Thankful Thursday | Let's add some contributions
Reader Elizabeth Y. sent me an Instagram reel of Adam Grant talking about the idea of adding a contribution journal to your gratitude journal.
He said that a gratitude journal can end up being a little bit passive if you just keep track of nice things that happen to you. But adding a contribution journal helps you think about what you did to make the world a better place, and that's a nice not-so-passive addition to your mental health toolbox. Realizing that you are capable of making a difference is both motivating and cheering.
I love this concept, and I think I have sometimes done this without really articulating the idea or realizing what I'm doing.
For instance, I have felt:
- grateful that I could help Zoe with her taxes
- grateful that I could listen to a friend share about a bad day
- grateful I could help a classmate understand a concept
- grateful I could help the many readers who message me with divorce/difficult marriage issues
Also, almost every time I finish a work shift at the hospital, I drive home thinking, "Man, I love my job!" and largely it is because I feel like I am making a contribution.
For instance, last week, I successfully turned things around for a patient because I figured out a small way to fix an irritation for her. Like magic, her entire mood changed.
Doing things like that is deeply satisfying to me; like figuring out a tricky puzzle. It is a challenge to know how to get the right combination of taking care of physical needs while also taking care of a person's heart and soul, but doing that is one of my favorite ways to make a contribution in the world.
And like Adam Grant said, this is motivating! I want to figure out this puzzle again and again, and since I take care of new patients all the time, I am constantly presented with new puzzles to solve. Each success makes me want to keep trying.
So! If you want to, include some ways you made a contribution in the world this week. 🙂 What did you do that might show up in someone else's gratitude list?
This week, I am thankful:
for some sun and blue skies
We had a string of cloudy days, and you know how that makes me feel: A LITTLE BIT SAD.
But the sun came out again, and I don't care that it's cold. I'm just happy there are blue skies.
that my hospital is not going to make me work lots of overnights
I will have to do some training shifts for overnights, since the overnight role is a bit different than the daytime role. But since my managers all know I vastly prefer days, it sounds like my regular overnight work will be fairly minimal.
YAYYYYY!
I am never going to be a person who thrives at night. If it's dark out, I want to be in bed with my eyes shut. 😉
that I feel so good about the job I accepted
I bucked conventional wisdom a little bit by only applying to one job and accepting the first offer I got.
But I feel so sure that this is right for me. I have been at enough hospitals and on enough floors to know what I like and what I don't like, and that makes me confident!
Also, since I have worked on this floor for nearly a year, I know what I am getting into and I know it's what I want.
for mosses
I loooove them.
that there are varying ways to work as a nurse
I shadowed in the ICU last Sunday and it confirmed for me that ICU nursing is not my jam. From my work as a tech and from clinical, I know I like it when I can talk to my patients and they can talk to me.
I don't want intubated and sedated patients!
But the nurse I was shadowing said she could never work on a floor like where I work; she prefers the ICU life.
And that reminded me how nice it is that we enjoy different types of nursing; it would be a disaster if we all wanted ICU or we all wanted PACU.
that I have 31 days left
You knew the countdown was gonna be in here, right?
We are almost in the 20s!!
that I only have four more weekends of clinicals
I can hardly remember what it's like to not have every weekend spent at the hospital. Soon, soon!
that I'll be able to go to the symphony again
My symphony attendance has been distressingly low because of my weekend schedule...I just can't make it work. But as soon as I'm done with clinical, you know I'll be doing my bougie on a budget thing, frequenting the symphony hall. 😉
a contribution: I was able to help at a nursing open house last night
I answered a last-minute call for nursing students to help with an open house at school. So, I spent a few hours meeting prospective students, answering questions, and showing them around the labs.
It made me feel good to contribute this way; to use my experience as an almost-graduate to help people considering nursing school.
The idea of noting contributions like this came up for me in the past week or two as part of a group therapy exercise to help build (or, really, find) your self-esteem: a self-esteem savings book. I'm making mine into a Jar of Self-Esteem by using small bits of paper and putting them into a jar, rather than a daily list. I hope you don't mind if I share the four questions here, I'm just very enthusiastic about this at the moment and it is the first time a self-esteem exercise has at all seemed doable and useful to me. If you have any other readers who struggle with this, perhaps they might find it interesting.
The idea is that every day, or at least several times a week, you answer these four questions and over time, build up a solid "savings account" of self-esteem.
1. What did you do well/what went well?
2. Could you tick off something you've been procrastinating?
3. Were you able to encourage someone/help others?
4. Did anything positive happen to you/for you?
And to add some Thankful Thursday things, this week I am grateful:
1. That I had the money to pay to privately see a doctor I know and trust rather than wait two months to see a new-to-me doctor.
2. That I have finally gotten into a regular routine with sport and movement over the last two years and (since I'm on crutches this week) can notice how much my body needs and enjoys it. And I have the go-ahead to start moving again.
3. That I don't have toothache, earache or a bad back. Knee pain isn't great but I feel like it's way better than those three.
4. For beautiful lilac appearing everywhere and the smell of the wisteria near my office.
5. For the ability to connect virtually with friends and comfort them through tough times from afar.
@jigbean,
Thank you for sharing the four questions for building a self-esteem savings book. It seems they could be very helpful.
@jigbean, that is a great exercise! I like the idea of the self-esteem jar. I did something similar when my kids were little. It was the caught-being-good jar.
@Bee, that's hysterical!
@jigbean,
Thanks for sharing those questions. Very helpful! I may use this in my teaching role.
@Bee, Great idea and awesome name!
@jigbean, I especially like #2. I don't know why I procrastinate, especially when getting the thing done brings such joy.
@Bee
@Bee, I did caught being good in my classroom. Then our whole school did it. All staff members , including custodians & lunch ladies carried little chits that they filled out and gave to students who earned them. The kids turned them into the office for weekly drawings by grade level. Some rewards were things, but some were things the y could choose. I loved it when my kids chose have lunch with the teacher.
I like this idea because as you said, you could be helping people with or without knowing it.
I am helping to coordinate a scrapbooking weekend and it is finally here. I am relieved. But now we have to live thru the weekend. Everyone that showed up last night, was positive and happy to be setting up. So I will be optimistic and see how the weekend goes.
Just hoping that there are no disasters and we can all have a fun weekend. I did a lot of work on it, but there are 2 women that have been helping me, so it has been working out very well. I am thankful to them for helping me along the way and thinking of things that I would not think of because I have not coordinated an event like this before.
And I for one am glad you took the first job you were offered. You can hit the ground running. I think it was smart on your part because you have experience at that hospital and on the floor. And for them to offer the position to you, says a lot about them wanting you on their team.
