Thankful Thursday | This is when you get stronger
You know how when you are exercising, there's a point where you feel like you really cannot possibly keep going for a moment more?
And you know how often turns out that you actually can do a little bit more?
In a Before Breakfast podcast episode that I listened to this morning, Laura Vanderkam was pointing out how in weight training, the moment you squeeze out that last super difficult rep is precisely when your muscles do most of their getting-stronger work.
When you are pushed to the edge of your current capacity, but you do just a little bit more, you grow. Staying in the easy zone helps us maintain, but it doesn't help us grow or get stronger.
This applies to a whole lot of things in life, such as speaking up in a meeting or doing public speaking, but as I listened to the podcast, I thought about how it applies to thankfulness.
Gratitude is sometimes talked about as a muscle, and while it's not truly a muscle, neurologists have discovered that the more we use our gratefulness brain pathways, the stronger those pathways become.
So, when things are tough and we have to work especially hard to look for the good, I wonder if those are the times when our gratitude "muscles" do most of their growing.
Getting stronger makes "easy" things easier
I can see other analogies to the weight training idea here too.
If I push my muscles when I am lifting weights, the strength I gain helps me in all sorts of situations that are less strain on my muscles. If you regularly do kettlebell swings, then going up the stairs is easy. Carrying heavy bags of groceries is easy. Walking long distances is easy.
And for me, it seems that when I practice gratitude in the hard times, it becomes easier and easier to be grateful in the not-so-hard times of life. I can be thankful, even when things are hard.
And when things are easy? Those strong gratefulness muscles make gratitude as easy as coasting down a hill or lifting a 5-pound kettlebell.
Being weaker makes even "easy" things hard
I really am going to get to the gratefulness list, but first, one more analogy I see: If you never push beyond the point of comfort with your muscles, everyday, "easy" activities, such as getting up out of a chair, become hard.
Weak muscles make everyday life feel exhausting.
I think the same is probably true for gratefulness "muscles". If you don't practice pushing against the human tendency to complain and to only see the negative, then you might be prone to discontentedness even in relatively easy times in life...those times in life that are analogous to the act of getting up out of a chair.
(Just to clarify: I realize there are plenty of reasons that people can't lift weights, and there are plenty of people with medical problems who are sedentary through no choice of their own. My point is not to be judge-y about that; my point is that the, "This is when you get stronger" idea probably applies to gratefulness practices.)
SO!
This week, I'm thankful:
for people who kindly listen to me vent
Sometimes, I just need to get my frustration out, and then I feel calmer, even if the problem is not actually solved.
In fact, once this week, I messaged Mr. FG about a frustration, but first I said, "I'm really upset about something, and I don't need you to fix it; I just need you to listen."
He did indeed just listen, and I felt much calmer after my little vent. 🙂
for my beautiful pearl push pins
I needed some thumbtacks for my new bulletin board, and instead of buying some plain ones, I decided to be kind of extra, and so I ordered some with pearl tops.
My order initially said they wouldn't be here until December (!!), but they arrived yesterday, which was a nice surprise.
that I finally got my exam grade!
It felt like it took forever, but I did get my bone terminology exam back, plus the second exam I had that week.
I missed two on the bone terminology, but I got the two extra credit questions right, so my grade looks like I made no bone mistakes. Ha.
My school philosophy: always try the extra credit! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
that I have two weeks between exams now
Last week I had the bone exam on Monday and then an exam on two more new chapters on Friday. That was....a lot.
It feels quite luxurious to have two whole weeks to learn all the muscle anatomy and physiology. Yay!
that bone knowledge helps with muscle-learning
I can totally see how my work on bone-learning is making this muscle module easier for me.
And I can definitely see how the muscle-learning is going to cement my bone knowledge.
that I like learning about the body
If I hated the topic, all this anatomy and physiology work would feel like a terrible slog. But I think it is so fascinating to learn about how bodies work!
for chatty blog readers
It can't be said too many times: I love that the people who read this blog are talkative! It's so much fun to have things be a two-way conversation rather than just me typing into the void.
that the internet brings people together here
As we've been hearing from international readers in the Meet a Reader series, I am often amazed to think about how widespread this community is. Isn't it wild that people from around the globe all connect here?
