Thankful Thursday | Thank someone else
Recently, I was listening to a Huberman Lab podcast about gratitude practices, and the host (a Stanford neuroscientist, aka, more of an expert than me!) is actually not a big fan of making gratitude lists.
He shared that research shows a bigger mental benefit comes from receiving gratitude from someone else, or even from watching someone else receive gratitude.
Obviously, you can't manufacture that (there's no way to ensure that you are thanked from the heart every Thursday!), but he did point out that we each hold tremendous power to bless the people around us simply by expressing genuine gratitude to them.
Also, he says you can access neurological benefits by remembering times when people expressed gratitude to you. So, if someone encourages you or expresses gratitude in some way, it's smart to file that away and revisit it.
This makes sense to me because I keep a folder in my Outlook, filled with times that people have sent gratitude and encouragement my way. I guess I should pop into that folder on the regular!
If you listen to the whole episode, he said he's not trying to discourage people from looking for things to be thankful for...he specifically said he does think we should be counting our blessings all the time. The point is just that the research seems to show even more benefit for the recipient of gratitude.
So. I will keep making thankful lists, and I will also be mindful of expressing thanks to others and remembering (gratefully!) the times others have expressed gratitude to me.
With that in mind, this week I am thankful:
for all of you
I could really put this on my list every week! I'm so grateful for all of you who show up here in the comments; you encourage me, you encourage fellow readers, and this blog community is what it is because of you.
And I'm grateful for those of you who email me too; thank you.
for being able to see people!
I was thinking of this as Mr. FG met up with his friend for breakfast yesterday. They do this every other week or so, and such a thing would not have been possible last year (no one could eat inside, we had no vaccines, and this friend has some health issues that make him higher-risk).
So, I am very happy that Mr. FG can do this now.
I also thought of this as Sonia met up with a friend for bubble tea and a stroll through a bookstore; I am especially grateful for things like this now!
for the ease of getting a shot
I got my initial round of shots back when it involved going to a mass site with long lines. But now it's as simple as making an appointment at a drugstore; neither Mr. FG nor I had to wait long at all for our boosters.
(This is on my mind since I got my booster last night!)
that we have had no post-shot problems
Other than the initial "bleah" feeling (like I got after a tetanus booster), we've all been fine. And some of us didn't even experience any days of "bleah" (we've had a mix of shot brands in our household, and obviously we have a mix of ages as well).
So far today, I feel fine except for a sore arm.
for medical podcasts/books/videos
I obviously use my textbook faithfully for Anatomy and Physiology, but I also find it really helpful to use other sources for learning. For instance, I've been listening to the Dr. Mike and Dr. Matt podcast, and even episodes that are not specifically relevant do still tie into what I'm learning.
For instance, the episode about hiccuping tied in things like the reflex circuit, the phrenic nerve, and so on.
Or yesterday, I read in my textbook about how alcohol affects the cerebellum, and then I went down an internet rabbit trail to learn more about that, including how to test for ataxia with things like the heel-shin test. So now I am not ever going to forget that the cerebellum has to do with balance and coordination.
It really helps me when I can connect textbook information to things outside the textbook, and the internet age makes that so easy to do.
that I do not love alcohol
My rabbit trail yesterday taught me that repetitive alcohol abuse can cause permanent damage to the brain in a variety of ways, and that made me feel very grateful that I don't even like alcohol.
I deserve absolutely no credit for this because it's not remotely tempting to me to drink; I'm just thankful that I don't have to contend with this struggle.
(If only I could say the same about consuming sugar!)
that Sonia and my friend Mia are not grossed out by medical stuff
Since my friend Mia is in nursing school herself, I can always talk to her about this type of thing without any worry that she will be squicked out or bored. 🙂
And Sonia is extremely hard to gross out, so I can always tell her cool medical stuff. Yesterday when I was reading about the cerebellum, I sent pictures of it to Sonia, and she and I could both agree that it is quite beautiful ("Oooh, it looks like coral!" she said.)
(The rest of my family is all pretty squeamish so I have to be extremely careful what I share with them, especially when it comes to visuals!)
that my maple tree still has leaves
We had a series of windy days here last week, so a grand proportion of the tree leaves in my neighborhood are on the ground.
