Thankful Thursday | I just like...days!
This week, I am thankful:
that I like all of my days
I didn't have a hospital shift on Monday, and I texted a friend to say, "Ohh, I love my days off."
Then a moment later, I followed it with, "But actually, I also love my work days. Maybe I just love...days!"
And I think that's a testament to the fact that I like the life I have now. Work days, off days...they are all good. 🙂
for the variety of things I do at the hospital
Obviously, there are some repetitive tasks; I give insulin shots almost every shift, I listen to heartbeats and lung sounds every shift, I do pain assessments every shift, and so on.
But in general, no two days are the same, and I kind of love that.
An example: on a recent shift, a patient was really being driven crazy by her untrimmed bangs (one of those straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back things), and she asked me to help. I had time, so with the permission of my charge nurse, I gave her a little haircut and then braided her hair.
I've cut (and braided) lots of hair for my own girls, and I've also been trimming my bangs for years, so when she asked, I thought, "I've been training for this day basically my whole life." Ha. You never know when those skills will come in handy. 😉
What a funny job nursing is; you just never know what tasks you will do in a day!
for a little dusting of snow
It was brief, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
(And now this weekend it looks like we may get more than a dusting!)
that we are almost up to 10 hours of daylight
On Sunday, my weather app says that in my zip code, we will have exactly 10 hours of daylight. Woohoo!
This is up from our solstice low of 9 hours and 24 minutes.
And by mid-February, we will be at 10 hours and 45 minutes. More light is coming, and soon!
(Unless you live in the southern hemisphere, obviously.)
for my good health
I'm grateful my body is healthy enough to do all of the things I do.
that my new class seems not as bad as the last
I say this cautiously, but...I looked it over, and it seems more manageable.
Here's hoping it's a less crash-out-inducing experience than my most recent BSN class. Hehe.
1. I am thankful for books. It's very cold outside, and I am having a rough patch in life, and reading is something I can do while the weather is cold and it helps my mental health.
2. I am grateful for good friends, who hold me accountable to show up for yoga every week.
3. Lucky enough to have a husband who makes us dinner every night. He's retired and I am not. It's sweet to come home to a nice meal, made with love.
4. Also grateful that my husband is handy. Our stove recently went out and so did our washer. He ordered parts and fixed both saving us money and hassle.
5. I am a librarian, and a patron who I am chummy with sought me out to give me a book recommendation. Kind of cool to be on the receiving in instead of the giving!
Being a nurse is kind of like being a mom, so yeah, all kinds of random skills could come into play. I remember my mom saying when I was in high school that I should be able to figure out a way to use my extraordinary ability to remember songs in some kind of career. Turns out, it was extremely useful as a mother, because I could entertain my kids anywhere with just my voice. A particular half hour of sitting stuck in traffic in the French Quarter with my baby and 2-year-old niece comes to mind, when I sang every kids' song I knew. 🙂
Thankfuls:
--That my kids are back to in-person school in their brand-new school facility. They love the new school, even if they still don't love school itself.
--For a school administration that has been very accommodating with all of our kids. I kind of hate that public schools are expected to be a la carte now and cater so much to everyone lest they lose kids to homeschooling, so I try not be unreasonable in asking for anything special for my own children. However, anytime we have asked about dual credit classes, early graduation possibilities, help for the one kid with a math issue, etc., they have been very open to working things out. They don't make it feel like an imposition, either.
--For our good stack of firewood. It's not my favorite firewood ever--every time I touch it, I get sap all over my hands, and it seems to make way more ash than other varieties--but we have some serious cold coming and I feel better about that with a lot of wood on hand.
--That I found the cheaper whole-milk asadero cheese (my mozzarella substitute) when we happened to be in town this week. It was out of stock last time my husband was there, when he got the $8/pound skim-milk kind I was not impressed with. But they had the bigger blocks of whole milk asadero this time, which are just under $5/pound. Much better. Now I have ten pounds of it to shred and put in the freezer, thus ensuring full-fat pizza in the future. 🙂
--That I was able to play Ultimate Frisbee with my daughter's First Communion class and mostly keep up. There is a lot of running in Ultimate Frisbee, so I was pleased I could play with a bunch of hyper 9-year-old boys. They've been playing for fifteen minutes or so before starting their class, to give the kids a chance to run after school and before sitting for another hour. It's not something I would typically do, but there wouldn't have been even teams otherwise. Especially because our priest, who teaches the class, always plays, so there needed to be another adult on the other team to make it more fair. He is VERY athletic, and a lot younger than I am, so it wasn't an even match-up there, but my team still won. HA. (Does some lingering competitiveness from my sports days still surface occasionally? Apparently.)
Bizarre note on random abilities that come in handy later in life: today, while trying (and failing) to examine a particle stuck underneath my eyelid, I was lamenting the fact that I never developed the "skill" of turning my eyelids inside out. When I was in middle school all the boys seemed to have mastered doing so and very much enjoyed demonstrating at inappropriate times.
I am thankful we have time to prepare for the upcoming winter storm. I will grab a few groceries early today. DH will get the snow blower out of the shed tomorrow and make sure it is ready.