And then I think about how impossible this all would have been without the internet! But since we do have the internet, we've gotten to peek into Lea's German life, Efterpi's Greek life, Sonal's Indian life, and so on.
So awesome!
It's been a really time since my Mother passed away a week ago so I'm going to take Kristen's advise and exercise my gratefulness “muscles".
This week I am thankful
1. That the nursing home had lifted the visitation ban and I got to visit my Mom a couple of weeks before she passed
2. That my sister was able to be there to hold Mom's hand when she passed away
3. For my wonderful friends, co-workers, and family that helped comfort us during this difficult time
4. For my nephew, who drove over 11 hours to attend and speak at the funeral
5. For all the stories and memories of Mom that were shared during visitation. It helped to focus on the good times instead of the last year of her life when Alzheimer's disease stole her away from us.
@Beverly, my heart hurts with you in the loss of your mom. And my heart feels warmed as I hear of your community around you and of the good stories you have of your mom. Those memories are priceless.
@Beverly, I'm sorry for your loss and glad you can find things to be grateful for during this fragile time.
@Beverly, I’m sorry to hear about your mother, I’m glad you got to visit her and have family during this time.
@Beverly, oh, big hugs to you. I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. That has to be so tough!!
I am so glad for you that you got to visit her, and that you’ve had so much support since her passing.
@Beverly, What a wonderful tribute to your mom! I’m sorry for your loss.
@Beverly,
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. I'm so glad that you got to see her in person and your sister got to be beside her at the end.
@Beverly, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you have family and good memories to help you through this hard adjustment.
@Beverly, For me, that was the hardest loss because my mama was so awesome and did so much for others. When I miss her, I picture all the lives she changed and it warms my heart. Plus, I like to think she's in Heaven watching over me and guiding me. Hugs to you.
@Beverly, I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. Sending you good thoughts & wishes during this challenging time.
@Beverly, My mom's mother just passed yesterday, and the hospital lifted the visitation ban so she could be with her for a little bit before she passed. It's such a gift to a grieving heart. I'm sorry for your loss, and thankful you have friends who are supporting you well.
@Beverly, I’m sorry about your loss. I admire how you found much to be thankful for, at such a hard time, just as Kristen said. My Mom has been gone for 8 years and I think of her, mostly with joy, multiple times every day.
@Kristen- from here, it looks like my comment is showing up FOUR times! Am I going nuts? I only wrote it once and clicked “send” or “submit” once!
I'm only seeing it once here, and the same is probably true for everyone else as well. Sometimes there's a glitch that shows a particular commenter their own comment multiple times.
Could you try clearing your cache to see if that fixes the problem for you? If it persists, let me know and I can get support to look into it.
@Kristen, what does that mean: clear my cache? Now its a few hours later and I still see it twice, but I see others' comments three or four times. Not all, just a few. I guesss it doesn't matter if it's just me seeing my own or a few other repeats. I just was embarrassed thinking everyone else was having to read mine four times! Lol! Thanks!
It just means to clear your browser history. If you go to Google and type in, "How to clear cache in (insert whatever browser you use)" you should be able to find easy directions.
There was a problem with my theme that was causing this commenting issue, but once readers cleared their history, it was resolved.
So, let me know how it goes after you clear it!
@Beverly, Am so sorry for your loss. Take good care of yourself during this rough time.
@Beverly, I'm sorry for your loss. May God bring you comfort.
@Beverly, I too am sorry for your loss. I hope the happy memories will be a comfort to you and her love will remain in your heart forever,
@Kaitlin, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers for strength, comfort and peace.
@Beverly, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mother.On Nov. 11 it will be a year since my Dad passed. Due to Covid i was not able to travel back East and be with him. THese are tough times. Such good memories you have! It sounds like you have a good support system.
@Beverly, I am so sorry to hear this but glad that so many people remember her and shared how much they love her. Wishing you the best during this tough time.
@Beverly, keeping you and your mom in my thoughts. My condolences to you and your family.
@Beverly, I'm so sorry for your loss. Give yourself time and space to grieve (easier said than done with all the busywork that comes at times like this).
I love Laura Vanderkam's work and have read most of her books. I am thankful for her, Kristen, the FG community, and all the other writers that provide such good info, connection and joy.
