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"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.
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
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@suzanne2
Thanks, I will look into that brand. These devices are great motivators.
FL Mary
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1 Reaction@imallears they are! It may have detected a heart issue with me. Wearing a heart monitor for 2 weeks.
Thank you @avmcbellar. Different sound and quite engaging. I love these instruments and their “masters”,
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1 ReactionGlad you like the unique sound. You are welcome @artscaping. Tim Tom is a musician who plays different instruments. I learned about the handpan through him when he visited me 3 years ago and played the handpan.
@colleenyoung I had a Fitbit Versa before my Apple Watch and for me, the activities that I did were just not tracked well so I returned it (they had a very generous 90 day policy if you bought it on their online site) and got the Apple. I love my watch and it really does goad me on to meet those goals. I went about 190 days of meeting my goals and then couldn't one day before Christmas and since then I have missed two more. I do think exercise trackers help a lot with incentive though. My watch was not tracking my heart rate well (it had it over 200 a few times!) so my son bought me a heart rate tracker that syncs with the apple watch. I have spoken to the Apple people a few times and they called yesterday and said there will be an update that should solve my problem very soon. I have been very impressed with their service.
My first fitness tracker was a Misfit and I loved it but it got sort of wonky as it aged. Their C/S people were great though. Right now I think they are reworking their devices.
Regarding the step count, I can be in the kitchen, working hard, and it will say I haven't moved! I guess your arms have to be swinging for it to be recognized.
JK
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3 Reactions@artscaping i gave myself 2 quality of life gifts! No Fitbit, though. One gift is to train myself into more positive thinking and it’s actually helping. I repeat a mantra the therapist taught me, when I go to bed and when I’m out walking. Course, it helps that our weather has been really, but cold. Went out this morning to bright sun, a clear blue sky and 30degrees. Gorgeous! And I bought myself two quilting books to help me get back to quilting! SO, I plan on a good year!
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8 ReactionsHello, imallears. I don't have a watch yet. I've wanted one for several months, but haven't been out to ck them out. I have looked online, but really rather buy from local stores.....may in this case get it online. Just have to know wht to get! I want waterproof so I can wear it in the pool where I do most of my exercise. Also, counting steps for the day, heart info.....what else do you like on yours? Tks for the input re Apple step counting! I'm going online now to begin, again, my search.....Blessings, Elizabeth
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1 ReactionGood afternoon @becsbuddy, Congratulations....you know how to do this. The gift of positive thinking will be one to cherish. In mindful speech, we want to make sure we are addressing the issue accurately. Sort of like not making mountains out of molehills. And when it works, it is good to remember how it felt to completely turn something rather negative around to be positive. I am working on that for memories of my Dad. Slowly and gently I am benefitting from my efforts to understand and accept him just as he was.
Hope you continue to find benefit in your "Quality of life" efforts. See you tomorrow.
Chris
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5 ReactionsWell, Chris, I love your 'Quality of Life....'message. I also love the gifts you're giving yourself. Good for you! Question: tell me about the thumb surgery. I have extremely limited use of both now my thumbs. The right thumb has been useless for several years. The left thumb is just this year decided to give up! A hand specialist at Mayo discussed thumb joint replacement surgery re the right thumb. He said it's at least a 2 hour surgery, fairly difficult and requires a long recovery.
He completely took it off the table. So, I wear hard braces at night on both hands/wrists. They do help w/pain, but I am clostophobic, use a c-pap nightly with no mask!!!! but nasal pillow that's wonderful. However, to use that machine/head gear and wear hard braces on both hands is a bit much. So I rarely wear them as I must use the c-pap.
I don't think any truly elective surgery is a good idea for me at this time. But, I wonder if you're talking about something different? I'm getting along, have found different utensils/openers/holders, etc for my hands so I can get along. I can't pick up anything, open anything, any crafts is a ridiculous thought!
Just interested......Blessings, Chris. Elziabeth
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1 ReactionHow interesting. You want to know how to get out of the forums. You know how to post: I do not. I would love to learn how to do this. Perhaps this could be your farewell to the forum? Thanks for any help. Oh, I am a Luddite. @joybringer1