I am thankful for continued good health. I have, so far, avoided the nasty viruses going around. I am grateful that my long time yoga studio now offers two Pilates classes each week. The teacher is excellent and her class gives me a much better workout than what I do by myself at home. I am thankful I can afford to attend classes and support a locally owned and operated studio.
I am thankful there is a lot of good news on the health/medical front this week for friends, family members, and myself.
So happy for the good parts about public school for your family! You're right about all the layers to it with requirements, a la carte options, just such an "interesting" landscape in education these days.
Skim milk cheese no thank you! Glad you're restocked with the good stuff.
K D, I share your gratitude for prep time for the oncoming storm (I'm off to Wegmans as soon as I've done my a.m. check-in with NDN1). And while here in Central NY we're more or less "Oh, @#$!!, here comes another one," it may be a much bigger deal for those of you who may get ice instead of snow. Everybody be careful out there!
And I too am thankful to have kept staying healthy this winter. Flu or COVID on top of snow, I don't need.
*I continue to be so grateful for my husband's job. I mentioned it in a previous post.
*Thankful for a warm house.
*For local libraries-I always have books to read, plus they offer much more.
*For working out yesterday. I didn't want go, but I went to the gym. It felt good to be in there.
*For our animals who bring such joy.
Have a wonderful day, Kristen!
This week I’m thankful:
1. That my son’s dog will be with us for the next couple of days while my DIL helps out a friend. I love this dog and she’s getting older with some health issues, so I’m glad to spend time with her.
2. That my partner is a willing and able snow-remover. There’s lots of snow predicted this weekend, and we have longish paths to the house and no garage, so lots of snow removal will need to be done. We have a system and work well together.
3. That I am not panicked about the cost of our upcoming electrical project, as I would have been in past years.
4. That I made a big batch of chili yesterday afternoon that turned out tasty and will be an easy dinner after a long day today.
5. For my job, that is a 90% good fit for me and my life—and 90% is probably as good as it gets!
I'm thankful:
- To have had Monday off, even though I can't believe today still isn't Friday yet haha.
- That we live in an era that can provide us pretty good predictions about the weather. People in eras before would just wake up and still have to milk the cows and make their bread, but in an unexpected snowstorm. I can prepare and plan for this weekend accordingly.
- For my coworker friend sharing leftovers with me that nobody wanted from a family event. The main feature is a venison stew! And now we have a couple days with a good excuse to sit and talk and eat lunch together.
- For my classes this semester. This might show up weekly but I'm just so grateful to have the students I do in the arrangement we were given. The questions and issues arise generally at a rate I can handle. These dears don't even fall apart when I need an extra beat to consider something, reread something, pause to deal with an issue, or all the ways I just can't be "on" as much as I wish to be. Here's to a low-crashout semester for us all!
Heather, I share your thankfulness for modern weather forecasting (which, however we may grumble about the occasional misses, has a lot more hits than misses). And send me some virtual venison stew!
Stew on its way with love, A. Marie. I really need teleportation to exist. My best friend lives 2.5 hours away which is terribly inconvenient! But my husband, a fanatic of physics, and says it's unlikely to be possible. Alas. We can dream.
I am also grateful for this and for living in the 21st century. Whenever it snows I read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder and feel very, very grateful that I have central heating, fresh food and don't have to twist straws of hay for burning (to say nothing of the outhouse situation - that's not even described in the book but I doubt it was pleasant).
I'm glad you are enjoying your days!! Confirmation that your hard work has paid off...in all aspects!
I am thankful for good health as well. There's a lot of sickness going around, and I just read a caring bridge post from a friend who is battling cancer.
I am thankful for more daylight, for sure! This dreary winter darkness has me a bit off my game. Perhaps a touch of SAD?
I am thankful for the ability to work from home if we all plan ahead. This weekend looks like a doozy of a storm coming here too.
Related to that...I'm also thankful for my employer who gave us the day off on Monday this past week, when the icy roads caught us by surprise!
Off I go to work now...I'm thankful it's above freezing today and my walks to get the mail will be more comfortable! 😀
I'm thankful for commenter Lindsay. She has cool comments about life in Alaska, her pets, her trip of a lifetime ( I loved the story of the dance on the ship on the way home most) and her health challenges. She shared a difficult prognosis this week, which couldn't have been easy, but it gives us in the FG comment section a chance to send her our thoughts and prayers.
My other thankful- besides indoor plumbing and fuzzy, plush cats- is that something I've been praying for years has occurred. My prodigal son has come home, and now he begins the hard work of resetting his path. But he's home and my family can support him as he figures things out.
Hooray for an answer to a prayer. And more prayers for you and your family as you figure things out going forward.
I had not seen Lindsey's comment, but your mention of it prompted me to go back to find it. I am sad to see her announcement, but not at all surprised at the grace with which she is handling this. Lindsey, if you see this, please be assured of good thoughts and wishes for your peace, and that of your husband, family, and friends, from New Mexico. You probably remember my saying this many times here over the years, but it is often so applicable: I wish you gentle passage through this difficult time.