This was well-timed, my daughter was up all night because she suddenly became super congested and couldn’t breathe well while lying down. My husband and I took turns holding her upright on the couch all night, and at 4:30am when I was holding her, her breathing was so ragged and she has a barking cough, I felt so worried. Luckily, now that’s she’s been awake and upright for awhile, her breathing sounds almost back to normal and she’s playing and smiling. Almost automatically though, I started finding things to be grateful for in that hard moment. I thought of how grateful I am that this is the first time she’s ever gotten this sick and I thought of when my sister was her age, she developed asthma and even had to be hospitalized so I’m grateful this just seems to be a cold or croup and not something worse. I think my gratitude practice did mean my ‘muscle’ was ready to go when I need it though.
Also grateful this week for rain, we are in the middle of a much needed 7 straight days of rain.
I definitely think that we can train our brains to find the gratitude attitude! Also, I used to work with someone who saw everything through a negative lens, and I had to consciously avoid "catching" that attitude from her. Not only can we strengthen our thankful muscle, we can be aware of losing that "muscle tone" and make a conscious effort to stop it.
1. I'm thankful that my husband's transition to assisted living this week is going pretty well, and that he accepted the change better than I thought he would.
2. I'm thankful for people who care for me and watch out for me. A member of my husband's family couldn't reach me on the phone last night, so she called my daughter, who also couldn't reach me. I had no idea that when I'd got home from work I'd left my phone in the car. At 9:00, my daughter - in nightclothes and house shoes! -- appeared at my door to check on me. I then realized where my phone was and we got it all straightened out.
3. I'm thankful for his caregiver and family that helped move my husband, and especially for his caregiver and the family members who bravely took apart and/or re-assembled a hospital bed without instructions. And it works.
4. I'm very thankful for the lack of steamy weather this week.
5. I'm thankful for whoever popularized the sheet pan meal! I made a salmon meal on a sheet pan last night - so easy, and so little clean up.
@JD, I'm so glad that your DH's transition to assisted living went fairly smoothly and with so much help. Keep hanging in there, m'dear.
And @Beverly, my sympathies on your mother's passing, and I'm glad you were able to visit her before she went. My DH's nursing home staff continues to consider us as a "compassionate care" exception to the current restrictions on indoor visitation, and, believe me, I'm grateful for that.
@JD, Very glad to hear that your husband's transition is going ok! And good point about "catching" negativity - I'm bad @ that so it's a good reminder for me to flex those muscles.
@A. Marie,
Thank you! I am so glad you are allowed to visit in an exception to the rules! I'm allowed to visit my husband as well, and that's a great blessing.
@Suz,
I find it easy to catch, too, so I really have to watch it.
Every time you write about the habit/growth of gratitude, I'm reminded of a gentleman who spoke at a sabbatical workshop that MrA and I attended a couple years ago. The man had just finished his doctoral study on the topic of "Rhythms of gratitude and its affect on family life."
Throughout his studies, it was shown time and again that families who built gratitude-based routines into their daily lives had statistically-significant lower levels of stress.
Our family has "thankfuls" that we do every night at supper where we share things we are thankful for from that day.
Today I'm thankful for...
1. The meet the reader series that has drawn me into the comments.
2. That my kids are well and can attend their school classes/homeschool enrichment today.
3. For a video chat last night with friends across the country.
4. A free entree offer from Chick-fil-A (which is where I am sitting, enjoying my free breakfast as I type this).
5. For six hours today where I have headspace to think and breathe.
You are very right about your reader commun ity! In fact I think I come back very regularly since the responses are so considerate and cheerful.
I am thankful for a few days off, and a very sunny hour in between rainshowers. I am grateful that we are in good health and can be out of doors even if weather conditions are not enticing.
Grateful that we were given a pretty rug by my mother in law (which she designed and made herself) that we will use as tapestry in our living room. She always gave my father in law pride of place and it feels good to give her the centerstage.
I'm grateful that...
1. I have a new computer FOR FREE. I spilled coffee all over my 8 yr old laptop last week and killed it. My husband checked in with his work to see if they were retiring any computers, thinking we could buy one at a reduced price, but they just told him he could have it! So, I now have a MacBook Pro from 2017 vs. 2013!