This week I am thankful
-that we have a stable home and are able to emotionally and practically support our kids
-for garbage collection - always! We try to reduce waste as much as possible obviously, but the waste we have is faithfully collected and I am thankful for that every single time
-that the bees are out again (and find food in our garden). I love their hum, and am impressed by how many kinds there are and how they live
-that my cough is slowly subsiding - after seven weeks
-that I have some fun outings and get togethers planned ahead in a small setting
-that I was able to do several abs excercises at the gym with the trainer, and actually liked them. The excercises I had on my list were not much fun and I am glad that I now have other excercises on my rotation
-that I will be picking trash again this weekend with a bunch of people - the small (and temporary) difference we will make and the bring-your-own coffee afterwards. We Ac-Cent-Chu-Ate the positive!
@JNL, Like you, I have a new set of exercises from a new PT place, and it makes Alll the difference. The last two rounds at another place only made my problems worse and the pain was increasing. Now, finally, I can see a tiny bit of change, and it’s so energizing to get me to do my new exercises faithfully. Still in pain, but it feels different in a good way. Hurray!
I love the contribution journal idea. I agree that there is so much more to life than just what you are grateful for.
This week I am grateful that I was able to deliver for Meals on Wheels twice this week (as I do pretty much every week) and that another day I was able to fill in for the site coordinator that was out sick. I was a bit reluctant to take on that larger, usually paid, role but all the volunteers that day were lovely and the person that brings the food to the site is very helpful. It was a bit outside of my comfort zone but that is a good thing.
@K D,
Thank you for what you do with Meals on Wheels! My elderly uncle, may he rest in peace, was able to stay in his home for no telling how many more months thanks to the local MOW program here. His grown children lived out of town, and MOW took a burden off their shoulders, even though one or another of them would come every weekend to check on my sweet uncle during his illness.
What happened to the L&D nursing choice?
I'm not sure how I feel about the contributions (because it feels like tooting my own horn?), but I'm needing the thankfuls. This week I'm thankful:
*that one part of a friend's family drama is resolved.
*that closed doors allow you to be open to different opportunities.
*that I genuinely liked and approved of my son's girlfriend whom I met on Sunday. It would have been very hard to tell him (when he asked what I thought of her) hard truth.
*for things that relieve itching. (Did you know that mangos can cause poison ivy reactions!?!?)
*for good books. Reading aloud to my children is a delight. Yesterday my daughter thanked me for reading our current book (Little Britches) aloud because she's loving it so much.
*for warm socks, hugs, the opportunity to be stressed out by nonessential things, local newspapers, curiosity, and melted cheese.
@Jody S., your last bullet point is delightful.
@Jody S., I don't really laugh out loud when I'm reading, but I did smile about the melted cheese. I am also a fan.
@Jody S., haha I felt the same way. "How can I say I contributed without tootin' my own horn?"
I'm helping with a children's civic organization in town. I'm learning a lot and it's hard but I keep going anyway.
Hopefully that is sufficiently non-tooty.
@Katie,
Indeed it is!
@Jackie and @Jody S., we don't have trouble acknowledging our mistakes and I think it's equally important to acknowledge things we've succeeded in. Knowing our strengths can help us help others - that sounds a little convoluted but you get my point. Also, I don't think there's anything wrong with being proud of ourselves!
@Sophie in Denmark, I'm still thinking this one over (good thought provoking idea, Kristen). I think the trouble I have isn't in acknowledging that I have accomplished or contributed something; I can do that. But I think the line I'm uncomfortable crossing is doing so publicly. I am a Lutheran, so I am kinda squeamish about works righteousness. I feel uncomfortable creating a habit that might make me dwell on me too much. For what it's worth, I have no problem journaling about something I've accomplished because I think it is important to mental health to acknowledge to myself that I am contributing.
So for you it is really the public nature of it that's the problem, if I understand you correctly. I get that! And as long as you are incorporating the practice privately, you will still reap the benefits.
I think of it as being grateful for an opportunity to serve...it is a delight when your gifts match up with a need. I feel that way when I solve a patient puzzle; a sense of delight that my particular gifts were able to serve that particular person. And sometimes it is fun to share that delight with someone else!
It's less of a "dwelling on myself" kind of thing and more of a delight that a gift I have matched up with a need.
And I also feel so grateful to be in a place to meet those needs. I am thankful to be at the hospital, thankful I was able to go to nursing school, thankful I have a health body and mind that can give to my community, and so on.
@Jody S., I'm not religious but am correct in reading that you see it as potentially bragging or not needing God? I guess to me there's a difference between saying you're really great and everyone should praise you, and seeing how your strengths have helped others. When I am trying to support or encourage someone I usually remind them of something they've achieved. It's not that our achievements define us as such, but they can encourage us to learn new things and help other people. Sometimes I get anxious about things but I look back at how I overcame an anxious situation in the past and that often helps me move forward; and I also pass on that advice to others who ask for it. In a spiritual frame, perhaps you could see it as how God helped you as well.
@Jody S., I'm terribly allergic to mangos! And poison ivy sent me to the emergency room as a child. And I love your "closed doors" perspective. Much better and nicer than the old dismissive "well, things happen for a reason" (meaning "suck it up, buttercup") expression.
@Jody S. and others,
I want to hear what others are doing. You, Kristen, and many members of the commentariat make consistently positive contributions to friends, family, and community. By sharing these things with us, the Frugal Girl readers, I don't think you are tooting your own horn. I think that you are helping others focus on the good around them in a different way.
I know that many feel pride is not a good thing - and I suppose when taken to the extreme it is not - but I don't think there is anything wrong with taking pride in your work, being happy with your accomplishments, and sharing the joy that comes with helping others.
@Sophie in Denmark,
Actually it has been working for a US firm that helped me voice my strengths and contributions. Growing up, "tooting your own horn" was just not done. You do something and the assumption is you do it well and other people may notice and not even mention it any way. When I had my first performance review at our company, my manager sat back in his chair and said: "So, tell me - how did you contribute to our success?" I was taken aback, but over time I did learn how to prepare for these discussions, and not consider them bad manners on their part for asking or my part for telling.
So when I now read responses by US readers finding it difficult to voice their contributions, I realise listing your own merits may not be part of US culture, but just company culture. Live and learn!
@JDinNM, sometimes the reason things happen is that we did something careless, selfish, shortsighted, or just plain stupid!
@Jody S., I get what you mean about not advertising our own good works. (That verse about not letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing.) It is helpful to list as a checkup to be sure we are contributing. In this context, it might give others ideas about how to contribute. But I did feel as if I was breaking my arm to pat myself on the back when I typed my little list this morning!
@JNL, I guess in general I don't see why it's bad to identify your strengths and be proud of things. Obviously it's not good if you see yourself as perfect and boast all the time, but why is it a bad thing to be happy about something you overcame or achieved? I also think that for a lot of women we are taught to downplay our success or strength.