But the maple tree still is hanging onto all of its bright red leaves, and I am appreciative of that.
for my windchimes
They were making so much music on the windy days, and I love it.
Also, Mr. FG bought a little hook for my second windchime, so now it's hanging from the gutter. More chime music for me!
1. I'm thankful for Kristen, this blog, and the family of commenters here!
2. I'm thankful that I have taken the time to write letters to tell a few people how much they mean to me. Particularly, I am glad I sent such a letter to a now deceased friend with brain cancer and a letter to a dear, now deceased, uncle who never married and was always treated as "the baby" of his family, meaning he was bossed around by six older siblings and lived all alone. The friend with cancer had hugged me and said my letter meant more to her than I could imagine, and my uncle called me in complete surprise upon receiving my letter and was almost tearful in his gratitude. Yes, those are precious memories!
3. I'm thankful that I managed to drive two trips to the town I work in, which is also where my husband now lives in the ALF, and two trips back to my home town yesterday, over 50 miles each way, without incident, although I was exhausted when I got home at 9 p.m. for the last time. I had to go to work yesterday, and my husband had an appointment back in our hometown yesterday. I'll be rethinking that situation before I schedule his next appointment.
4. I'm thankful that I noticed the flat delivery package - a Christmas present I'd ordered - left on my vehicle's hood in the early morning dark yesterday before I drove off with it and lost it somewhere or ran over it. It was left out in the dew on my vehicle overnight, 10 lighted steps from a covered front stoop and unlocked screened porch.
5. I'm thankful that our broken heater at work was replaced promptly by our landlord! This may be Florida, but we have been having the 30's F in the mornings.
@JD, I wrote a letter like that to a nun who was at the convent boarding school I went to. She wrote back to tell me that she was now in the nursing home of the convent and that her brain is being stolen by dementia but that she still remembered me but wanted to apologize in advance that if I contacted her again she might not remember me. She told me how often she wondered if she has influenced any of her students so it was gratifying to hear that someone remembered her with affection. I cannot tell you how glad I was that I had written that letter before it was too late because she had a huge impact on my personality. She was not a very affectionate person and a lot of the kids did not care for her but I loved her and am only sorry that as a snotty teenager I never let her know that.
Aww, good on you for writing that letter!
I am super thankful that my mom is adjusting well to her new retirement community. It is one step before assisted living. They have a dining room, shuttle buses, activities and concierge, but no one in her apartment tracking meds or anything like that. The residents are welcoming and friendly, my mom's apartment is spacious and bright, she was able to take many of her antiques and she's pleased with it. I am also so thankful to my sister who really stepped up to help my mom through the move. For many years, I was the primary support but my job has changed and my available time has decreased. My sister has filled the gap so my mom gets the assistance she needs.
I am thankful that my daughter has been willing to make changes for her health and quality of life. She was diagnosed with celiac last december and then caught covid in August. She was really struggling with fatigue and brain fog. On the doctor's advise, she's eliminated dairy from her diet and increased her exercise (no easy feat to eliminate both gluten and dairy for a college kid away from home), and it has really helped her. I need to take some lessons.
That is wonderful that your sister is helping out. It seems that often the care of aging parents falls unfairly on one of the children, so it is lovely to hear that you guys are both pitching in.
I'm impressed your daughter is managing to avoid both gluten and dairy. Dairy is hard enough on its own!
@Susan, I am so glad your Mom is adjusting well to her new living arrangement. It can be a hard transition for some. It's wonderful that your sister has been able to step in and help out.
@Kristen, dairy is hard! She’s exploring the world of vegan butter, ice cream and cheese. Thank goodness her college is in a city with multiple grocery stores including a Whole Foods!
Ah, that helps a lot. Being dairy-free in a very rural area would probably be especially hard!
@Beverly, thank you! I was so afraid that she’d hate it, but she seems to have dived right in. She’s 86, and I think maybe things were feeling overwhelming and a bit isolating. Her new place has lots of social opportunities.
I am so thankful I got my wallet back!
Yesterday morning doggy and I walked to a closeby supermarket for some groceries which were on a special sale.
I got my stuff, paid, untied the dog waiting outside and walked back home. There I realised my wallet was missing. So a second doggy-walk to the supermarket following the exact trail from before and scanning the ground for my wallet. To no avail. Also in the supermarket no wallet found....