2. I guess I'm grateful I spilled the coffee? Now I have a newer, more capable computer!
3. I'm grateful we pay for back-up services, so I didn't even flinch at losing files because I knew everything saved in the cloud.
4. I'm grateful my husband is an awesome and is dedicated to his career. If he didn't have great relationships amongst his company, they probably wouldn't have just handed him a computer for free.
5. I'm grateful that I've lived enough life to not stress about breaking my computer. The spill happened, I tried to save the computer, it didn't work, then we moved into solutions. And the whole while I was pretty stoic about the event. For sure, ruining an expensive thing due to human error (especially when it's my error) is not my favorite thing, but I sort of knew the computer was on borrowed time and spending emotional energy (anger, guilt, frustration, etc.) just wasn't worth it.
Oh wow! A free MacBook is such a wonderful blessing!!
@BeckyB, love your whole attitude on this! I am so happy you got a new to you computer!
Today is my birthday and I am especially thankful for my family. Mu husband is a truly wonderful partner and cheerful friend. Our sons are hardworking, successful and good family men. I’m proud of all of them and feel lucky to be among them. It makes all things possible.
@Erika JS,
Happy birthday!
@Erika JS, happy birthday! I hope it's filled with all of your favorite things.
@Erika JS,
Happy Birthday!!! May this be the year all your dreams come true.
@Bee, @MB in MN, @JD,
Thanks for the kind birthday wishes!
I am thankful that I teach young kids, there are so many moments of teaching that are difficult yet wonderful. I am so fortunate I love the work I do, even as I approach retirement--maybe because I see an end in sight, I am even more grateful.
I am thankful for a wonderful husband who calls me on his way home from work to check in, sometimes I vent, sometimes he vents, but inevitably we laugh about something--it's not just negative energy. After 30 years, we still make each other laugh.
I am thankful that my daughter is moving forward in her life, she's sometimes anxious and depressed but she is still moving forward, so blessed that that is the case.
Coffee!
I am thankful to Dorinda, for her comments about building a gratitude based routine into our lives. My daughter, and her family, used to talk about "roses and thorns" at dinner time. Each person would say what was roses in their life and also thorns, if there were any. They stopped doing that a while back and I will remind them to think about restarting it, especially in these more stressful times.
I recently moved into a retirement community and am thankful for the residents who have offered friendship. I am grateful that I now life closer to my daughter and 2 of my grandchildren.
I am grateful for the beautiful skyscapes I see out my windows, now that I look out over the treetops.
I am grateful for modern medicine that produces vaccines.
I am thankful for my local library.
@Alison Y, thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comment. <3
And yes, we do similar to "thorns and roses" as we have snacks after school. The boys share their "high, low, buffalo, and hero" with each other.
Buffalo = surprise in your day (we usually don't expect to see a buffalo!)
Hero = someone who helped you during the day
My family is on a journey of being emotionally healthy and I'm glad to share pieces of what we're learning with others. 🙂
@Dorinda, I love your "high, low, buffalo, and hero"!
For being included in my son in law’s birthday event - his extended family have welcomed me with open arms and it’s great to have those new connections. For dinner with my son who was visiting our city for work. For the physical strength to unpack and organize after moving house, and the funds to make needed improvements. For the beautiful Fall weather, it’s great to be living in a location with distinct seasons.
I am thankful:
That my son and granddaughter, who both have Covid, are recovering with only mild symptoms.
That my other older granddaughter, Olivia, who was born with a heart defect (CC-TGA) is 10 now and doing great. An upper level gymnast, cheerleader, and straight A student. Her bi-annual echocardiogram this morning was good.
That at the one-year mark of my retirement, my side business is doing pretty good. Always room for growth, but it’s pretty steady.
That while things aren’t always so smooth financially for my husband and me, we have food, own a home, have four children and six grandchildren, and our pup Shiner. Covid has decimated my husband’s small business but some hopeful things are happening.
@SandyH, I'm sorry for your challenges and glad that there is some hope in the mix. And Olivia - wow!
@SandyH, The story of your granddaughter, Olivia, is so very wonderful to hear! All good thoughts go out to you meeting challenges with such grace.
Plenty to be grateful for this week:
1) Rain in California. We're in a drought, and really need this
2) My parents, for coming to watch our kids, so we can get away for our anniversary. Adult time together is so priceless & really critical in maintaining a healthy marriage, for us.