In the same line of thought every weakness is a strength and every strength is a weakness - I am very creative but not very organised, for example, but a strength I have is thinking outside the box. I think it's good to know yourself in general, to be aware of your weaknesses or areas to learn but also celebrate your strengths. I am aware that I didn't achieve things independently, ie, I have had a lot of support in my life and have a lot of privilege, but I can still be happy about those things and use my strengths to help others.
@Bee, I agree 1,000 percent!
@Sophie in Denmark,
My thoughts exactly on finding balance in all things! And on standing on the shoulders of others.
I am thankful for my strengths and how they supported me and benefited others, iver the years. And my parents were proud if me, wordlessly.
@Bee,
Agree with what you have stated so well. I think sharing your own contributions can be very empowering, because you're not saying "look at me and how great I am", but more along the lines of "I helped [a patient, a customer, an elderly person, a client, a friend, family member, etc
,] do x/y/z, and it felt really good to help!". I know it makes my day when I can effectively contribute something to my work team, my family, my friends.
@Bee, I think a balanced approach is fine. After thinking about this for a good chunk of the day, I might be settling a little more into what I actually think. It depends on the person doing the thinking. Some (like me) easily and consistently recognize personal contributions; my self-esteem rarely needs an extra boost. Others need to practice a little more. Another danger is that, out of balance, the practice might lead to more anxiety: "Am I doing enough?" or "I'm not doing nearly as much as she is" sort of thoughts of inadequacy.
@Sophie in Denmark, In the spiritual frame, I operate more on the 3 solas: Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia. That sort of permeates my worldview. This doesn't mean that I don't see the importance of (at least privately) recognizing that I have been helpful to others because that feels good! But I don't want that to be my focus. I don't want to worry, "Did I do enough?" (To be a good person, to get into heaven, to impress somebody else, etc.) And I'm not saying that the contribution practice is a bad thing; it just has me thinking.
@Jody S., That is an interesting observation. I never considered that it could be a negative experience for some. I was looking at this only from my point of view, feelings, and experience. Thank you for a totally different perspective.
@JNL, One of my sons is working on a scholarship application, and he needs to write an essay about why he deserves the scholarship. It has him squirming in discomfort.
@Bee, Yes, different perspectives are valuable. That’s one of the reasons I like the Commentariat so much! It’s a gentle peek into different worldviews.
@Jody S., that's really interesting and makes total sense, even from a non-religious perspective! I don't think we should define ourselves by our achievements or worry about being 'good enough' either.
@Jody S., Reading to and with your children (even in high school) and family dinners are 2 of the most significant things you can do to support your children's learning.
Thankfuls:
--Always for the flowers on my table. We planted a very small bulb garden a couple of years ago, and those daffodils and tulips in the spring are the best. Even our small garden is enough for me to have half a dozen flowers on the table for a couple of months.
--That my middle son has dealt so well with an extremely busy year in his first year of middle school (7th grade at our school). He did basketball and track, and--the biggest time commitment--FFA. He was the youngest member of his judging team last week at the state FFA judging competition, which they actually won. Like, entirely, in the whole state. Kind of amazing for such a tiny school. So now he gets to go to Indianapolis for the national competition in October, and he's very excited about that.
--I made the difficult decision to not renew my contract at work for next year. I only work two days a week, but I really need to just be home now, so my husband and I agreed that I would stop working. It is not an entirely joyous decision, but I am very grateful that we have the financial flexibility for me to not work, and that my husband and I can talk about things like this and come to a decision that is best for our family.
--For my husband. Our current difficulties would be a thousand times worse if I didn't trust him and feel like both of us are working towards the same goal.
--For the Enola Holmes books. I ordered them for the library at school, and read all of them over the weekend. I wasn't expecting much from them, but I was so impressed and enjoyed them so much. Exactly the kind of escapist reading I needed right now. There are a couple of movies based on the books on Netflix, but I fear they would be disappointing. Has anyone seen those?
@kristin @ going country, Oh wait! A contribution! Well, I continue to raise four children as best I can, which feels like the most important contribution I can make. Assuming I get them all to adulthood in one piece, which sometimes does not feel like a given . . .
@kristin @ going country,
I haven’t read the books, but found the movies charming. The first one, especially.
@kristin @ going country,
I've seen part of the Netflix show, and it started well. (It has Henry Cavill in it, so it caught my eye. ) I'm not a big TV fan, so I didn't finish it.
I found working away from home was easier when my kids were little. I actually want to quit now that I'm down to 4 in 5th grade and up. Some of my kids need much more support at this stage; when they were little; preschool/ekementary was low key and fun. ( There are also big issues that cropped up that I never expected. ) I hope your decision to stay home works out well for your family!
@kristin @ going country, movies are generally a distortion of the original story (The Help was a good exception to this). Thank you for mentioning a new series of books. I looked them up and am happy to see my library has them!
@kristin @ going country,
There is so much that I didn't know about parenthood when I decided to take the job. Yet, I have often felt that my children are my best work. Raising them was not easy. Despite many sleepless night and many tears, we made it. I know you will too.
@Bee, This.
@kristin @ going country, i saw the first one and i loved it. right now i am watching an auustralian show called fisk. it is amaingly funny. i can't stop laughing. it is on netfllix.
I’m grateful for
- getting to attend an out-of-town conference where I learned things that will help me take good care of my patients, met some colleagues from other institutions whose work I admire, caught up with some old friends, and explored a tiny bit of one of my favorite cities
- unhurried phone calls with two of my patients yesterday - I’m good at building rapport and trust and answering questions, patients really appreciate it, and I’m grateful for a job structure that allows me time for this
- my slow-to-make-friends younger kid having a playdate on the first day of his spring break, and the public library nearby being a great place for me to get some academic and administrative work done while he’s at his friend’s house
- cherry blossoms, tulips, daffodils - and antihistamines that let me spend time outside comfortably during allergy season
- finances that allow me to comfortably spend money on things that I value and that support the local economy - music lessons for my kids, occasional takeout from local restaurants - even in these uncertain economic times
So exciting to be almost done!! I am a nurse (closing in on 20 years now next year since I graduated) and often think how nursing is so great due to the different directions you can go with it. I personally was offered 3 inpatient positions as a new grad- General Surgery, Transplant, or Burn. Burn was OUT (ouch… I could not handle that every day) so I interviewed for Gen Surg and Transplant. Transplant won by a landslide for me because it’s just such a fascinating and kind of niche speciality in nursing. The whole field of organ donation and transplant is just so special (heart-wrenching, but so special, too). After a long time on the floor, I’m now in a remote, M-F position still for the same institution and still in Transplant- but now on the admin side doing Transplant Quality work. It is very different to no longer work directly with patients, but my work still greatly IMPACTS patient care, so I still find it rewarding. One of those “important but not as visible” roles. 🙂 Besides, it has been cool to learn new skills while still using all my transplant nursing knowledge! (And I’ll admit, the rotating weekend and holiday shifts does get old after a while…. ). 😉 So excited for your new journey!