[Hug]
That is the best news about your son! Thank you for sharing, and I pray he accomplishes his new goals.
Lindsay,
I wish you peace. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your life in Alaska. Please know that you are so loved and admired.
Books.
I am so thankful that they bring us entertainment, instruction, and food for thought generally. I was firmly on the entertainment end when I was younger, but now I gravitate towards books that share insights and offer inspiration. However, don't rule out the way fiction can send a lightning shaft. I can distinctly remember the scene in Deerslayer (Fenimore Cooper) where a village went midnight fishing, hauling net after net of fish to the shore "fit for a banquet in the courts of Europe", only to eat some and leave the remaining fish to rot on the shore. Such a vivid scene - it spoke more to me than any blog or newspaper article on food waste ever.
A few years ago I started copying quotes that strike me, on flash cards. When I feel need of "meditation" I can now leaf through quotes from Primo Levi, Nescio, Paul Kalanuthi, Dirk de Wachter, George Orwell, Victor Frenkel and others. I feel saddened sometimes but sustained too and part of the human race, throughout time and place.
Books, yes! Index cards, yes! My teacher heart rejoices.💖
I also collect quotes. Inspiration, food for the soul and the mind, comfort in this too moments, reminders to enjoy the journey. Some are on cards, but I think I will transfer more from their notebook paper homes.
One of my favorite free frugals: Lipton tea, boxes of 100 bags, come with 4 cardboard flashcard boxes! I have them in every room. Laundry room for stain removal, care instructions for particular pieces of clothing, laundry recipes. I have them for gardening, wardrobe combination ideas, journaling prompts, just every area of life! Also use them as smaller section organizers in the recycled box organizers I have in every drawer. Ex: bedside drawer has a 5 inch square box lid with 2 of the tea boxes in it on either side. That makes a third section in the middle. 1st section closest to me holds eye drops, lip balm, nail clipper, nail file, and rescue inhaler. Middle section hold small refill bottles of asprin, tylenol, and ibuprofen. Third holds my bedtime RX meds. I never have to get out of bed for any of them, I can just turn on my reading lamp with the shade pointed down to avoid glaring wake me up lights to see at o'dark o'clock, and everything is held firmly upright and in place. Makes me so happy!
Sorry, that is one of my favorite rabbit holes.
Yay JNL for quote flash cards! ❤️ Grateful for your sharing.
And I love your examples AZ Lynn!
AZ Lynn,
Lipton tea flashcard boxes -- I never would've thought of that! (Although, as a teacher, I've used all kinds of things, including the tear-off tabs from cardboard Kleenex boxes for bookmarks.) That goes right up there in Great Frugal Hacks, along with backs of old envelopes for shopping lists. Thanks for sharing!
You are such a kindred spirit.😊 Also use everything for bookmarks. lol Yesterday received two books in separate heavy paper mailers. Wanting to reuse them, I cut down from the top of the mailer to the top of each book to the exact width of the book. So what I cut out is only what was necessary to remove the book inside. One strip is in the Bible study book I received. The other is in a study Bible I am using. lol
Thank you so much for appreciating the wonderfulness of the tea box. Long live envelope grocery lists!
For a while I kept commonplace books and copied quotes from books I especially liked. Your flashcards remind me of that. I haven't written in one for a while but maybe I should start a new one!
I also made flashcards for "random things I learned in life"
They are very simple over the counter wisdoms but since my Aha moment was quite late for some of them, I thought to include them anyhow, for our (grown) kids.
I do something that is similar but different. I have a little glass dish filled with the tabs from Yogi tea bags - a bit strange, I know. However, imprinted on these tags are little bits of wisdom. For example,"The unknown is where all outcomes are possible; enter with grace."
O that is fun!
We have tea tags with questions: "Who is your example?", "What did you want to become growing up?" and so on. I always ask eldest and it leads to fun conversations (Answer to the example question: the cat).
Bee, my sister does that exact same thing! She loves those little sayings.
What a great idea! I often take a picture of a passage from a book, but those pictures get lots in the thousands on my phone. I’m going to start doing this, and looking through them as needed. Thank you for sharing this!
I had the same thought on Tuesday, I’m mostly housebound due to ME/CFS but as I was puttering around at home I just felt this gratitude that I’m able to do this. And yesterday I was able to work three hours at my old job. These are all good days and I’m thankful for every day.
I haven’t seen the sun yet this year, but my weather app tells that we have three hours daylight now and it’s really noticeable how the days are lighter. Both literally and figuratively.
Grateful for the full freezer from hunting, fishing and foraging in the fall, so I can use most of the food budget these first months of the year to build a more sizable pantry.
And lastly grateful for getting an invite to a sewing club from an acquaintance. I haven’t been to meetings in the association we both belong to for a year, so it warms to know that one is still remembered.
💝 GUNN, you are light!
1. Thankful for my sister. I had a not great (honestly not terrible but I couldn't think of one good thing to report!) day yesterday and I was able to just lay it all out in a video message to my sister. I received back nearly 20 minutes of encouragement 🙂
2. Thankful for my sister-in-law. She's been a mix of a spiritual guide/emotional support/childcare/friend for years now and I still am amazed at her humbleness and quiet care.