OK. Back home.
I tried to remember what exactly was in my wallet - well, credit card, debit card, library card, healthinsurance card, my train card, my ID card (almost like a passport in Germany), my year pass for public transport, membership card of my synagogue.
Puh!
I just pictured mentally the long list of phone-calls I would have to make, the number of offices and institutions I would have to show up in person, for some cards I would need new pictures (biometric) taken - and of course the cost of it!
Well, I decided not to fret and give it 24 hours....yesterdays FG post came at a perfect time because it made me remember how to conquer the worry and I really had a relaxed day!
This morning, when walking the dog I looked into my letterbox - there it was my wallet! Not a thing missing in there including the money! With a little card from police saying that they found it very close to my house. It was probably hidden by some litter or so when I searched the ground yesterday as it was a windy and rainy day.
And it probably fell out of my pocket when I was picking up the dog's poo....
Ohh, what a sense of relief you must have felt. Yay!!
That information on sharing gratitude does make sense. I use a daily gratitude app on my phone and it gives you the option of sharing your entry for the day with someone. In the past, I’ve shared entries with my sisters and my husband when the entry is about them and they really appreciated it. I’ve been hesitant to share with other people even when it’s a nice entry about them but may be something to consider!
This week I’m thankful for the nice thanksgiving we had last week. I appreciate it even more after last year and it was so nice when we were all sitting at a big table talking and eating and my kids were so happy and enjoying themselves (only 2 kids so no kid table yet). It does make you appreciate things a bit more once you haven’t had them. I think I took the big thanksgiving dinner for granted before.
Like you, I’m also thankful that we are seeing people a bit more. My kids are still too young to get vaccinated so we are more on the cautious side (not eating at restaurants for the moment, although I really don’t miss trying to get a 1 year old to sit at a restaurant anyways haha) but everyone we know is vaccinated so that gives some comfort. My 18 month old daughter is just now getting to meet some of our friends and family for the first time! A little sad that they aren’t meeting her until now but happy that it’s finally happening.
I’m thankful that my father in law stopped by unexpectedly yesterday. I normally really dislike when people drop in (at least send a text or call first!) but he arrived as I was struggling to cook dinner while my husband was still at work, so it worked out great because he kept the kids entertained while I cooked. And in line with what you said above, I did tell him how much I appreciated that he helped with the kids.
I’m grateful for Christmas lights. It really enhances my morning coffee experience to sit on the couch with only the Christmas lights turned on, so festive and beautiful!
Thankful for Kristen and the group for keeping me grounded. GROUP HUG! (I am so not a hugger, folks....)
Yesterday I was so anxious I called in sick to work. I was literally sick with anxiety (I am having a serious financial problem with my tenant refusing to pay rent and all evictions being on hold because of Covid--what about those of us depending on rent payments to make ends meet? do we not count?) and Kristen's post helped. I am still, this morning, so worried I can't think straight. Deep breaths.
Thankful, I guess, for being a strong person. My mother, my children, friends, they all expect me to solve their problems for them, and when I can't or won't, they get annoyed at me. I guess I could turn that around to thinking I'm the rock for these people.
Oh man, I'm so sorry to hear that!
I do understand wanting to help renters, but I've had the same thought as you...mortgage companies don't forgive the mortgages on these properties, and someone is going to have to pay somehow. This "solution" seems short-sighted since not every landlord owns the rental free and clear.
@Rose, your comment resonated with me. I have spent decades being the listening post and advice giver for family and friends. Once my husband said to me, "Do you realize you are giving advice to people in three other states?" Family, can always continue, but honestly, I have let some very long friendships drift away. They were too one sided. You might want to give that some thought.
@Anne,
My mother is the main offender right now--she's driving me crazy. She wants my daughter to do something for her and my daughter doesn't particularly want to nor does she have the time, which means my mother texts me 10 times a day with her wailing, crying texts about how this is so important to her etc and finally I snapped (because I always lose my temper) and said MOM I NEED TO WORK. PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME 10X A DAY WHEN I NEED TO WORK. Now Mom is mad at me, of course.