@Kae,
Transplant medicine has always fascinated me! The hospital where I work started doing LVAD surgeries about 3 years ago, and I have the privilege of working with those patients (Im a dietitian). A few of our LVAD patients are considering transplant, which we don't do at my hospital, but several other local hospitals do. Fascinating stuff.
I love the contributions idea!
This week all my “thankfuls” are multi-thankfuls …
- I had an anaphylactic reaction to my allergy shots on Friday. I was already home when it started, so I’m very thankful I listened to my instinct right away that something was wrong, that my husband was home to drive me back to the doctor, and that the ephedrine did its job and worked quickly. I do have an epi-pen, but when we got in the car I was just experiencing regular allergy symptoms (the doctor asked me to come in anyway). On the short ride to the allergist, my symptoms quickly got worse, but since we were almost there it made sense just to go into the office instead of stopping the car to inject it myself.
- I’m thankful and proud of myself for going back on Monday for my next dose of shots after having a scary reaction (my throat was tight and I was wheezy). They stepped back the dose and I gratefully did not have a reaction a second time.
- I’m grateful to be able to afford a new permanent fix for my broken fence posts. My frugal temp fix is working to keep the dog in, but I’m ready to have my functioning gate back! Also I’m thankful that my current dog is not the escape artist that my previous dog was.
- My daughter was sick yesterday and I was grateful to be able to stay home with her without the added stress of needing to miss work or other obligations. I had one appointment, but I was able to do it online instead of in person. I’m also thankful to have that option!
I knew I was forgetting some thankfuls, including one very important one …
- My dad went to the hospital last Thursday with a heart rate in the high-20s/ low-30s. I’m extremely grateful that he now ok and back home.
- I’m grateful to have a body healthy and strong enough to remove a stump in my yard. It was hours of work and very satisfying to finally get out!
@JenRR, Fencing and dogs! I've been extending scheduling grace to my contractor who was supposed to redo/repair my fencing this week but had to reschedule for (fingers crossed) next week (which will cause me problems with my own schedule). I so need to have this done, and his scheduling problems were wind and weather related to another project, so I could not in good conscience complain about the delay. My dog was quite the escape artist as a puppy (not that she ever went anywhere when she got out of the yard). The last time she got out I was frantically looking for her when a neighbor drove by to say my dog was curled up sleeping in her front courtyard.
@JDinNM, It’s so stressful and scary when your dog gets out! Right now, I just have 3’ chicken wire fencing off the corner of the yard and I don’t think my current dog has any idea he could get past it if he wanted to. So far, I’ve just managed to get an estimate, contract, and onto the “to be scheduled” list. We’ve also had a lot of bad weather (hence the broken posts) so I was waiting for all those storms to move past to even bother trying to get it fixed. Hopefully, both our fences will be repaired soon, and that there are no more dog escapes … or bad storms!
@JenRR, I'm thankful you had access to the allergy related care you needed and that epinephrine exists! My 5yo has severe food allergy to sesame, and I always find it encouraging to hear about adults who are managing so well with their allergies (and know when to listen to their instincts).
@Carla G, Thank you! Epinephrine is amazing and no longer intimidating! I have a child with food allergies, too. He’s now 15 and it’s been wonderful to watch him grow over the years learning to advocate for himself, read labels, figure out how to order safe food at restaurants, and talk to his friends about his allergies and asthma in case he’d ever need emergency meds. I did not have allergies until I reached college and had an anaphylactic reaction to crawfish. That was almost 30 years ago, so I’ve had a pretty good run!
I like the new "contributions" idea.
This week, I'm thankful that the unwelcome late snow we had on Tuesday has already melted.
I'm thankful that I was on hand to straighten out the confusion when a new home care aide showed up for NDN yesterday, instead of the one she's gotten used to and likes. At first, NDN didn't want to let the new aide in the house. But after we found out that the familiar aide had to take yesterday off to attend her grandmother's funeral, things went more smoothly. And the familiar aide should be back next week.
Finally, I'm thankful that reading an article in the NYT yesterday about what's likely to happen to the prices of Apple products got me off my duff and out of my lengthy stalling about replacing the Antiques Roadshow iMac in my office. Mr. Fix-It, who is my tech consultant as well as my home repair consultant, has been urging me for some time to get a Mac Mini--and after he offered to provide me with a large monitor and a keyboard from his ample stash (he is, ahem, something of a collector), I allowed him to talk me into the Mini. I expect that there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth as I make the switch. But this move is long overdue, and, once again, I'm grateful to Mr. Fix-It.
@A. Marie, My prayers are with you. I had to change mobile phones last week and am still cursing under my breath 9 days later. What's the Avril Lavigne song? "Why's it gotta be so complicated?"
@JDinNM, And I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon reprogramming my printer after the printing queue reached 14 documents with nary a single one getting printed.
@A. Marie, I get the wailing and gnashing of teeth! One thing I miss from being employed was the technical help desk. Even with vast technical resources at our disposal, my former boss made it clear that her retirement would occur when her computer was due to be replaced. When I replaced my home computer recently, I paid for a one-year Geek Squad benefit. Best money I ever spent as technical issues make me exceptionally crabby.
@A. Marie,
Another empathizer re: wailing and gnashing of teeth! DH and I got new phones (much needed) about a year ago, and I'm STILL mystified about how to print things from my phone to the printer (said printer has always been finicky, but now just flat out refuses to print anything for me). DH is the tech whiz in our family, with DS a back up - though DS is more of a software whiz, where DH is both hardware and software.
@Liz B., In-house tech experts?!!! SO jealous. ;-}
@A. Marie, it will be a smooth transition. I've had Apple products since the 1980s and there is continuity in iOS. A few things have a new name. You'd be fine with Mr. Fix-It and will be just fine with him.
This week I am thankful
- for lunch with a former colleague that I arranged. I invited other coworkers so we could all catch up. After working together and being friends for over 20 years, it's important to me to foster those relationships.
- that DH got initial approval for his short-term disability claim
- for all the beautiful flowers that the former homeowner planted. We have buttercups, thrift, bluebells, and a variety of colors bearded irises all in bloom right now. I am working to keep the weeds out of the flower bed so we can continue to enjoy the beauty the blooms provide.
- for happy hour with BFF. It's nice to have time for just the two of us.