3. Thankful for my young children. running/jumping/spinning hugs from my 4 year old is the cure for any slump! And my 20 month old's giggle lights me up.
4. Thankful that I like my profession. Even though I go through periods of being frustrated at my job, I am generally happy with my role within the greater healthcare system.
5. Thankful for having a family that likes each other!
- I’m thankful the worst of this winter storm is supposed to go through South of us.
- The elementary school where I deliver bins of supplemental food was hit by gunfire this week. I’m very grateful that only buildings were damaged and that everyone was ok. I also feel lucky it was a non-delivery week and I wasn’t there unloading my van.
- In the past year and a half, I’ve been able to use some strong “negative” feelings to finally push myself past some long-engrained fears, and have been volunteering in several ways to help my community. My newest challenge to my social anxiety and agoraphobia is that I signed up to help young students struggling to read and write. Next step will be training.
- I’m glad I signed up for the CoCoRaHS program. This sounds like a strange thing to say, but I’ve been enjoying learning the precipitation measurement process!
I also love all my days (on or off).
Thankful for :
Paid sick time: I finally caught a virus (which is a miracle I have lasted this long as the hospital is full of sickies)
That the golf course near me is open for dog walking when there is snow cover. My dog just loves to run free!
Good friends.
Happy and healthy kids who are making their way into adulthood.
This week I am thankful for:
My faraway sister's neighbor and good friend, who is looking out for her in amazing ways.
My own good friend who listened patiently to an unusual outpouring of anxiety this week!
Finally, a day that wasn't frigid -- but that will change tomorrow.
My new increased Social Security payment -- only because it will cover (almost) the hike in assessment fees to my condo organization.
That by focusing on using the food in my pantry and freezer, I'm starting to see a little space in both. And my grocery spending is very low!
That I live in an area where I find numerous discarded receipts, which I scan to Fetch. What fun!
For the awesome trainers at my gym who are always helpful and considerate.
I tend to prefer work days which are more predictable! Haha!
My thankfuls:
1. I met up with a friend last Friday and it was so lovely seeing her and catching up.
2. I went to my book group which I hadn't been to in a long time (my schedule always seemed to clash) so it was good to get back into it. I went after seeing my friend and initially just wanted to go home, but I knew I'd have fun once I was there.
3. I went for my first run of the year during a beautiful sunset.
4. I made it to the gym for strength training and then went to a yin yoga class directly afterwards.
5. I'm thankful that I don't feel self-conscious doing things alone. Some of my friends were surprised I went sledding by myself but I had a lot of fun, and who cares if I looked awkward? I'll never see those people again. I also enjoy going to the cinema, museum and on trips alone. I do enjoy doing those things with others as well, but I like my own company (and being able to leave if I'm bored or tired!).
I so enjoy your posts. YAY you for enjoying your own company, and doing things you enjoy on your own! I would have loved to see you sledding. 😊 You and Kristen share a joyful, grateful, and refreshing outlook on life that blesses me down to my toes.
Aw, thank you! That's so kind!
I don't have to leave the house other than get the dogs outside and shovel last snow. I'm thankful for that ( though worry about my kids that do need to be on the roads in the bitter cold ).
What a blessing you are to that patient. Most people will not experience that kind of compassion while in the hospital, sadly. The snow last Sunday in middle GA was so beautiful, but gone quickly. I think we will escape this weekends weather event. Thankful for that for sure.
I had also missed Lindsey's comment. Lindsey, thank you for posting your update. This internet makes it so easy for people to drift into your life and right back out again without explanation. Thank you for explaining because wondering is difficult for people who care. I do care about you (and the husband, always the husband). Thank you for being a part of our lives.
Also, how important for you to notice "the straw that broke the camel's back" situation. I'd never thought about how important that skill is for people whose job is to help people.
So this week, I am thankful:
*that my dental hygiene appointment was (dentally) uneventful. No scraping at all!
*that I know how to "fix" my vertigo because my lying back and tilting my head to the right at my dental hygiene appointment set me to spinning.
*for the kind notes my homeschool reviewer put on the review form. Often there's a "versus" mentally with regard to homeschool and public school, so it was nice to be met with kindness.
*that the hens are increasing their egg production. It's still not enough to keep our large family in eggs, but 6 eggs is more encouraging than 2 or 3.
*that a situation my friend has been dealing with has been (hopefully) resolved-- and resolved well. What a need there is in this country for good care situations for people with mental health issues!
I'm assuming you use the self-Epley maneuver. It's a very handy trick, isn't it? (From someone who has also used it).
Yep. My chiropractor taught me, and unfortunately, I have to use it frequently. But it works! It was a little weird yesterday when I had to tell the hygienist, "Okay. Can you lower this chair all the way down? And the head piece too? And, can you come over here and help keep me from falling off here?"
- I'm thankful to finally be feeling better after getting both a stomach bug and a cold from our sweet grandson.
- I'm thankful Monday was a holiday so I had the day off to rest and recover from the stomach bug.