Then I have one friend who's dying of cancer and so I have to hear about whether she needs to change her colostomy bag today or not. And my son, who couldn't figure how to register his new car, and the letter we got was hard to figure out and disagreed with the website, and he kept coming to me and explaining what he didn't understand--aka, Mom, I don't feel like figuring this out or calling the DMV so you deal with it?--and I finally snapped and told him he was a big boy now and could call on his own.
I would say I need to work on my temper, but I don't think I do, really. I think other people need to stop bugging me so much especially when they know I'm trying to evict a tenant, dealing with identity theft, etc. I'm a capable person but I have limits.
The cook at the school thanks me every day I'm there helping her. She's constantly saying what a blessing it is when I'm there, which is very nice to hear.
I'm thankful that today is our last day of Zoom schooling. Fingers crossed, we have two weeks of in-person schooling before Christmas break, which should be just enough time to do the mandatory state testing and have class Christmas parties. 🙂
Here's hoping everyone stays well at your school!
@kristin @ going country, Sounds like you have the seeds of School Lunch Hero Day, inspired by author Jarrett Krosoczka.
When I read Kristen's post, I thought of this quotation from him: And I hope that you remember how powerful a "thank you" can be. A "thank you" can change a life. It changes the life of the person who receives it. And it changes the life of the person who expresses it. (TED Talks)
I am grateful we received a thank you card from my SIL that I opened this morning. She was thanking us for being present for her birthday a few weeks ago.
I am thankful for modern dentistry (and the ability to pay for it) and that fact that I'm not frightened of availing myself of it. No one wakes up and says "yay, I'm getting crown replacement work today" but that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. I went to the dentist yesterday so the worst is over and now I just need to have the new crown installed when it arrives.
I'm grateful my sister is retired and it's easier to connect with her now that she is not working. She had time for a long phone conversation in the afternoon yesterday.
I'm grateful the USPS seems to be working better than it was a year ago. I sent some holiday gift checks and cards last week and most of them have already been acknowledged. Our mail seems to be arriving in a timely fashion.
I'm thankful for some warmer, and sometimes sunnier, days. In less than three weeks the days will get lighter again, always good for my mood.
I'm thankful for the advances in Covid-19 vaccines. I ate takeout at a friend's house on Tuesday (last year we were outside visiting in the cold). A friend rode with me on an errand yesterday and last year that would not have happened. I feel as if it's at least two steps forward for every step backwards. There is a local pharmacy that gives booster shots without the need for an appointment. I'm grateful a friend recommended it to me and I have since shared the information with several friends and at least a couple have used the pharmacy as well.
I am thankful for my hubby and I feeling better after ear infections/colds. Our kiddos never even felt sick and I am so thankful for that.
I am thankful for being mostly done with Christmas shopping.
My birthday is tomorrow and it coincides with our town’s Christmas festival. My parents and grandparents are coming so it will be a great day! So thankful for them.
I am so thankful for this blog. It is always a breath of fresh air and optimism!
@Lauren L., happy birthday to you!
I can totally relate to your family being squeamish! I am very squeamish and early on in our marriage when my husband was in medical training he knew he had to censor what he shared with me (after all, the first time we saw each other most days, we were eating dinner!!) now after 10 years of marriage he knows what my tolerance is 🙂 I also remember times I was looking for a photo on his phone or computer and would come across pictures from a textbook or lecture slide and that was definitely enough to ick me out!! Fond memories!
@Diana, I am super squeamish myself. I just can't deal with some things.
I’ve been reading your blog since you started I think, but I never really comment! Many years ago I won the glass straws from Glass Dharma. I still have them, so they always remind me of you and your blog. I wanted to chime in (ha!) and say I also love my wind chimes. My husband has a set that makes a very deep sound rather than a high pitched tinkling. They are my favorite.
Oh, I'm so glad you are still enjoying your straws.
I have two sets of chimes; one makes higher sounds, but the other one (my favorite) makes pretty deep sounds. So good!
During my years in the corporate world, I kept a folder titled "Warm Fuzzies" of others' appreciation and gratitude for my work. Today I'm thankful for learning a new word from you - squicked! I'll add that to my Scrabble arsenal.
Ok, I seriously did not realize that was an actual word! But I googled it and I guess it is.