- that we live close to DD and get to see her family often. We get to keep our grandson this weekend. I'm hoping it will be his first sleepover with Nana and Papa
I think I'm like Kristen - I've been noting some of my contributions without really noticing I'm doing that. For instance, I know I've written that I've been grateful that my difficult experiences with DH's health have made it possible for me to offer encouragement, advice and empathy with others who are starting to experience it. This is a good idea, I agree.
I think the little violet in the mossy picture is something to be thankful for, too.
I'm also thankful for:
1. A lovely Saturday this past weekend, just spending the day with the oldest for a late birthday gift to me. We shopped at specialty and antique stores, mostly looking, not buying, had a delicious lunch out that she paid for - I had fried catfish with grits and collard greens, freshly made shoestring fries and remoulade sauce - and just talked and talked. Since her wonderful husband cheerfully wrangled their four kids and the housework, plus picking up his young nephew to spend the night, she had a day free from home duty, too.
2. My sister is arriving today to spend a few days with me. We always have a good time.
3. My twice-yearly dermatologist checkup today went quickly and no suspicious places were found.
4. The English dogwood is in glorious full bloom in my yard.
5. This is a little odd, but I'm glad I got to see it. I was on my front porch, rocking, and keeping an eye on a carpenter bee that was circling lazily outside near the honeysuckle vine in my native flower patch. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of scarlet and green, heard a hum and ZAP, a hummingbird flew full speed like a rocket straight to that bee and smacked hard right into it. The bee was history. The bird continued on at a more normal pace for a few feet, circled around, went to the hummer feeder and fed, then moved on like normal. I looked online, and it seems that hummingbirds and carpenter bees do occasionally war over flower patches. Maybe that was it? I've never seen that happen before.
@JD, your #1 sounds like a delightful day out. And, honestly, your description of your lunch is making me drool!
@JD,
Wow! What an unusual thing to observe with the hummingbird and carpenter bee! How cool is that!
@JD, it sounds like a beautiful day with your daughter, and Happy Birthday to the birthday celebrant.
I also love the contributions idea!
1. I am thankful that I've got into the habit of going to the gym twice a week and doing strength training. I had done very little of this in the past but now I always do weight lifting with a trainer once a week and some general strength training another day.
2. I'm thankful that there's been so much sunshine lately.
3. I'm thankful for my friend who was able to give me a good perspective after I was disappointed about something, and am thankful that I can also be supportive to my friends.
4. I'm thankful for fun conversations with my coworkers.
5. I'm thankful for reliable public transport.
So happy for you that you got the job! I'm thankful that you are landing on your feet in a place where you are valued and feel comfortable being in!
----
1. That the stock market rebounded by 2/3 in the past 24 hours. Wish it was all the way back to where it was, but I'll take the 2/3 gain for now, even knowing that it's probably temporary.
2. The Texas bluebonnets are blooming! They make vacant fields transform into fragrant oceans of beautiful blue flowers. A little bit of heaven right here in our state! (If you want to visit Texas, bluebonnet season is akin to visiting the nation's capitol when the cherry blossoms are blooming...try to go right then!)
3. For Sallie Beretta. She was the lady, a San Antonio socialite, for whom my old college dorm was named, and she is the Texan who fought to get the bluebonnet declared our state flower. This ensures some protections from anyone trying to eradicate the fields of "buffalo clover," as the plant is also called. (Such as laws prohibiting people picking the bluebonnets growing on public land, etc.)
4. For getting a free LARGE PRINT book to read so I didn't have to strain my eyes reading all those hundreds of pages. For large print books in general! And any book that has print that isn't too little bitty.
5. Springtime sunshine!
----
I'm grateful that I get to brighten my customers' days when I work as a cashier, a rather lowly part time job I took just to boost my Social Security credits. Last night, I had a customer, a widower, get in my line and then when he saw me, his face broke out in a big smile. I gave him a couple of extra (discarded) plastic bags that he likes for his cats' litter boxes.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I wish I lived near you so that I could get in your line. Your positive demeanor and stellar customer service as a cashier elevates what some may call a lowly job (I'm not one of them) to new heights. Personal interactions make the world go round.
@Fru-gal Lisa, it is still down for the year so I am not celebrating "gains" that were inflicted by a person who is allegedly leader of the greatest country in the world.
@MB in MN,
I was thinking the same thing! Fru-gal Lisa, I don't think your job is lowly at all. You may be one of the few people some of your customers interact with on a regular basis - thank you for being so kind and friendly!
@Fru-gal Lisa, you are in a unique position to make someone's day. It is a wonderful when the people that you are doing business with are kind and friendly.
Kristen, You are always growing your enterprises, adding to them, elevating them. Nothing is ever stale around here.
This new wrinkle, which I love love love, reminds me of the song lyric, "What have you done today to make you feel proud?"
Similar to Kristen, I am thankful that I was able to help a patient manage his anxiety and move forward in his treatment session. I totally hear you on how this is a fascinating puzzle to solve!
Thankful that even though they are shivering in our cold (and sometimes snowy) weather, the daffodils and forsythia are making their appearance; for a girl's dinner with good friends last night; for continuing provision of my daily needs in an unstable environment; for knitting (I'm finishing my second throw made with leftover yarn--and what did I do when I heard about JoAnn's stores closing? Why, I bought more yarn on sale, of course!).
THANKSFULS
A friend to walk with in the morning
A steep road to walk up with zero traffic
Coffee waiting when I get home
Three cats to greet me when I set them free from their overnight captivity in our outbuildings
CONTRIBUTIONS
Taking my new neighbor to meet people and get stuff for his first home at the barn full of extra stuff
Helping the new barn owners get rid of the stuff
Sharing citrus with my elderly friend
Listening to my sister several times in one week as she vents about our mom’s difficult behaviors (SO VERY THANKFUL our mom lives near her and not me!)
I’m thankful that I have ample opportunity to do productive things and help people.
I’m thankful that my peony is coming back after getting trampled by construction workers last year.
I’m thankful that my father-in-law has decided to give up on driving. The world will be a safer place. We will get to help him out!
I’m thankful that my kids call from college to ask for my opinion. I’m thankful that I know to give my opinion only when it’s requested. The good thing about my MIL’s persistent unsolicited advice, is that it’s taught me what NOT to do.
I’m thankful for warmer days and the birds singing outside my window.
@Ann on the farm, always much easier when the person makes the decision to no longer drive.
I'm grateful for the Columbia University students who tied themselves to the gate in protest of Mahmoud Khalil’s detention by ICE. The watermelon yamaka melted my heart. I'll be forever grateful to those whose works make love visible.
@Farhana, "... grateful to those whose works make love visible." That's a lovely phrase, thank you.
Really good timing for me because I have a significant contribution to contribute.