3) For my first day back in the office, since March 2020. It was so nice to reconnect with coworkers, & have real life chatting & useful meetings & discussions. I had no idea how much I missed that "vibe", until I was back.
4) For both of my boys, for really enjoying time with my parents. They both came to the airport to pick them up & are always so genuinely excited to see them.
5) For our anniversary getaway. Grateful we can take paid time off of work, grateful we can afford a trip, grateful we have a relationship where we want to spend time together. Super blessed.
@Hawaii Planner, happy anniversary and happy travels!
I love the analogy of getting stronger through doing a few extra reps or seconds of something. When asked how she got so strong in high school, a field hockey teammate told us she waited until she felt like she couldn't do anymore and then she did at least 10 more seconds.
My thankfulness is centered on my Grandmother, who passed away yesterday:
1) I'm thankful for Grandma's long life (104!). She lived through the Influenza Pandemic, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII and the Covid pandemic (okay...maybe not *through* the pandemic, but she lived to see it and did not die from the virus.) Even into her mid-late 80s she was traipsing through the woods with a walker right after hip surgery, despite there being a path within sight.
2) I'm thankful I got to spend a lot of time with Grandma over the years and that we used the time we had together well. As she and Grandpa aged we started asking the questions we wanted to ask of them, and learned things from her (baking her masterful depression era cookie Chocolate Jumbles) that my mom didn't know how to do well enough to want to teach us.
3) I'm thankful I'm able to go to her funeral. It's quite a ways from me and I have enough money to get last minute flights, and a good support system that will help my husband manage the family while I'm gone.
4) I'm thankful I get to see all 5 of my siblings at the funeral. It's been 6 years since we've been together.
@Kaitlin, I'm sorry for your loss; what wonderful memories of your grandmother! I get so intrigued by depression-era recipes; so creative (and I like the sound of those Chocolate Jumbles). My last grandmother passed long ago but I still use her old enamel colander every day to store our fruit. I'm thankful for my memories too!
@Kaitlin, I'm sorry your grandma died. Her longevity is amazing!
Oh wow, 104! What a blessing to have such a long life. But still, big hugs to you because I know it is never easy to lose a grandparent.
@Kaitlin, I've never heard of chocolate jumbles, so googled them. Oh, my goodness! How did I miss these! So many variations for so many years. From quite a few countries with quite a few different name variations. I never knew! I would like to make your grandmother's recipe in her honor, to be my first chocolate jumbles, if you could share and it's OK with Kristen. Then I will have a jumble standard to measure other jumbles by! My grandma's treasured recipes mostly consisted of Jello with stuff in it, or cream of mushroom soup casseroles from magazines or packages.
Oh yes, go for it! Happy to have Kaitlin share it.
@Jenny, You are so kind! Truthfully this recipe goes back to Grandma's MIL. Grandma learned how to bake them (and perfected it, I might add) for Grandpa, who to his dying day savored dipping the in milk as much as any kid would. I've added more details than were included in the recipe my grandma used. It's definitely a "by feel" recipe.
Chocolate Jumbles
3-4 cups flour, plus extra for rolling out
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
2/3 Cup hot water
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla
1. In a small bowl combine cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and 3 cups of flour. Set aside.
2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Heat water to 200 or near boiling. While chocolate is melting, and water is heating, cream shortening, margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add slightly cooled chocolate and molasses to creamed mixture until well combined. Add vanilla.
3. Using the lowest setting on the mixer stir in 1/3 of the flour mixture. Slowly drizzle in 1/2 of the hot water. Repeat, stirring in 1/3 of the flour mixture and drizzling in the remainder of the hot water. Stir in the final amount of flour, adding additional flour as necessary to make the dough managaeable for rolling out.
4. Dust counter with flour and roll out half the dough, cutting dough with donut shape. Bake at 350F for 8-12 minutes or until the top looks dry.
5. Ice cookeies with a confectioners' sugar+water glaze
A few notes: I use butter instead of the suggested shortening and margarine; Sometimes I chill the dough; At Christmas Grandma always included red and green sprinkles on the icing.