1. I am thankful for my church's worship service yesterday evening - what a fabulous way to start the Holiday season!
2. I am thankful for a negative COVid test and antibiotics & steroids to treat a simple sinus infection.
3. I am thankful for the patience of my family as I am still in the throes of getting my holiday decor put out and organized & this has led to a more cluttered household than what I usually keep. They have been patient & helpful.
4. I am thankful for sunlight streaming in my windows today - this is such a mood lifter!
5. I am thankful for the gift of wonderful friends, getting to see them, and getting to go out again. We are cautious but so aware of the gift it is to actually be able to go to church or got meet a friend for coffee after everything we have walked through over the last two years.
Happy happy Thursday friends!!
I am so thankful for this blog! Every day when I find myself aimlessly scrolling through social media I think "no! Go do something useful and read Kristen's blog."
I'm also really thankful for the amazing weather we've had lately. Now, I should be worried about the lack of rain and snow, but I have absolutely zero control over that, so instead I'll just be grateful for warm days. We took our new camper van (long story but we actually broke even on the trade from truck/truck camper to camper van) to Moab overnight for a "test run." Dead Horse Point State Park is a gorgeous place to camp and this time of year there's no one here. So we've had a quiet and lovely time testing out the new camper van and biking.
The spouse and I are very big on saying "thank you" to each other for little things like washing the dishes, doing laundry, etc. I think it truly helps our relationship when we realize that the other person truly appreciates the things we do, and voices that appreciation.
I'm thankful, as always, for my clients. At the first of every month, when I send out invoices, I am reminded of the faith and trust they have in me and THAT is something I'm really grateful for!
@Julie,
Actually there are only a few blogs that I follow regularly and Kristen's is the one I read most faithfully and also respond to. I also love the readers!
Another blog, written by a lady in her 70s now, is Down to earth. Her weekend reading posts are great.
Sooo happy to have gotten rid of social media, after the Cambridge Analytics scandal! It saves me countless hours a week too.
Count me among those thankful for Kristen and this positive community here. So many people do not "get" frugal living. It's great to hang out with our kind of folks.
I am also thankful that my husband came through both eye surgery and a tummy bug fine this week. Also thankful that our beloved old kitty perked up and started eating again. Super thankful that my husband mentioned revisiting affordable care health insurance plans for our adult son, as we found a new one that will save our son about 30% over the course of a year.
I'm so thankful that my mom called this morning and offered to stop by the store and pick up some groceries for me since she was running an errand close to my house and she remembered that I had told her earlier in the week that I need to go to the store today! Now I don't have to go shopping with my 9 week old baby, 3yr old and 5 year old! I do enjoy my children, and I enjoy grocery shopping, but the two don't mix so well 🙂
I'm jealous over your lack of post-booster side effects. Mine has been kicking my tail for 36 hours now.
And... I can practice gratitude that I don't actually have COVID and that this will not go on for two weeks. I can be thankful I'm past the worst of it and I didn't have huge things going on yesterday.
I'm also thankful for friends who are stopping by this afternoon to help me with mailing our year end ministry newsletters. That's a huge job and I'm so grateful!
I love what you wrote about gratitude to others and whatnot. I hadn't specifically thought of that, but it makes sense with what I know of brain science.
One of my favorite things to do already is jot a note to someone when I'm thinking of something I'm grateful to them about. Usually it's just a quick text or FB messenger voice message or email, but those random notrs of appreciation out of the blue really encourage people's hearts.
Ooof, I'm sorry to hear you are still feeling bad. I felt under the weather for about 48 hours after my second vaccine back in March. So far, this one is not as bad. But I'm early in-I just had it last night at 8:00 pm!
@Dorinda,
Thank-you! When I came to your response I stopped everything and sent a heartfelt congratulations and gratitude note to a young woman I know. She gave two keynote addresses at an online conference I attended( I had previously attended it in person).
I did not know she was a presenter. She spoke of her recent academic work which directly affects my family. I am grateful for her perseverance in her research.
I have been a lurker on your site for about a year. I am grateful for you and this community even though sometimes I don't pass the frugal test. Ha!
Ah, all are welcome here! We have plenty of self-proclaimed non-frugal people who just hang out here for the happy vibes. 🙂
Growing up, we were taught to work hard and never draw attention to our accomplishments or efforts. This would be considered not only bad manners, but bordering on a sin. We were told that other people would see our merits and if not, well tough luck.