1) Someone on my knitting group, a single mom of a 9 yo, illegally lost her job at FDA because of DOGE. It was my idea that the knitting group get her a gift card to a supermarket so she can continue stress-baking. There was broad participation, we successfully kept it a secret, and she was so touched she wrote a poem about the group.
2) I seem to have made a friend at the group, in addition to the buddies who are good company when I see them at knitting.
3) The erratic, unreliable (works for himself, lost his one assistant, got sick, etc), somewhat emotionally needy gardener I found has been doing a great job with my yard. He's attuned to my garden goals and does a better job than I can, figuring out how to turn my preferences into plans. I also like how he uses what I have, such as plant trimmings to fill in blank spaces.
4) Giant supermarket has butter on sale for $3.50/lb, no limits.
5) That I can still afford to buy flowers for my home. I recently realized how much they brighten my day.
@WilliamB,
Your knitting group sounds wonderful and your surprise was heartwarming.
@JNL, I agree!
@WilliamB, Such a lovely contribution you’ve contributed. We can do so much. A little at a time. I’ve long wanted to belong to your knitting group.
@WilliamB, love your #1 in particular!
It has been a difficult few months, but I feel that the tide is starting to turn. For that I am truly thankful.
My beautiful, kind 32-year old DIL has the gene mutation ATM. People who have this are more likely than the general population to develop some types of cancer at an early age. A recent mammogram showed that DIL had a suspicious area in her breast tissue. However, after several weeks, further testing showed that it was not cancerous. I feel enormous relief and something beyond thankfulness.
I am thankful that we are making such enormous strides in cancer research, and we live in a community with extraordinary healthcare resources.
I am thankful that funding has come through for a business that my older son is starting.
I am thankful that my younger son seems to be negotiating a difficult situation as he works towards a graduate degree. He is dyslexic. Although he is extremely bright, curious, and creative; school can be challenging for him. After many years, he is finally accepting that this is the way he is wired, learning to advocate for himself, and finding work arounds this disability.
I feel deep gratitude that I can be there for my children as they negotiate the ups and downs of life. I am thankful that I can help with my grandchildren and have a meaningful relationship with them. I am thankful that I could help my dear friend with the Garden Club plant sale this week. I am thankful that I could give 100s of colored pencils to our children's library. I am thankful that I have been able to expand my pollinators garden.
With a thankful heart, I wish all peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee, I am sorry for your recent difficulties and daughter-in-law's health issue. So scary. I, too, am so grateful for cancer researchers and fervently hope that funding cuts do not jeopardize their important work at a time when continued progress is desperately needed.
@Bee,
That is good news about your D-I-L! I know you are all relieved.
And as the widow, mother, and aunt (by marriage) of dyslexics, I am glad to hear your son is learning to manage it. My daughter was reluctant at first to accept her dyslexia. Oh, by the way, we were told that dyslexics are usually very bright!
@JD,
One of my nieces by marriage is dyslexic, and she is one of the smartest, brightest people I know. <3
@Bee,
So glad for your DIL's good news! I, too, am grateful for cancer research and the new treatment available. I have a friend going through cancer treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer, and while shes had a rough time, I'm grateful she has treatment options. On another note, a work friend had genetic testing last year, at the beginning of her infertility journey (still discussing with her docs what the best approach would be). Science is incredible.
@Liz B., I had a breast cancer scare at the end of last year and realized that I knew very little about the medical history of my mother's family. My doctor suggested that I consider genetic testing. I had an appointment with a geneticist yesterday and had my bloodwork done. Besides being fascinating, its application in the proactive treatment of cancer is nothing short of amazing and can be life saving.
@Bee, please do your best to keep your results private. All the better if you are paying out of pocket. The chance of flat out discrimination/higher premiums is not minimal.
I am thankful that my hearing aid company goes out of it's way to appreciate their customers. At Christmas time, they provided us with a free pie. This week, I signed up for a free pizza to be picked up next week.
I continue to be thankful for my young Uncle, who had no spouse or children. He picked me, his oldest niece, to be the beneficiary of some of his insurance and investments. It does wreak havoc with some (well, one, in particular) family members. But I just remind them that he was the one that made the choice. I had nothing to do with it. But because it is me, I have also have the choice to invest wisely for my retirement, and share in a way that those family members probably would not. In turn, I will not have to be financially supported by them in my older age.
I am thankful for the predecessors that planted the Virginia bluebells in my yard. I have an affinity for them as woodland beauties and my childhood wanderings through the "hollers" growing up. The other flowers, daffs, Lenten roses, anemones, and wild violets are so cheerful. We have had intermittent cold/warm weather so I have still not "picked up" the yard of sticks and stalks. I am thankful for the many bees I see on the warm days. I am thankful (and this is also a contribution) that my "postage stamp" area on the block supports as many living things as it does.
I am thankful for my Contigo cup that keeps my tea hot for a while. But I have to tell you a funny. I went back a few minutes after I'd poured the hot water in the cup to keep it from getting too strong, and the "tea" was clear. It helps to put the tea bag in the cup.
The mosses are beautiful, but I'm smitten with the violet.
As for nursing choices: I stay available for emergency situations and ready to help if necessary. But I do not like emergency medicine. I could not work in a hospital situation or it's various modalities. But give me my old people. That's my niche.
@Chrissy, we need a lot more nurses like you for whom old people are their niche. Blessings on you and all your spiritual kin.
Agreed! I have some classmates who just love working with older people; some people are precisely cut out for that work.
I do a frugal Friday post, and include a "for others" section. Although I was raised in a house where modesty & not bragging was definitely emphasized, it helps me remember to both note where i'm helping, and when possible, do more. I received comments similar to the ones below about people being uncomfortable when I asked them to chime in. I get it. It's not a space that's natural for many of us.
Thankful for:
1) That I got invited to do a full panel interview for a job (this is usually final stages, and I'm one of 3 candidates)
2) I made a really great recipe this week (chicken parmesan) & the taste was worth the effort! Sometimes that doesn't happen, so this was a really nice surprise.
3) A recruiter reached out & asked me to do a call this morning.
4) We've had absolutely gorgeous weather, which has allowed for walks in the sunshine, eating lunch by our pool, etc.
5) I've gotten to spend time with both of my teen/adult children. Technically, they are both 18/19, but they are still the teens to me.
Contributions:
1) Shared herbs with neighbors
2) Helped DS19 with job applications, & gave him advice on how to gently handle a difficult situation on housing.
3) Helped DS18 with budgeting & planning for his senior trip, and also helped him sign up for a short-term temp assignment.
4) I've been trying (but not being successful yet) at helping the teens track down their W2s so I can show them how to file their taxes.
@Hawaii Planner, hope the panel interview went well!
@Hawaii Planner, sending best wishes on a job offer!