- I'm thankful DH felt better this morning than he has in 2 weeks. It's been a rough road for both of us.
- I'm thankful that I am off on Fridays.
- I'm thankful for a warm home and lots of books to get me through the cold weather forecasted for the weekend.
I, too, am very thankful for more light. It's nice to drive to the gym at 6:30 AM and see a hint of light coming up over the horizon. And then when I leave, how much brighter it is out.
I am thankful that where I live, we are prepared for the "big storm" this weekend. Previous living in Upstate NY has prepared us for knowing what we need to make it thru a snow storm. And previous living in FL has prepared us to live thru big storms too. Thankfully we have a woodstove and will be warm if the electric goes out. And most events are cancelled already for the weekend, so I really don't have to go anywhere.
Thankful that my husband and I are really starting to take care of ourselves and are getting healthier. He started some Tai Che in the AM along with his stretching exercises and I am going to the gym 3-4 times a week. Plus we are eating decently and staying away from sweets, which for us is really hard to do.
I am thankful I figured out some money issues that were keeping me awake the other night. I am feeling more comfortable about those issues before retirement now, which gave me something else to stress about when I was trying to go to sleep last night. I think it will give me some time off before finding something part time now. I just plan on working a few hours a week to have some spending cash.
Kristen, thank you for your persistent gratitude and optimism. It is the positive modeling I needed today and many other days. So happy for your contentedness.
Liking your job is wonderful, isn't it?
1. I'm thankful that although we will have colder than normal weather again this coming week, it will be much better here in North Florida than for many of you elsewhere. I seriously hope it isn't as bad as they predict, but please stay safe.
2. I'm thankful for the upcoming wedding anniversary of my oldest daughter and her amazing husband, which falls on the birthday of my late mother-in-law. It just happened to work out that their wedding day was on what would have been her 100th birthday.
3. I'm thankful to finally get my table lamp, one of a pair, repaired after it was knocked off a table by wind and the curtain after a hurricane. I had the windows open so I wouldn't pass out from heat and humidity in the powerless house and didn't think to move that lamp. My parents bought the pair of lamps in 1939 after they were married, and my sisters decided they didn't want them and I could have them. The bulb socket broke off when it fell. The fact that the glass base is intact and unchipped is almost a miracle.
4. I'm thankful that, assuming the weather doesn't cancel it, my daughter has been asked to be one of the speakers at an industry conference in DC. It will be a short talk of course, as there are several other speakers, but I am thankful because I feel it means her employers have confidence in her, which is important in her male-dominated field.
5. I'm thankful that a fussy client at work is not going to be my problem. Although I'm helping with the situation now, of course, it's not likely to end soon and will no doubt still be here once I'm gone. Five more weeks to retirement!
Your retirement countdown is getting exciting for me 🙂
JD, when I was nearing retirement, I felt the same way about several of my company's "problem" authors (who were going to be someone else's problem from then on) as you do about your fussy client in your #5. Walk on, sister, walk on!
Five weeks! It sounds like you might have a mild case of short-timers disease. I'm happy for you.
-- I'm getting my master bedroom flooring done, and it will be finished some time today. Had to hire a new crew and they arrive when they say they'll be there, and they are very dependable. Most unusual!
--Snuggles is turning into a very good watch dog who barks when someone comes up the sidewalk. Just like Miss Lucy Dog used to do.
--Although I had to sleep on my sofa last night (bed had to be taken down and moved due to flooring project), I slept comfortably.
-- My back injury is getting somewhat better.
--I have all I need to get through the winter precipitation this weekend. I stay stocked up. Last night, when I was working at the drug store, customers came in telling me that the nearby HEB (supermarket) was a mad house and had run out of chicken soup, toilet paper, chicken nuggets, and all kinds of things from people panic buying.
--Glad I don't work at HEB or Walmart (see above). Our store gets busy, but nothing like that!
This week I am particularly thankful for my new goal of doing something good for someone every day. I got the idea from a friend's email signature line. Sometimes I plan what I'm going to do and sometimes I let it occur naturally, ranging from making a monetary donation to just being a good human.
I love this. Such a rewarding resolution.
So primarily, after going back and reading the rest of yesterday's comments, I can't even express how thankful I am that most of us live positioned such that we can make grocery shopping choices. So thankful we aren't stuck with a mudpie diet, or rice three days a week and go without for four, or something along those lines, wherein the choices are zero.
Also, raspberries. Thankful for raspberries specifically.
I'm thankful my Christmas cactus is FINALLY blooming.
Lol - trying to get a Christmas Cactus to bloom on-time is a challenge! Mine was a bit early this year.
Too late for Christmas. Too early for Valentines Day. I guess I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.
My son's fiancee visited last weekend. We are very grateful that he has found such a lovely life partner. She is an easy fit with all of us. 🙂
Her dog came with her. I was hesitant about that, because we have 2 cats, but while the cats avoided the dog, there were no major incidents.
