"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.

Posted by Chris, Alumni Mentor @artscaping, Jan 8, 2021

The 2020 Holidays are over. What was your favorite gift? Was one of your gifts what I call a “quality of life” gift? Was it a new special pillow that made you sleep better? Perhaps you were given something that made your life a little easier like new shoes with a softer sole. Or maybe your family gave you a Mayo gift like the Pain course or a Habit workshop?

It’s never too late to think of and thank yourself for your endurance, generosity, and kindness to yourself. And these may be things that you have never mentioned because you didn’t want to be a burden or a nuisance or appear to be selfish.

I went crazy this year and got three of my quality of life gifts. I’ll share them with you and hope you realize how very important they were and are to me.

1. My MFR therapist began to feel that one session a week was not sufficient. So, we set up a six week trial of 2 sessions per week. The difference in tolerance was amazing. I didn’t have to endure increasing discomfort for 7 days….just 3. And so….gift #1. When I let my family know they found a way to help with the additional cost called a “stocking stuffer”.

2. For over a year I have been noticing more and more pain in my hip. Several years ago, I had an injection which was done poorly and so I wasn’t too excited about trying again. This time I had a chat with myself. “Why, Chris, are you going through increasing pain when there is a solution?” So I gathered my strong determination, had the injection, and am just jumping for joy. And my insurance covered it. Great…..another quality of life gift received and appreciated.

3. My 2021 quality of life gift brigade begins tomorrow when I have my preliminary appointment to fix my arthritic thumb. I can no longer open a jar or turn a key in the door lock. Seven years ago I had anchovy surgery on the left thumb. It is perfect. Now, why have I let the other one reach such a painful stage? I really don’t like surgery but this one is relatively doable and I won’t need too much help at home.

So Happy Holidays to me.
And thank you friends and family who shouted encouragement and helped support my wishes for a few things that just needed to get done.

What items would qualify for your quality of life? Let’s all share and help each other develop our 2021 list of can dos and must-dos.

Be happy and content in 2021.
Chris

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

Chris, Alumni Mentor | @artscaping | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "Great tale about the bandages - I was miserable after the first surgery - PA told..." + (show)

I know.........thanks for understanding. I think we have become nature's punching bags sometimes........especially when it appears to be our own fault. You, my dear "Moss Lady" have become a recovery expert. When the surgeon showed me all the arthritis roaming around my thumb joint......I was really surprised.

It is 5 degrees this morning.......are you missing Texas....I am missing San Diego and all the grandchildren, especially the new ones in Austin. I love reading about all your adventures with the "kiddos".
Chris

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @artscaping "I know.........thanks for understanding. I think we have become nature's punching bags sometimes........especially when it appears..." + (show)

My word! Where are you? Can or do you go out in this weather? It must be devastating for your skin....eyes, nose....6000' in mountains of NM? I' m soooooo impressed, Chris. You are a tough woman!

Hey, Toughy, when is your surgery scheduled?

I'm recuperating from my journey into the world of all things electronics. Fingers, hands, back, neck, brain, eyes, whole body paying the price for last week.

John, I went downstairs yesterday and sat at my desk to do a couple of things. My fit watch was charging, in a desktop USB. Hmmmmm. It attaches to the back of the watch with magnets. Oh!

My desktop is erased. Empty. NADA! GONE! EMPTY!

I transferred all files to the new phone and laptop.
Ain't life grand? God is good! The watch now charges in my BR electric outlet!

In a day or 2 I'll address that issue. There is a way I'm sure to transfer back, maybe even cleaned up since I cleaned up files during the process. Do you think Webroot is good for virus, malware protection? Trend?

Wow, this "Quality of Life " business is challenging.

Best and blessings to all.
Elizabeth

Hank | @jesfactsmon | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @ess77 "My word! Where are you? Can or do you go out in this weather? It must..." + (show)

@ess77 Hi Elizabeth, just a plug for Trend. I love it! So unobtrusive, does not get in your face but stays out of sight doing it's thing. I opt for their cheapest antivirus for like 5 years at least and have been very happy with them. Just fyi, Hank

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @jesfactsmon "@ess77 Hi Elizabeth, just a plug for Trend. I love it! So unobtrusive, does not get..." + (show)

Hi, Hank. Missed you.