One more note: We all called them jumbos until about 10 years ago. I learned today that my Mom didn't know they're actually called Jumbles until she was an adult because Grandpa called them Jumbos.
I am thankful this week for new hot water heater. Last Friday our hot water heater went out and it was pretty miserable trying to bathe three small children by warming water on the stove. My father in law was able to install it so we didn’t have to pay for labor! Yay!
Oh man, being without hot water is so hard. Yay for a new heater!
I am thankful for yet another wonderful fall day. I've had windows open, sat outside with a friend, will be leaving to walk with another friend soon.
I am grateful for friends. We don't live near any family members beyond our daughter. Friends are the people you choose to have in your life and all of them make the world a better place.
I am thankful for modern appliances. I am thankful we have not had any issues with them in recent years. I love that it's said it is more energy efficient to run the dishwasher than to wash dishes by hand. The dishwasher does a great job of getting pots and pans and baking dishes clean. I also truly cherish the wonder of refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, microwave ovens, and even the vacuum cleaner.
I am grateful that I have a close relationship with my husband. It's been fun being empty nesters the past several years.
I am thankful for this exercise. It is good to look at the bright side of things when possible. I loved Kristen's analogy about weight lifting and gratitude. I think she's right.
@K D, While sitting at a laundromat many years ago, I chatted with a woman who said she would rather have a washing machine than a refrigerator.
I might not go that far, but I quite understood her point.
OK, I am in. This week I am thankful for:
* that I have learned how to listen more than offer advice to my son who has a hard time with "life".
* the museum at which I volunteer. Wonderful people. Wonderful compadres.
* I keep finding new people, one at a time, with whom I would like to grow a friendship.
* my health, as it is. Not perfect, but I hear about people who have it so much worse.
* all the opportunities I have to engage in life - my volunteer work, my weaving, my keeping house, my cooking/baking. Never enough time for everything!
* the crisp cool fall weather. I love it.
Thankful for a lot today.
1. Is there anything better than discovering a new terrific new author who has a series, so you know you have lots of great reading days in front of you????
2. There is only one dairy left in Alaska, most of our milk is shipped up from Outside. This dairy is located about 100 miles from Fairbanks and I am happy to spend a little extra to support a local small ranch and get milk that tastes better than long distance milk does. It is so creamy!
3. The northern lights have been out with a vengence. Last night the sky was brilliant with dancing green lights.
4. That our van is so reliable. I have had vehicles that died at stop lights or refused to start in the morning, but this elderly van never leaves us stranded even at the coldest temperatures. It is the first vehicle we have had that easily accomodates my wheelchair plus the dogs.
5. That we have had snow and the temperatures are below frezing day and night, but our roads are clear of ice. Wintger driving can be hair-raising, so it is such a pleasure to have dry streets this late into the season.
6. That the days are still getting shorter.
I will probably never have your #6 on my thankful list! lol
My husband has been scheduled for surgery on his rotator cuff under general anesthesia for a few weeks now. He finally had the surgery on Tuesday and I am so glad it's over.
Three years ago a friend of ours went in for a fairly routine heart valve replacement. He was very anxious about it and we all teased him about his upcoming operation, because that's the kind of relationship we had. Unfortunately, he never awoke, but had a stroke during the surgery. He was only 70.
I didn't tell my 79 year old husband but I have been sick with fear since surgery was decided upon. I am so thankful it was successfully completed.
I am breathing a sigh of relief along with you!
@Anne, I'm glad your husband's surgery went well. Surgery is super scary. I hope he continues to heal in the upcoming days.
@Anne, I’m thankful for your husband’s successful surgery…so scary when it’s a loved one. I’m glad for you both that it’s over.
I love to read!! Not a super biggie, but I am thankful I found a new series (to me)- the Irish Country Doctor series by Patrick Taylor and have so enjoyed this new read/entertainment.
@Nan, I love the Irish Country Doctor series too!
I'm thankful that:
*my children and husband planted a bunch of daffodil bulbs and irises for me. (The girls and I separated the bulbs we already had to get the "extras", and my in-laws gave us their extra irises.)
*my son finished college essays today.
*another son shot his first deer today. He's been hunting enough years to learn that "huntin' ain't gettin' ".
*we will have the extra (and healthy) meat that said hunting venture provides.