We got dumped (well over 10 inches) with snow the night before last. I love snow, but that was a lot to shovel. I'm thankful that my health allows me to do extended heavy shoveling. I'm also thankful that my neighbor across the street used his snow blower on another neighbor's driveway (elderly woman--we typically help her out with snow removal).
Speaking of snow, I was so grateful that I could go snowshoeing. It's been the best snowshoeing of the season so far. I was the only one out, and I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and beauty of it.
It's good to see you so happy. And it was so kind of you to trim that woman's bangs. That's going above and beyond!
This week I dislocated my kneecap. Which is not something I'm particularly thankful for, but I do have some associated thankfuls:
It happened here at the house, when my husband was nearby to help me -- not on the three-mile walk with the dogs that we take every morning, and not during the four hours he was away earlier in the day.
I was able to be seen right away at the urgent care clinic.
There is nowhere I have to be for the next couple of weeks, so I can stay home and heal.
My Medicare and supplement will pay for everything. On the way to the clinic we were talking about how even a year ago I would have been looking at an $8000 deductible, plus worries about whether or not the clinic was in-network. It's a huge relief not to have that hanging over our heads -- but I am concerned for the millions of people who do have health insurance worries.
My dogs have been very sweet during this time. When I got home from the clinic and settled on the sofa the big one put her paws in my lap and her head on my shoulder -- her version of a hug. And the little one snuggled up right beside me all afternoon.
It is insightful to consider the well-being of the whole person when you work in healthcare. You have found your calling.
• I am thankful for the excellent healthcare that I have received over the last year. I have a health challenge that I am addressing. Fortunately, I access to kind and insightful providers. It makes things a bit easier.
• I am so thankful that my son has finally learned how to develop work- arounds IRL. When faced with obstacles at life and work, my son's anxiety would often manifest itsrlf in frustration or anger. Finally ...finally ... finally, he has learned to stop and analyze the situation then act. This week, he had an especially difficult problem. Rather than sliding down the emotional rabbit hole, he called me to discuss how his problem could be "fixed." I gave him some feedback, and he was able to work around this obstacle within a few hours.
• I am thankful that I get to spend time with my grandbabies today. When I am with them, my heart is filled with such love and joy.
Wishing you all the blessings of peace, good health, and prosperity.
Hi Bee, not sure how old your son is, but it takes longer for the brain to develop than we often assume. 25 year on average I believe (average also means it may be longer for some!). Our eldest had a similar anxiety reflex but in recent years we see such thoughtful and insightful behaviour, it is a joy to witness. Your son also shows signs he has reached the point where he can take a step back and respond adequately. I can feel your relief!
This week I am thankful….
• We have a safe warm home. Tonight’s temps are going to plunge and the “feels like” temps are going to be unreal. I am so thankful that we will be safe at home and warm.
• I am content with quiet hobbies – when I stay home because of the weather I am very happy to read, crochet, do a puzzle, or bake. I don’t feel trapped inside because I’m doing things I enjoy.
• My company gave us the option to work totally remote if we don’t feel safe going into the office. I work in downtown Minneapolis so I appreciate their outlook for all employees. But as I’ve said before, this is a wonderful, caring city and I feel safe enough going to work and walk down the street to get coffee when I’m in the office.
• That my best friend was offered a new job yesterday! She had been laid off at the beginning of the year and the breadwinner of her family (she knew it was coming before the holidays). I could see how stressed she was. Her new position is perfect for her and she is going to do great things!
• My grandma is becoming more active in her assisted living community. She was very social/active before moving in there and has finally started joining in on activities. She’s so much happier.
• Even though my grandma’s memory is falling her she has not lost any of her lovely personality. I know that is a possibility but she’s just as lovely and cheerful as always.
Thankful that I'm getting a lot of 8 hour days (as opposed to 10 hour days or even 12 hour days). Of course the paycheck will be smaller but money isn't everything!!
Thankful that retirement is close, and that I prepared for it by putting as much as possible into TSP (the government version of an IRA).
Beyond thankful for the HVAC system (two years old now I think)...it is 18 degrees here right now. Although I have a woodstove (and plenty of firewood) it's a blessing to come home to a warm house (another blessing is NOT having to feed the wood stove every 2 hours), and a third blessing is that electric heat (while it may be expensive) keeps my pipes from freezing
Thankful for this crazy cat of mine (he's a tuxedo, a little over a year old, and very energetic). He keeps me on my toes!!
Very very very (enough verys? LOL) for my job. It pays very well, the work is easy although a bit physically demanding. and has allowed me to slowly prepare my house for aging in place (next big expenditure will be flooring and I'm slowly saving up for that. then comes replacing the windows)
My last thankful is the soft brace I got for my back. I've had 3 weeks with no pain at work. I get snappy when I'm in pain.
I will say the kittens already have me in yard work/garden shape. They both listen pretty well but laying down house rules and policing the I'm-lonely-but-not-fond-of-the-kittens-yet 4 year old cat, I too am getting my exercise.
I'm also thankful that the teeth cleaning which I expected to include 1-2 extractions but was 5 was not a budget buster. Managed to snag a stool sample from one kitten today. The send to a lab to check for all manners of parasites is more expensive than a regular check for round or whip worms the vet's office can do.