Thanks for the tip. I installed Trend free w/my new Hp laptop. I had Webroot and switched thinking it good and free. Now I get to get my money back from Webroot!

Love free and so far so good.
Tks.
Hope you are well. Blessings.
Elizabeth

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 27, 2021

@artscaping This has been a very good discussion! It is so interesting to see what everyone is doing for quality-of-life gifts to themselves. For me, I have decided to continue my downsizing of quilting projects that no longer interest me. That meant a large priority box sent to a string of fellow quilters for them to pick their favorites out of. And I listed my in-progress-in-some-degree-projects out, placing them in one spot, to see clearly what to pick. It makes me feel more organized and less anxious. A second quality-of-life gift to me is to commit to a regular writing routine, as I tap in to a deeper side of me and find words and thoughts clamoring to be released. For the last year+ things have been topsy turvy [okay, okay, I just dated myself!] and self-reflection is good for the soul.
Ginger

Chris, Alumni Mentor | @artscaping | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @ess77 "My word! Where are you? Can or do you go out in this weather? It must..." + (show)

Hey there Elizabeth, @ess77 on a good cold afternoon. So sorry, I assumed you had followed me around the world. The incident with the too-tight surgical wrap happened when I lived in Idyllwild, CA at 6,000 ft, above Palm Springs, not New Mexico.

I think you thought I was there right then. And it would have been quite cold in either NM or 6000 ft up the San Jacinto Mountain above Palm Springs.

Just one more item that I think will keep me in the running for the prize. Today, at 3 pm our thermometer is at 11 degrees. Better than 7 degrees this morning. And just so it is not a surprise to you today......I now live in Minnesota on the Mississippi River. We live above the River on what we call Adams Landing. I have attached a current image of our yard. Lots of snow and too cold for critters. I have been teasing a ruby red cardinal this afternoon. He wants peanuts.

May you live with ease.
Chris

Chris, Alumni Mentor | @artscaping | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @gingerw "@artscaping This has been a very good discussion! It is so interesting to see what everyone..." + (show)

Thank you ginger @gingerw. I enjoyed seeing how folks treated the message as a permission slip to do something for themselves. As a mindfulness student, I know that we all find it most difficult to love and have compassion for ourselves. So everybody wins.

However, my friend.......what are you getting from this sorting project? Does the sorting encourage organization? Does your giving save you from having to discard something of relative value? I think that what might be your favorite gift is writing. Sometimes I have to look at your image after reading a post that you have written. The writing is just so very well done, and unlike some others.....I GET IT.

Be wise, safe and comfy.
Chris

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 27, 2021

So, lovely, Chris. I need to be near water for my innermost peace. I love the river, and that property is gorgeous. Don't you enjoy the peace you receive there, in the middle of nature.

I hope you're doing better today, the thumb is happier.

Enjoy, stay safe....
Blessings
Elizabeth

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @artscaping "Thank you ginger @gingerw. I enjoyed seeing how folks treated the message as a permission slip..." + (show)

@artscaping I get inspired by sorting, and gifting out. I love the science of color and pattern, and rootling through my fabric and yarn stashes give my imagination free rein to create "Mind's Eye Projects", jotting down possible ideas and combing fabrics into an uncut pile for a design in mind. But, you're very correct. My biggest love/gift, is putting those 26 letters of our alphabet together in sequences that make me shake my head in wonder, later on.
Ginger

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 27, 2021

In reply to @gingerw "@artscaping I get inspired by sorting, and gifting out. I love the science of color and..." + (show)

Hello, Ginger. I've missed your interesting, creative perspective. You are delightful....a calming strength. You help me. Thank you.
Blessings on your rising endorphins.
Elizabeth

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