I can assure you it was quite a culture shock when I started working for a US based international firm! Not only would we get thank you notes and messages, but we were expected to list our contributions to the company's goals, in our performance reviews. It felt like bragging. Receiving the thank you notes from customers and colleagues made the process easier and also made it easier to express my thanks or appreciation to other people in turn.
This week I am thankful that I got to speak to our 90 year old friend, who means so much to our family. Thankful also for the warmth with which my MIL greets us on our weekly visit. For the friendship and cheer of my fellow outdoor swimmers. Thankful for my husband, who I find hard to live with at times but we are still very dedicated after plus 30 years together. Thankful for our lovely kids who are so different in expressing their affections but both love us deeply.
And thankful that I can still learn, being over half a century old now!
Mr. FG really HATES it when he has to do those lists of accomplishments for the performance reviews. And he's been an American his whole life; I can imagine it might be even harder if you aren't born and bred American!
1) That I am not overly squeamish! My husband gets Vasovagal syncope - he’s never actually passed out, but seeing people in intense physical distress makes him feel lightheaded and queasy, and he gets really pale and clammy. (I find this ironic since both of his parents are medical professionals!) So for instance, when our 5 year old slammed his finger in a door (not broken, just really badly bruised), I was able to sit with him and keep ice on it when it was too much for my husband. I’m very thankful that one of us can be present with the kids when something happens.
2) For an understanding husband - said 5 year old has been high-anxiety this week in the wake of our vacation last week … I’m so thankful my husband also gets where his big feelings are coming from.
3) For a quiet house with kids back in school after 11 days of fun always-together vacation.
4) For being able to be generous.
5) For being able to help at the kids’ school this year … 3 months in and I’m still thankful for that!
I'm thankful that I didn't miss work because of my booster shot. I felt like garbage last night and had to watch the tree decorating from the sidelines but at least I wasn't knocked out like that time.
I'm thankful that I haven't had to cook much this week. It's not that I don't like cooking or anything but I am kind of sick of it.
I'm thankful that my daughter has friends at school. She's going to a birthday party this weekend. I didn't have any friends for most of my childhood (never had a friend over at my house, I think I was invited to a friend's house once in my life, maybe twice) so I'm happy she's not the social outcast that I was.
I got a nice piece of gratitude at work in the form of a "bonus" which was a gift card. I used it on some books from Barnes and Noble.
Today I'm thankful:
1. to be alive
2. the warmish day we're having today....mid 50's
3. the dinner date I got to go on last night with my hubby who makes me smile and laugh and knows just when I need a pick-me-up
4. a customer tole me on the phone today that he loves to hear my laugh. I'm glad I can make others happy
5. my daughters.....who help me out daily and make my life easier
I am thankful -
1. For chemotherapy giving me more time with my girls.
2. For my most recent CT scan which shows no progression of cancer.
3. For the family and friends who look out for us and love us.
4. For the two lovely snow falls this week even though the rain came and washed it all away last night.
5. For my two cats who curl up with me and keep me company on my chemo week.
Oh, I am delighted to hear of an encouraging report from your oncologist. Yay! How are you feeling?
@Leann, I am glad that your cancer has not progressed and that you are getting additional time with your girls. Virtual hugs to all of you.
I have a Kitchen Aid mixer that is about 10 years old and it hasn't been working correctly for some time. I realized that some of the paint from the beater was wearing off. My husband and I decided that since I use it so much, we should buy a new one on a black Friday sale. When I got the new mixer, I opened the box and the first thing it had was a paper that told you how to adjust the mixer head. I had no idea it was just an adjustment. We adjusted my old mixer and it works great and we returned the new mixer. I feel a bit foolish that we didn't think to look into fixing it, but ever so grateful that we saved over $200 for a new mixer that we didn't need. The funny thing is that I thought of you and your blog while this was going on!
Oh wow, that is a serious savings. Yay!
Thankful that our ill family member had at least 1 good day last week.
Grateful that I have enough food in my pantry, a warm bed, all I need to be cozy at home.
Grateful for books, for the library, the cloud library, kindle, and real books.
grateful for the friendships that have nurtured me during a tough year.
Grateful 2021 is almost over, I am praying 2022 is a bit more healthy and cheerful for my family.been a tough one.