For me, gratitude is fairly easy. Contribution is harder these days. I think it has something to do with unrealistic expectations for myself and my annoying habit of dismissing the positive and emphasizing the negative when it comes to me. I think maybe adding to the contribution list will be painful (but also good for me) so here goes:
Thankfuls:
1. That being consistent with running is making it easier (but not easy!).
2. That my efforts to rein in my A1c is resulting in some slow but steady weight loss, despite perimenopause working against me. Should be called peri-menace-doesn't-pause.
3. That my daughter's making her way through her first overnight field trip with her school.
4. That my husband is (finally!) taking note of his health issues and is working on making lifestyle improvements
5. For the friends we have and the time we spend with them. We look forward to seeing them and it makes our life better.
Contributions:
1.My husband couldn't find a piece of equipment that he wanted and was hesitating to spend the money to replace it. I'm usually the underbuyer but I found one, showed him it was on sale, and that I had some store credit we could use on top of it and put in the order. We picked it up 2 hours later at the store. Problem solved.
2. I called my MIL to check on her. I spent 45 minutes listening to her only talk about herself. Not a single question about me, her son or the grandkids but I think she needed to talk to someone sympathetic other than FIL and I filled that need. At least I used my headphones and cleaned up the garage while talking to her!
3. I started taking my daughter to school instead of my husband because it's been increasingly hard for him to do it so it eases his anxiety in the morning.
Are you still able to get student discount for symphony tickets after graduation? Some student discounts carry until next semester begins (not including summer).
Thankful for heat as it has been a Michigan rollercoaster of weather. Rain turned to wet snow (that stuck to everything) that accumulated to 1-2" with temps in 20s. Spring sure is taking it's time.
Thankful got my Aunt income tax return done (hurricane). I learned a lot & have already starting making adjustments to keeping track of house/property improvements, though I'm pretty sure we won't get a hurricane in Michigan but tornado and straight line winds (80+mph) causes plenty of damage.
Thankful that my dad didn't complain about the care package I ordered & sent to him to help out with a few things during his radiation treatments. Getting to the stores for everyday items is not top off things to do list, so I was glad to be able to help.
Thankful that teen moving along with finishing up Senior year stuff. And finishing up college stuff. Getting the to do list done, that seems to be getting added to (not by me 🙂 ).
Thankful for Kristen & her site to be able to learn & share with everyone.
Have a great weekend!
My husband died 2 years ago and I know how isolated I feel at times. So I’m making an effort to reach out to a friend whose husband died in January- I call or text her several times a week and we do have groups that we both belong to so I see her several times a month. I got a text back from her today expressing how she appreciated that I check on her.
@Rosalie in Texas, this is heartwarming. I'm sorry for your loss. I will remember your actions when I have a friend in need.
Thankful for good health insurance to cover an upcoming hip surgery.
Thankful for beautiful warm weather, singing birds and my back patio in the mornings!
Thankful I can get a good discount on the laptop I need,through my son’s job.
Thankful for a spouse who is kind love ing and willing to help me with all it will take to get this surgery behind me and get back to hiking and bicycling with him!
Thankful I can still afford eggs,but I have cut down to 1 egg at breakfast instead of two on the days I eat eggs!
I love this idea - thank you for sharing - and many congratulations if I haven't already shared that - I'm so happy about your new job - and especially happy that YOU are so happy about it!
This week I'm thankful mostly that I've been able to get my mother, who has been bouncing back and forth between a hospital bed and a less than desirable rehab [understaffed with aides in the extreme] back to her assisted living facility.
This was only possible because she has a healthy savings account herself, as she requires an aide during her waking hours and that is costing a small fortune - but she has it and I'm so grateful for the choices that led to that.
I'm grateful that I found a Habitat for Humanity ReStore not terribly far from my house - my oldest child has moved out to a tiny Harlem apartment so took most of her furniture - but we're trying to turn her room into a guest room so need a few things, and my youngest is graduating college and moving back home for grad school - her room needs some love as well [a good desk chair and a good 'reading' type chair as well as an end table] so I'm hoping we have great success there! At least the middle one doesn't need anything at the moment, my car is only so big LOL
I'm really grateful that I was able to find two of my mother's sculptures for sale on ebay and bring them home - she will be so glad when we can deliver them to her [they're heavy - I need my husband and son to move them!]
Thankful for:
1. My cardiologist. He is so good at listening and works with me to figure out how to deal with issues. My brother and I were both born with a heart defect; my brother died very young and I was expected to follow him but here I am 70 years later. However, it takes a lot of medical intervention to keep the heart going and previous docs have become discouraged. This guy just keeps finding new things to try.
2. Our community owned hospital that employs the cardiologists. I know I have said it before, but in this day, it is stunning to have a doctor who does not have to see X number of patients a day or keep the visits to 15 minutes. He has sat with me for longer than an hour, if that is what it took.
3. Friends who continue to check in to see if the husband or I need anything, such as rides to his chemo or food. We don't, but it is nice not to be abandoned in illness.
4. Our fix it guy, who comes over to do small jobs or big, and charges so little that we always pay him more than he asks.
5. The husband, always the husband.
I do not have very many gifts to offer others, really only two. I am very good with organizing and browbeating, so battling insurance companies for people too ill to do so is easy for me. I don't do it for a living, but as a volunteer so I only work with a few folks at a time, but I am so thrilled when someone gets coverage they are entitled to and may need to stay alive. My second talent is that I am not afraid of being forthright. If an issue comes up, I would rather get it over with than namby-pamby around and nothing gets settled or said. My favorite memory of this was years ago when a co-worker had her nipples pierced and if she did not wear a bra to work, the little bells she had attached to her breasts would make ringing sounds. Clients were complaining about how distracting it was but no one wanted to bring it up to her. It took less than a minute to say, "Your breast bells are not appropriate for this work environment and clients are complaining. Please wear a muffling bra or take out the bells because no one wants this to become an HR complaint." That was it, never happened again. Honestly, what was so hard about that?
@Lindsey, I'm glad to see your comment; I've been wondering how your husband is and I'm glad to hear @ his treatments and that the medical care out there is good.
(And then you broadened my world by telling me that there are situations that call for a muffling bra which WHO KNEW)
So, I'm thankful you commented today
@Lindsey, based on the stories you've shared here and at The Non-Consumer Advocate, I could come up with several more gifts you have to offer others, but I'll just say my nipples hurt just learning about breast bells. Your response to your co-worker was perfect.
@Suz, ditto!
Lindsey, the service you do for people is amazing and SO valuable.
