Sunday, November 19, 2017

Ten Things of Thankful

As we approach Thanksgiving this coming week here in the USA, I appreciate having a little time to post to Josie Two Shoes Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. I like the fact that the blog hop stays open from Thursday evening until Tuesday evening. Some weeks are just busier than others, and with not having a very strict time constraint, there is less pressure on the blogger (self imposed). Our administrator is kind and most forgiving, so even if we posted at the very last minute, she would be glad we made it. 






1. A day devoted to being thankful which in the beginning began with being thankful for the harvest and then enjoying the fruits of the harvest and sharing it with others. The native Americans outnumbered the Pilgrims at the first feast. The feast lasted three days. Sometimes a lot of families enjoy leftovers now at Thanksgiving with some dishes that last three days if not shared with other family members and friends to take home with them. This national holiday was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln during the time of the the Civil War. He proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." There were many during that horrible war that were in dire and meager circumstances and probably needed a reminder to thank the Father in spite of those cruel things that mankind does to one another. 

2. The knowledge that the our family will be gathered with loved ones on Thanksgiving Day and perhaps on the day before and/or after.

3. Extended weather forecasts that enable us to know about travel conditions, and to know that at least for now the weather is conducive to safe travel in the various places and routes where our family may be this next week.

4. Restaurants that post on their websites the number of calories in their meals. If you are trying to keep track of calories, this is very helpful. It then becomes up to you whether to partake or not. You are forewarned. Have you found a favorite restaurant that does this?
This link has some helpful information.

5. Being able to wear an outfit today that I haven't been able to squeeze into for longer than I want to admit.

6. Being able to be within 10 minutes of a fitness center and having insurance that covers some of the cost of using the center. The center has a Seca mBCA machine that will do a body scan. I'm looking forward to getting my scan results which will be helpful in knowing which classes and exercises are going to be of most benefit to me. 

7. Continuing to get stronger (which means being able to keep my balance better because my core and legs are getting stronger). 

8. Volunteers who try to console my Mother by sitting by her and attempting to interact with her calmly when she has moments when she is tearful in the nursing center when I am not there. It is such a blessing to know that people are not afraid to "enter into the world" of those who can no longer make sense of their world and can't communicate in a way that makes any sense to others. The following youtube video by Kristin Belfy is the best one I have ever seen about conversing with someone who has Alzheimer's. It is about 15 minutes long.



9. Friendships. A friend treated me to lunch this week. Another friend and I made some visits to other friends. It is wonderful to see the things people have in common as well as to see ways in which they differ. What a dull world it would be if everyone was exactly alike. We all have so much to learn from one another.

10. Being possible to laugh at myself when I say or do something silly because I lack the information I need, or I forget to do something that is vitally important, or I don't hear something correctly. Humor is necessary for living joyfully. Have you been able to laugh at yourself this past week?






10 comments:

  1. Oh Pat - a favourite singer of mine, Jann Arden, has just written a book about her mother and their relationship. She writes these heartbreaking and poignant posts on her fan Facebook page where she talks about how she and her mom get through this new phase and it is difficult to hear. I can't imagine what it is like to not remember who you were and the life you once lived.

    I didn't know about that scan idea to highlight the parts of the body that need the exercise. I am doing yoga these days and I am working hard on my balance and core strength.

    Good luck with it all and have a happy USA Thanksgiving this week.

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    1. I read a couple of her Jann's posts. Thank you. It is good to know about her book too. It seemed like my mind was never still when I first began this journey with my Mom, but thankfully I am able to transverse this course better now thanks to more and more information being available on the subject as well as hearing how others are or have travelled this road.

      The Seca machine is able to determine such things as fat mass, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, hydration, visceral fat, and energy. By knowing these things a fitness coach can determine the kinds of exercises and diet that might be needed to help a person get stronger, control their weight, increase flexibility, and so forth.

      I didn't sign up for the yoga class, but maybe will try that at a later date.

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  2. I am thankful for number 4 as well! It is very handy and helpful on days I want to count and watch my calories.
    https://carinsgratitude.blogspot.com/2017/11/thanksgiving.html

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    1. Having the calories, etc. in bigger print and more visible on cans and packages in the grocery stores is also very helpful. I was surprised and differences in the amount of sodium in various jars of salsa when I was shopping today.

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  3. Number 7 so jumped out as being such a multi-manifesting*. Not only does better strength/health feel better it has a ripple effect outwards on the things we do with others, well beyond our getting from point A to point B without undue effort or demands.
    Have a good Thanksgiving


    *full disclosure: I used that term a short time ago, over at Kerry's and I suspect I'll be using that term on a post... not sure why I like it that much

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    1. I so agree with that because not being able to be strong enough to do certain activities does limit one's ability to join in with certain activities.

      Multi-manifesting is a great term. People really do have attachments to certain words. We know a girl from another country who was an exchange student here. The word "spoon" made her laugh.

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  4. You do indeed have many blessings not only for this week but for your life and your family! I'm glad you will be able to gather together with some of them and I pray the weather holds out. I remember many years of travelling home for Thanksgiving or Christmas in South Dakota in bitter cold on icy roads.

    I do like restaurants that post the calorie/nutritional content of items on their menu. Sometimes it is surprising how unhealthy some of the main offerings are, and we have the opportunity to make better choices. I applaud you for losing weight, working on your strength and balance and now joining an exercise center. Good things will come of it!

    The video you shared really touched my heart. Alzheimer's/Dementia is such a devastating thing for families and not easy for caregivers. Blessed are those who live their lives with understanding and compassion!

    Friends and times shared in person and online are a wonderful source of comfort and joy. You are right that the diversity is what makes it so interesting. We can always learn from each other, and we have far more in common than we sometimes realize.

    I laugh at myself on an almost daily basis, some of the "clever" things I say and do just amaze me. I would like to claim advancing years for being a bit unfocused, but in truth I have always been an "air-head", so I have come to embrace it as just being me!

    Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Pat! XOXO

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    1. Traveling to South Dakota in the winter can be quite treacherous in a snow/ice storm.

      Being able to embrace the person one has become is so much more comfortable than some of those uncomfortable growing spurts one goes through. This is not to say that there aren't uncomfortable growing spurts still ahead, but we've gained some wisdom (hopefully) in getting through them a little better.

      Happy Thanksgiving!

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  5. Nice list of thankfuls. I am sorry your mom is having a tough time though.

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    1. Thank you. It is hard to know that Mom has times when her world seems is so difficult. Thank you for caring.

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