Grateful for compassionate blogs like this one that give me someplace safe and cheerful to land every morning for a bit!
1. My booster shot that I got a few hours ago. No side effects yet...
2. A clean bill of health at my eye appointment this morning. My dad had eye cancer years ago so my eye dr uses his fancy machines to make sure all is well in there. My eyes are still dilated to Disney princess levels at the moment, but another thing to be thankful for is that it's a cloudy day here.
3. This one dovetails into what Kristen was discussing above - church members who thank me each week for the music. I took on the music director position at my church a year ago and finished my music degree in May. I've been a church musician for decades, but being in charge and reinventing things during *all this* has been a trial. Every week, at least one person comes up to me and earnestly thanks me for what I'm doing and it really helps me as I'm struggling to plan each week. A friend's mom is in hospice care and the two of them listened in to the service last week. Hearing that her mom had really enjoyed the music just filled my heart.
4. Our county travelling library and it's physical location where I can reserve and easily pick up books.
5. Tea and chocolate. I will never not be thankful for tea and chocolate.
That's an interesting thought about receiving gratitude. I was cleaning some stuff out earlier this week and came across a note a friend sent thanking me for a couple of things and I couldn't bear to throw it out. It did bring me a lot of joy to read it again!
I have a lot to be thankful for just from my morning so far, so my list today is all from this morning!
* I'm thankful for a great dentist appointment. I'm thankful that they were gracious about me being 10 minutes late. My childcare situation was a mess this morning but I'm thankful that they were kind when I came sprinting in and I got to complete the appointment. I'm thankful for no dental problems. I'm thankful that I got to have the same hygienist my kids have and I got to share with her how much she has done to help ease my daughter's dental anxiety.
* I'm thankful for some great finds at Meijer this morning. I got a surprise $10 coupon for shopping on Black Friday, they had a cereal my kids really like marked down to 38 cents a box, blueberries were $1/pint... at a time where we're all feeling the crunch of rising prices it was a real blessing and encouragement.
* I'm thankful for the sun shining brightly! No small thing in Michigan in December! We're getting family photos taken after school today and it'll be sunny and in the 50's. Amazing! (We also got to enjoy the beauty of getting 4 inches of snow a few days ago - both weather experiences have been fun!)
* I'm thankful that I had time today to read through everyone else's thankful lists! It's fun to share together.
1. I am thankful for you and your blog, and your readers and commenters. This is very pleasant site to visit and be inspired by. I really appreciate that folks are respectful even when they disagree.
2. The pumpkin ice cream pie my brother brought us for Thanksgiving dessert. I was in the mood for some ice cream yesterday and it really hit the spot.
3. My friend and her husband now have the insurance they needed for his major surgery, good doctors, and a treatment plan.
4. When the products you need are on sale at a really good deal, and you get a good bonus with purchase too! I don't usually go for those things unless I truly needed what I had to buy and this time I did.
5. The beautiful lights on our menorah. (My husband is Jewish and I am Catholic so we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.) I love the candlelight during our evening meal.
6. Bonus! Hubby shared the gelt he won from me when we played the dreidel game. (Not that he could keep the chocolate away from me if he tried... 😉 )
I have stopped receiving all of your posts through the week except Kristen prompted by email. I don't know what happened but I can still find them on Facebook. Anybody else have this problem before and how did you fix it?
Hmm! When I log into my email service, I see that you are still actively subscribed, and the emails to you are showing as delivered. Have you checked your spam filter? I wonder if they are in there!
This really made me remember the times that people have thanked me and I could tell they really meant it. It's true---there's nothing quite like the feeling of being appreciated. I am the worst at letting people know too, even when I do appreciate something immensely, so this definitely makes me want to take the time to thank people in a meaningful way. Thanks for sharing.
I'm thankful....
1)...that after 4 visits from the heating guy, our furnace is finally working. Pretty important when you live in Maine.
2) ....that my son and his wife, who is pregnant, recovered fine from having Covid.
3) ....we haven't had to pay the plow guy yet! We had a lovely snow, but it was only 4 inches, so we could deal with it on our own.
4)....for my husband's part time job.
5)....for this season of advent. The world always seems a little brighter and little kinder, and I love that.