*my feet don't hurt so much now that I do stretches in the morning before I get out of bed.
*my husband has a day off today.
*the sun is shining, the flowers are pretty, the air is warm, and my heart is happy.
*another son finished a math book and is starting on a new one. Sure, it's the middle of the year, but it still feels like a miniature fresh start.
*I like my friends and family.
*I get to go out to lunch with friends tomorrow.
@Jody S., I hear you on the college essays! My daughter submitted all 10 of her N0v. 1 due date apps last week. She still has 3 to go with later dates, but I am very happy to have the first bunch marked complete in her application trackers. I'm also thankful that we can afford to submit more apps than my kids have in the past since we didn't do many college visits with covid. Fingers crossed for your son that he gets into the programs he wants!
congrats on the exam results!! It's such a good feeling when you get confirmation that hard work pays off.
This week I am thankful for:
- the opportunity to learn: I have been feeling a bit out of my depth recently in terms of work. Luckily, it's not so much that clients notice. I'm in that sweet spot where I am just out of my comfort zone enough to learn something without being too stressed. So while its uncomfortable, I know this is a growth phase for me!
- the stack of breakfast burritos in the freezer. A satisfying, hot breakfast every day that takes no time to prepare!
- yesterday it was raining and I had to go a bunch of places, luckily I was able to get to all places via train->covered walkway->office building so I didnt get wet at all!
I think I'm often too chatty in my comments, so it's good to hear that you like them! 🙂
Thankful that we could (finally!) attend an in-house band concert for our high school daughter tonight. There was only 1 concert last year and it was outdoors.
Thankful that the concert was in our long-awaited new auditorium. The old auditorium was awful and not nearly large enough for all who wanted to attend.
Thankful that 2 of my siblings and their spouses came to the concert. Fun for all of us and nice for my daughter to feel supported.
Thankful that even though there were many frustrating circumstances surrounding the care given today to my last patient, we were still able to give helpful input to the husband for caring for his wife as he takes her home. He has been fighting an uphill battle as a caregiver and hopefully we have lightened his load a little.
Thankful that my coworkers seem to like me even when I'm grouchy.
NO SUCH THING as too chatty in the comments. Have at it!
What type of nursing do you do?
I’m thankful for this post today. I read this blog regularly, but today the gratefulness theme really resonated with me. I have so much to be grateful for, yet find myself worried and stressed so often. It’s time for me to start exercising my gratefulness muscle, and I’m going to encourage my husband to do the same! Thank you, Kristen and all the commenters!
Oh, I'm so glad it was timely for you! And good luck on your gratitude work. I really do find that it gets easier and easier the more I do it.
I too returned to school at a later age to become a Physical therapist assistant. I was married and had youngish children as well. It was hard but I made it and loved my job. In hindsight I wish I had not been so hard on myself regarding grades. I would be so disappointed if I made less than a B. I’m here to tell you that good grades did not make me a better clinician. That compassion and kindness lies within you and is God given. You’re going to be a phenomenal nurse. I know it!
1. Improving health after a sick streak in our family.
2. This beautiful and peaceful place we are staying at a few days. I love the cool bird here! God's creativity never ceases to amaze me!
3. A little break from schooling my kids, not only do they enjoy it, but I do too.
4. Internet and technology.
5. Cold, clean drinking water.
Thanks so much! My husband and I made a promise to take 12 hikes this year…one a month. We live where it’s cold so we have doubled up on hikes some months. Your analogy with the muscle strengthening was encouraging! Keep up the good writing ✍️
Re chatty blog readers…it is nice to get a response. I guess I need to comment more often if I want to get a response huh?
1. I’m thankful for fall…my favorite time of year. The leaves in the woods out our living room windows are still slightly colorful, but I like it when the trees become bare and we can see up the hill as the deer make their way into our back yard in search of their daily fare.
2. My hubby bought me two pairs of camo sweats and I like them a lot. (I think I may have mentioned that previously.) Hmmm, not frugal though!
3. Thankful for time spent living near my cousin. She’s leaving tomorrow on the first part of her move to be near her two sons…also thankful she’ll be near them again.
4. Thankful for a visit from my niece. It was fun to spend time with her.
5. Most of all…thankful for my hubby and that so far we get to spend these later years in life living quietly and enjoying our home.