We'll get through this initial phase (both kittens have been in heat so that is NOT helping). The more outgoing kitten is doing her best to make friends with our adult cat.
"I love...days!" That kinda sounds like a sentiment expressed by someone who practices thankfulness, and knows what the alternatives could be because of life experience. I'm so glad life gives you so much joy!
1. For security: food, shelter, financial, relational, etc. Things in Minnesota are dicey, and the resulting stress on people makes me thankful for the security I have, and has prompted me to find ways to help those in my community who have less security.
2. for coffee. in a mug. at home. I should be at work. In fact, I was at work, but now I'm home drinking coffee with one of my kiddos who isn't kicking a virus as quickly as we'd all prefer.
3. The adventurousness of my kids...it is colder than anything we've ever seen, and they're all about embracing it and enjoying it. I want to be that flexible in my outlook!
4. for time to read. Last year at this time I was in the middle of an excelerated masters, and all my reading was course related. I like reading for fun!
Kaitlin, I am thankful for local people like you who are helping others around you. The world is watching and hoping for exactly this.
OMG I love that you trimmed the patient's bangs. I just gave myself bangs so I can relate to them driving her crazy. Also, my nurses braid and wash/condition their patients' hair all the time. We all take turns bringing in nice shampoo/conditioner/body wash so they can feel better.
I also love all my days - work and home. Isn't it the best? I'm thankful every day.
Your experience helping that patient reminds me of what my nurse aide instructor said to the class when we were learning about feeding residents--she said that "Moms always do well with this one!" Ha. Years of experience helping little ones eat translates very well to helping older adults who need assistance.
I'm thankful:
That we seem to be fighting off the little virus we picked up on our trip home. Boo. I told DH we need shirts that said "I went to Florida and all I got was this lousy virus!" But we're on the mend.
That the Commodore has seen fit to graciously forgive me for leaving him for nine whole days. He's back to his usual shenanigans, rather than sulking and acting as if I'm a stranger.
For DS#2's interview seemingly going well; he interviewed at a long-term care facility near us, and fingers crossed they choose him. They were confused when he came in for the open interview session; at first they thought he was interviewing for the part-time bus driver position! When they realized he was interviewing for the nurse aide position, they were very pleased. Not a lot of men train as nurse aides, but their upper body strength, I understand, is very much appreciated. Also some male residents are more comfortable with a male nurse aide.
For the means and resources to care for my family when they're ill. And for the resources to stock up ahead of a potential snowstorm! Hoping everybody in the path of the storm stays safe and warm!
I am thankful and happy for seeing the Northern lights two days in a row. I've seen them only once before. So this week was really special.
I am thankful that my healthcare job allows per diem. It’s just the best.
Your story reminds me of a similar one. When I was a teen, I watched Top Gun a bajillion times. Maybe unhealthily obsessed. 20 years into my hospital slp job, I got a spinal cord injury patient who had swallowing difficulty and needed lots of eval and many treatment sessions. Lo and behold, he is a retired fighter pilot. He confesses he has a smart@$$ personality and some caregivers can’t deal. I said sir, I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life. Tell me your call sign and let’s get started.
Getting to know him and getting all my fighter pilot questions answered (where do they pee?) was one of my memorable career highlights.
Sending a hug to Lindsey and the husband, always the husband and the horse pretending to be a dog.
I am thankful that the Pacific Northwest is only cold and not in the path of the storms....you are all in my prayers.
Thankful for firewood, a larder (our above ground root cellar) and kitties. I have one ancient cat who affectionately goes by "Old Man" he is slowing down, at 22 yo. I made venison bone broth last fall and he enjoys his soup in between meals.
Please be safe everyone, stay warm.
Calico Kitty drank copious amounts of chicken and turkey broth in her old age. It kept her strong. I'm sure the bone broth will benefit Old Man.
1. Thankful that the virus/bug/whatever that hit our family passed through me pretty quickly and painlessly. My husband is still congested but my daughters and I are mostly better. Phew!
2. That I had some space to catch up around the house over the last week. So much to put away, declutter and clean! I still need to get to the inside of the refrigerator and microwave, clean up my work desk, and clean up our guest room (which has become a dumping ground) but things feel under control now.
3. That my husband made dinner last night. My dinner plans got foiled when I couldn't find the mahi mahi I was hoping for and he just happened to want to have pasta so he made some for all of us. Saved us from take-out because I was really dreading cooking.
4. So thankful that my family is becoming more self sufficient. The kids now make their own meals sometimes and put away their own laundry. Sometimes they still need me, though, and that's nice too.
5. For the space to make some meals I wanted to eat. I made a french onion soup lentil dish that I love, tofu scramble, a greek salad and some muffins over the last couple of days that have brought me joy. Of course I made other things for my family but it felt nice to make things that I wanted to eat, not just things I had to make. And also thankful for the youtubers who share their culinary adventures that inspire some of mine.
Kudos for teaching your children life skills. It will serve them well long term.
This week I am grateful for:
- A couple nights of good sleep and waking up feeling capable.
