of Chester he,s a pinto right ? I use to have a black and white pinto . cute love the hat I,m surprised he let you put it on him he is a good boy .

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@lioness Yes, he's a pinto Tennessee Walker. He was a horse my sister rescued from people who didn't care for him properly and were going to get rid of him. He is really well trained, what horse people call broke to death because he's easy to ride. My sister got him to help her train a mustang she adopted from the BLM. I've been riding along on Chester for several years and she gave him to me last year. Working with Chester has helped me a lot working on my core strength and with all the work I do to clean him up and saddle him. What was difficult physically for me last summer is much easier this year, and getting out to see him is a nice escape. He likes to roll in the mud and I had to brush him to clean him up for this picture.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@gingerw Chester is a good boy, and yes, he got a treat for posing. He didn't..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@gingerw Chester is a good boy, and yes, he got a treat for posing. He didn't mind the hat at all. It was held onto his mane with clothes pins. This was right after the farrier trimmed his hooves, and I took him out to graze and the Santa hat was hanging right on his face and he didn't mind that at all.... he just kept eating the grass. He is very expressive and we can read each other.

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@jenniferhunter Yes, I saw the farrier's stand on his off side. Some horses have the personality to ham it up. I had a couple of my racehorses like that. We were buds. Ah, it makes me miss horses....perhaps I should look in to volunteering at a therapeutic riding program somewhere near here.
Ginger

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@debbraw It took me a while to get to this, but this is my horse, Chester,..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@debbraw It took me a while to get to this, but this is my horse, Chester, sending everyone a little bit of Christmas cheer.

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What a great horse, @jenniferhunter! Wish Chester a Merry Christmas for me.

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "What a great horse, @jenniferhunter! Wish Chester a Merry Christmas for me." + (show)
@hopeful33250

What a great horse, @jenniferhunter! Wish Chester a Merry Christmas for me.

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@hopeful33250 Sure Teresa, I'll give Chester a big hug from you. Then he'll probably check my pockets for treats!

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Dec 19, 2018

@jenniferhunter - I LOVE Chester! That is a wonderful picture - definitely worth the wait. LOL

Today I'm grateful for the hardworking staff at our local post office. I got my last gifts wrapped and mailed today. The place was a madhouse. Customers were stressed and not in the best mood. But the two ladies who were handling the line were helpful, informative, and kind. And the gentleman who was moving all the packages to the back was quick to smile and quick to dispense all the packages so the counter was clear. It must take a lot to deal with the Christmas rush and I felt thankful that we have these friendly Christmas elves in our post office!

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @debbraw "@jenniferhunter - I LOVE Chester! That is a wonderful picture - definitely worth the wait. LOL..." + (show)
@debbraw

@jenniferhunter - I LOVE Chester! That is a wonderful picture - definitely worth the wait. LOL

Today I'm grateful for the hardworking staff at our local post office. I got my last gifts wrapped and mailed today. The place was a madhouse. Customers were stressed and not in the best mood. But the two ladies who were handling the line were helpful, informative, and kind. And the gentleman who was moving all the packages to the back was quick to smile and quick to dispense all the packages so the counter was clear. It must take a lot to deal with the Christmas rush and I felt thankful that we have these friendly Christmas elves in our post office!

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@debbraw
Point well taken~ Three cheers for all of the U.S. postal workers. They have a tough job this time of year and manage to keep up with a smile no less.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 19, 2018

Today I am grateful for the little gathering my prayer shawl group had. The little ones from the church school, aged 5 and 6, came in to sing Jingle Bells and Dreidel Dreidel to us. We had made little scarves for them all, which really pleased them! Then we enjoyed some treats that we brought in. One gal, bless her heart, remembered my dietary restrictions, and brought veggies. It was a nice little morning!
Ginger

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lioness | @lioness | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@debbraw Point well taken~ Three cheers for all of the U.S. postal workers. They have a..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@debbraw
Point well taken~ Three cheers for all of the U.S. postal workers. They have a tough job this time of year and manage to keep up with a smile no less.

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I amgrratful for Celia she's,s sweet I do a lot of organizing so she gave me my Christmas present She is from Uraguay

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 20, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@jenniferhunter Yes, I saw the farrier's stand on his off side. Some horses have the personality..." + (show)
@gingerw

@jenniferhunter Yes, I saw the farrier's stand on his off side. Some horses have the personality to ham it up. I had a couple of my racehorses like that. We were buds. Ah, it makes me miss horses....perhaps I should look in to volunteering at a therapeutic riding program somewhere near here.
Ginger

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@gingerw That sounds like a fantastic idea. Horses are very healing physically and emotionally and they really connect with people. I know the riders in that program would benefit a lot too. There is a therapy riding stable near me. I will have to check it out some time. Riding Chester has been very good for me and helped me rehab from my neck spine surgery which was 2 years ago. That is a long process that I'm still working on, and if I can maintain good core strength, I increase my chances of preventing further spine problems. I know after I ride, the strength I gain helps support all of my spine from the bottom up. I always ride with good posture, and even just walking is a great workout for my back.

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Dec 20, 2018

I loved the story of @gingerw 's prayer shawl meeting. That truly sounded beautiful - especially the joy of the little ones...

Some of friends had a little gathering too, so today I am grateful for my book club. We had a wonderful brunch with mimosa's and hot cider, breakfast casserole, Creme Brulee French Toast, ambrosia and cheeses and cookies - maybe more. Then, we had a gift exchange where we each brought a book we would like to have considered for next year's reading list - and a gift of chocolate. We based our gift swap on the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod, which translates roughly to "Christmas book flood." In Iceland, on Christmas Eve everyone exchanges books, then wraps up in front of the fire with their new book and their chocolate to read. Suffice it to say that everyone left our book club brunch feeling full of good food and friendship.

If you want to read more about the Icelandic tradition, here's a link...
https://www.countryliving.com/life/a46204/jolabokaflod-iceland-christmas-reading-tradition/

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