And I love love love your nipple bells story. Hehe.
it is so important to love your job. i hated my immediate boss but loved my job. the boss on top of my boss was incredibly supportive. yesterday i was at a neuro-opthalmologist. was sent there by the neurologist i saw the day before. who gest an appt like that the next day. i have a condition called nystagmus. no one ever told me this before even though my ophthalmologist has treated me for 13 years and did cataract surgery but never said a word. i felt like a science experiment. they kept looking at my eyes bouncing around and were amazed that i had no idea my eyes bounced around. the neurologist asked how i spent my life. i said without even thinking living it to the best of my ability. he and his nurse both smiled and said it was a good answer.
if i had answered yesterday's post i would have said i constantly look at my schwab account. i read everything i can about saving money, investing, and being a minimalist. i have been in the market since 1979. i watched louis rukeyser, jim cramer, consuelo mack and the nightly business report. i read kiplingers, forbes, money and dave
ramsey books. one of them was recommended here. as kristen said a loss is only a loss if you sell. in the big crash of 29 the people who jumped out of windows were the peeps who bought on margin. the peeps who hung on found themselves rich.
when i was younger i sometimes had no money in my bank account but there was always some stock i could sell to go on a vacation to europe or move to manhattan. my stepmother left all my father's money and my mother's things to charity but they both told me i would get these things when she died. they opened all my wedding envelopes when i was on my honeymoon. a tremenodus betrayal, but the karma has been a blessing.
I like the idea of writing about my contributions....though I don't think I would do it in a separate journal.
Also, while conventional wisdom might suggest applying at several different places, I think your situation is a bit different: you've been working there, you know you like it, you know they appreciate and value you. You know the routine and what is expected. No need to apply elsewhere! You are so close to being done, congratulations on getting your job lined up!
My thankfuls:
- thankful my routine screening colonoscopy last week showed nothing abnormal. I'd been procrastinating about doing it - now it's off my to-do list for 5 more years.
-thankful for the daffodils and tulips that I planted last fall are starting to flower. The weeping cherry trees (not mine) are beautiful, too.
- thankful that DHs business was able to gain a new client, after losing a major client that cut his business's income by at least 25% (thank you, Federal government....NOT). It's a very small business of himself, his business partner, and I think they have 1-2 other remote employees.
-thankful that DS is done with winter drumline. He had a blast, made new friends, and improved his drumming skills, and wants to do it again next year. We are both happy to have more free time for now.
- thankful for mint tea. Delicious and soothing to my current sore throat.
-thankful I have PTO I can use to rest and heal from my current illness (possibly viral, maybe a sinus infection....not Covid or flu, also thankful for that).
Contributions:
- I was able to explain something to a patient in words they could understand, and they thanked me for "providing some answers that no one else else seemed able to give". It feels so good to be helpful.
-a Buy Nothing friend asked for wooden crates to use for her wedding (she asked for other decor items, too). Oddly enough, the same day I saw two wooden crates set out with the curbside trash, at a nearby house that's up for sale. I grabbed them for her (as well as a ton of canning jars, including some vintage Ball jars). She is thrilled with the crates! I'm thrilled with the jars. 🙂
- I bought some Nothing Bundt Cakes Bundtlets to help raise funds for DS's high school marching band. That was a tough one. Cake? Yes, please! 🙂
It's so interesting to hear people discouraged by cloudy days. I live in New Mexico and its sunny 310 days in my city. Cloudy days are such a respite from the sun for us. I LOVE the contribution journal idea!
This week I'm thankful:
* for unity between us and my in-laws in the big renovation discussions we had about the house we just purchased together.
* for my various paid and volunteer gigs. I really enjoy them!
* for the financial stability of not feeling weird about something like buying a Detroit Tigers hat. I was going for something I'd love rather than just the cheapest option and there's a time where the cheaper option would have been the way to go.
* that I'm enjoying my book (still reading some Jane Austen!)
* for the joy of working with kindergarteners. Sometimes they are a LOT. But they are so sweet. I ran into one at work today and as soon as he saw me, he shouted, "Ms. Ruth!", sprinted down the hall, and gave me a big hug. Warmed! My! Heart!
Contribution:
* Back story: my Wednesday night co-leader gave me a really nice belated birthday gift. I was touched! I shared my joy with our Children's Director and she relayed how working with me has really made this lady feel at home at our church and made a big difference for her. I'm so, so happy to help her feel loved and part of our community.
I am so thankful for :
1. Being led to and Clicking on Kristen's Blog. I do not follow blogs.
1. I am able to help many people in our retirement village on a daily basis.
2. I am into natural therapies and with determined self discipline have my blood pressure almost normal another week and will be there.
3. I was born with a happy, out-there personality.
I am thankful that:
I have friends who were able to recommend an honest and competent AC/Furnace guy.
I was able to get help with Quickbooks!
My daughter has been pretty healthy and able to attend daycare.
My daughter is a good sleeper. (It is amazing to get full nights of rest with a baby/toddler.)
For daylight saving time. I love having that end of day sunlight.
I'm thankful ...
1) That God hears us and answer prayers. He healed a few health conditions from family members and kept those close to us safe.
2) For a good relationship I have with my Mom. It took a while to rebuilt our broken relationship.
3) That we have health insurance and can go in for routine medical care.
4) For somewhat good health for me, my husband and our girls.
5) For fun times with my husband and girls.
I love this!
I'm grateful I was home today and could take care of all the little chores around the house that just make things go more smoothly (tidying our front hall, vacuuming the main floor, folding the kitchen/dining laundry right away out of the dryer, etc.)
I'm grateful to be starting my new hospital PCT job tomorrow!
I'm grateful I had time today to sit down and do a small watercolor painting in a sympathy card for a family member who is going through a rough time.
I'm so very grateful to live in the community I do - folks have just been very supportive recently, and I really appreciate that.
Naw, pass. I like the way Jesus did things so much more.
And I think when you get paid to do something that’s your job lol.
On the one hand, yes, I agree with you. On the other hand, we have all encountered people who are collecting a paycheck by doing the bare minimum, and also have been delighted by someone who is not doing just the bare minimum.
I think of some memorable DMV employees who brought personality, warmth, and efficiency to their work and what a delight they were to deal with!
Following jigbean:
1. Walked at the mall
2. Dropped off food for food pantry
3. Encouraged myself to keep walking despite pain and saying a sad no to Girl Scout Cookies in order to keep myself well. But that hurt, lol!
4. I was able to get a free hand cream at Bath and Body Works.
I’m coming from the perspective of someone who has had 6 surgeries in 10 years. These led to becoming unable to work, especially in the Occupational Therapy field which was a beloved older adult career choice. All of the losses associated with the surgeries caused ongoing depression and anxiety. Thankful Thursday list reminds me to look for the good things. BUT, for me, the addition of what I have accomplished is hopefully a way to help rebuild myself.
This is a late entry but so close to my heart that I needed to state this.