1. I am thankful for a bouquet of flowers a friend brought over while stopping by for tea. She apologized that they were just grocery store flowers but I am thrilled to have them in the middle of winter.
2. That our vehicle is reliable. It has been in the 20 below or colder zone all week and is scheduled to go to 41 below this weekend, so this is a big deal. When it gets this cold ice fog can form, which is really dirty air being kept close to the ground by the cold, and like regular fog it can get difficult to see. We try not to go out when it is like this but sometimes you must and it is nice to have a dependable ride.
3. That our library has a service where they deliver books to the homebound. I am not in that category but I have a very elderly friend who lives alone and is afraid to drive in this weather, plus she is disabled so even summer driving is hard for her. These two ladies who are libary employees show up with books she requests and picks up the ones that she is finished with. They do this all over town, as part of the book mobile service that runs into the more remote parts of town. I am so thankful for her that something like this exists.
4. That the dog we are babysitting for the soldier on TDY has finally calmed down. She is still frantic much of the time but has stopped destroying everything in sight. Honestly, she is with us until February and there was a point where I was seriously considering telling him this was not working. Now I worry that he might die and then we would have to keep her because my husband could not stand the thought of this super anxious dog, who has been abused before the soldier adopted her, being taken to yet another home. (He is not in danger of dying, I am just neurotic.)
5. For a freezer and fridge full of food, so we don't need to go out to forage for food. I am so tired of turkey that anything else sounds good, so no desire to go out to the store or a restaurant.
@Lindsey, Re #4 - that is such a kind thing that you and your husband are doing; thank you for caring for that poor anxious dog!
Wow, your maple leaves are gorgeous -- I thought they were poinsettias at a quick glance! I was thinking that showing my gratitude always makes me feel good.
Thankful . . .
It's Thursday and tomorrow is half day/treat day. The kids go home at 11:30 and we all bring snacks to share in the classroom. Fridays are usually chill and happy 🙂
That I got past my truly horrible mood Monday; checked my own behavior so I could better deal with the behaviors in the room and it really helped. Teacher, modify thyself.
That I work with AWESOME people. Truly dedicated, smart, generous, kind people.
That the big vacation is coming up and I can go visit my mom, brother, in-laws, and daughter in the east 🙂 🙂 🙂
And one more chorus of . . . It's almost Friday!
Thankful Kohls keeps giving me Kohls cash for canceling my orders. I have a handful of small gifts I can pass out now.
Thankful the dog I found the police were able to help locate the parents. Also that the pup was very well behaved and got right in my car. I almost hit her, dark out, dark pavement and dark dog.
Thankful we get 2 weeks off for Christmas. Yay!!!!!!
I'm thankful that my niece is officially being adopted tomorrow.
I'm thankful for so many friends who reached out when they heard I was "quite sick" this week. (It was almost embarrassing.)
I'm thankful for good strong coffee every morning.
I'm thankful for a fun package that arrived in the mail.
I'm thankful that I was finally able to spend time with my sister's family over Thanksgiving. It is delightful to have them back in California after 10 years on the East coast.
@Rebekah in SoCal,
Just saw your post this morning and am REJOICING with you in the adoption of your niece! May she always know how beloved and wanted she is as a precious girl. Happy gotcha day to her and your extended family! What a lovely Christmas gift.
I want to thank all of you for your kind words and wishes last week when I shared that my husband had had a cardiac event. It warmed my heart, and truth be told, I felt a bit teary-eyed. I especially want to thank Kristen for building such a
positive community. I am grateful,
Such a joyful post and for that I am thankful! Thank you for your positive and uplifting presence!!
I hiccuped in the womb and was born while hiccuping. My mum shouted “that’s what it was” after labour when she realised what my rhythmic kicking had been.
You might like This Podcast Will Kill You. We listen on car journeys.
I’m thankful our landlord is letting us stay on while our house purchase is delayed.
I’m thankful for winning an industry award and for all the people who have contacted me to congratulate me and tell me it was deserved.
I’m thankful we’re buying our Christmas tree this evening.
I thankful we are visiting my mum next week.
Thankful for….
1. Beautiful weather for walking
2. Beautiful weather for a boat ride
3. Hubby and I treated to lunch
4. Yummy Pumpkin Pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips
5. Gratitude App