- The opportunity to reflect on my interactions with others and apply what I've learned to my future interactions.
- The confidence I have in my own (and my husband's) frugality and capacity to weather economic difficulties.
- Skilled and authentic authors.
- Our precious earth and the support pulled from it by our ancestors and, now, ourselves.
thankful for you. and the skilled people taking care of my zozo. they are actually talking about discharge date in the near future. so glad you are living the life you deserve.
My CNA career in a hospital was very shortlived due to an unexpected move but I loved that job so much more than my subsequent positions in nursing homes.
Like you said,so many different things to learn & accomplish as opposed to the day to day monotony.
1. I echo Johanna- I am grateful for books! Specifically my small town library that has an amazing e-book collection that I can access while overseas.
2. Mobility. I am so, so thankful.
3. Wide toe box shoes. These have been a life changer.
4. The bird that a-woos at 5 am every morning. I know it annoys some people, but I love waking up to the sound of it announcing the day.
A little dusting of snow...
reminded me of a sign I once saw
Kindness is like snow, it makes everything it covers beautiful.
1 - for the woman who brought back two dumped kittens from another state she was in - and worked with our mutual vet to find them their furever home.
2 - while both kittens are well socialized, one is quickly filling the hole in our hearts from the far too soon euthanize of our 4 1/2 year old cat
3 - I and the kiddos all work from our respective homes so we don't have to be out tomorrow.
4 - better half split some more firewood due to the its almost here cold warning. We supplement heat with the wood stove. But it is relaxing and also provides a heat source if the power goes out.
5 - that my retired better half could help our neighbor when her better half was out of town. And that her better half fixed the issue when he got home. Better half helped her with the stop-gap measure.
I'm a day late, but I am very, very thankful this week! Specifically . . .
-For the fact that we got the mid-tier insurance from my employer. The last two years, as we battled multiple major illnesses, I had selected the cheapest monthly option. Both years, we paid out the nose until we met our full out-of-pocket max, which was fine because that plan is cheaper overall if you hit that max, and, boy, did we. This year, I am only at my university through July (so less than a full calendar year of health expenses), and we went into this year without planning a major surgery or other event. We have already had more pop up than we anticipated, but on the mid-tier plan we're not suddenly paying $1,000s of dollars every week until we hit that out-of-pocket max.
-That our oldest is suddenly doing better in school. This fall his grades slipped, and we couldn't figure out why. But suddenly this month he seems very on top of things, and is subsequently actually turning in homework, which has significantly improved his grades. I asked him last night what he thought might account for the change, and he didn't have an answer. So I am chalking it up to some brain development, just in time to start getting his CV in shape for college planning.
-For our real estate agent. We have a commercial space that we rent, and we had a maintenance issue last week. Our tenant was all worked up and frothing at the mouth about it, demanding we fix it immediately. (This is a fix that would be, in total, $250 out of pocket for her.) Well, we are new to being landlords, so we weren't sure what to do, so we called our agent. She showed me in our lease how the tenant is actually responsible for the fix and assured me that we weren't the crazy ones. It helped my husband and me find our backbone, which will improve our relationship with our tenant. (Well, it improves the relationship from our perspective. The tenant is now crashing out, but now I realize that is not my fault nor something I can control.)
-That we got closer to answers on our son's tummy issues. He has had tummy and eating issues for two years now. Bloodwork and everything was normal last year when our pediatrician had him tested for a bunch of stuff. But then earlier this week his bloodwork came back with a marker for celiac disease. We're doing more tests next week to confirm, and then we will move on to how to address it. I am not happy that my child likely has a chronic illness, but oh my goodness, I am so glad it is not something worse. I am so grateful for a diagnosis. It is the first step to solving the problem.
Wow! Thank you for mentioning daylight. My husband and I were just talking about what a psychological difference it makes when it's actually still a bit light at 5 p.m. (I am further north than you.) So I just checked, and today, we have 9 hours and 34 minutes of daylight. But in one month ... we will be at nearly 11 hours! That makes me so happy! Especially with how frigid it is today.
Have a good weekend.
I love this post! First time commenting.
1. I am grateful that I didn’t lose power during the snow this weekend as this was my first snowstorm living in nyc (I’m from west coast originally)
2. I am grateful for my parents for gifting me a coffee machine and grinder so that I can enjoy making coffees at home!! I’ve been having the best time going to local roasters and testing out new bags of beans. I find it very meditative and soothing, esp during these winter months
3. I am grateful to have access to so many barre and sculpt classes through my gym as I save a ton of money since I take 5-6 classes a week (even though my gym membership is quite pricey it still comes out to less than it would be to purchase individual classes at multiple studios)
4. I am grateful to have a heated blanket. So incredibly grateful for this one lol
I love your story about trimming bangs - reminds me of when my daughter was young and had frequent long hospital stays. The team got to know us, and one of the nurses would (with permission) brush and re-braid her long thick hair every time she already had to be sedated while inpatient. Tangly hair after a week in the PICU is no joke! This saved significant hair-brushing distress and restored some comfort and confidence. I think about that sweet woman so much. The small things do make a big impact!