Three Things...Gratitude Thread

[1420Elexismc]

Music...so many talented and beautiful voices/instruments out there
The hearts of the kind people in my life
Sitting at a gathering with the people that matter the most to me-could be a holiday, a party, or a impromptu meet up with some friends

 

[newski_mom]

New beginnings - we attended one of DD1 best friends from high school's weddings this weekend. I love seeing the love on everyone's faces. Such a beautiful event!

Music - I love thinking about how much talent it takes from so many people to give us music to listen to on the radio - from the people who write it, sing it, record it, play it for us, etc. So grateful for their beautiful talent!

Oceans - so peaceful at times and mighty at times

 

[bluecastle]

Sunday
Comedians Jerry Seinfeld Jeff Foxworthy just name a couple
TV shows especially the older ones I Love Lucy big favorite of mine
Funny movies I can watch them over and over

Sunset
Mountains
Oceans
Kids sleeping specially when their babies !!

I know the subject has changed, but you reminded me of 3 movies that I can watch again and again and always laugh:
Galaxy Quest
Young Frankenstein
My Cousin Vinny

 

[bluecastle]

3 beautiful things I am grateful for:

1. Poetry; there was a poem I read on FB this week that brought me to tears. Beautiful words can reach the soul and heart.

2. Music, of course, especially classical. Forever grateful that I was able to play Chopin on the piano, not just listen to others play his music. (Of course, I loved hearing others play all the little fast notes at a tempo I could never reach!)

3. Nature, especially trees and waterfalls. I am mostly a stay at home person, but when I do spend time in nature, I love it. One of the reasons WL is my favorite resort is because of its setting and I could spend hours just wandering around AK without going on a single ride.
Honorable mention to the Polynesian in the 90’s. Loved that large fountain in the lobby and the lush landscaping.

 

[Tink-osophy]

FUNNY
Laughing with young children. It's one of the best, freeing and uplifting things in the world!!!
Laughing out loud at movies/tv. For me, that's not usually the parts where they're trying (too hard) to make me laugh; but the slightly lighter or more spontaneous stuff.
The FRIENDS blooper reels. Lisa Kudrow was especially good at laughing uncontrollably!

BEAUTIFUL
In an attempt to narrow this one down, I've gone with a Disney theme...

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And, When You Wish Upon a Star

 

[Tink-osophy]

Dad jokes- I love a good dad joke. The cheesier, the better!

That was going to be my number 4!!

Me - I think I am funny. I will come up with off the wall funnies with the family. They will groan a bit but I say still get a chuckle. Then again, maybe I am not so funny

I love it when people are tickled by their own jokes!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Beautiful things I'm grateful for:

Bright-colored flowers
New England in autumn
My two gorgeous cats

 

[mumto3girls]

1. Peony bushes—about to bloom.
2. Lilac bush—blooming now
3. Irises—still coming up, but starting to see flower buds.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Mountains - When I was going through the worst of my cancer care, the Rockies were the image I kept in my mind to try and keep me focused and help me push through. I knew if I got through it, I'd be seeing the mountains that summer. Although...We really shouldn't have traveled with her team that year. DD15 wound up in a boot from a small fracture in her leg a few weeks out and wouldn't be playing, but we went anyway. I cried a little when I saw the mountains that summer.

A pretty hit - As I sit here nursing a wound over my eye (was too close to the C screen while throwing batting practice for DD15 yesterday), I'm reminded of one of my favorite softball moms and us yelling "It's a BEAUT!!!" when someone gets a pretty hit/bunt. It's all very Clark Griswold, but it even gave me a little chuckle yesterday as we were trying to clean me up. I may have been bloodied up, but the hit was a beaut!

My girls - It's really been hitting me a lot lately as I work on all of the different kinds of senior pics for DD17. All that's left for me to take are cap and gown pics and actual pics at graduation. I was hit with the same kind of emotions earlier this spring when DD15 had her first photoshoot with the school team and we did all of the "where it started/where we are now" collages.

Awesome post! Cheers to you!

 

[SpaceMan5]

My wife - inside and out
My kids - inside and out
Newborns - even the ones "that only a Mother would love"

 

[pixie3]

Creeks - especially when the sun is dancing on them
My children
The night sky

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Tues, 4/30) - 3 acts of kindness you've been grateful for

 

[slo]

Good Morning!

#1 - When someone holds the door for me - there was a thread that caused a stir about men holding a door for a woman. I think it’s very kind and I always say thank you.

#2 - When I’m at the gym and someone says good morning or hi - it’s always the same cast of characters at the gym (I’m part of that cast of characters - LOL). We don’t know each others names, but we always say hi. It’s nice when I’m doing my cardio and someone will come up to me long enough to say good morning - it such a kind & friendly way to start the day.

#3 - My neighbor always keeping an eye on our house - It’s comforting to know he does this, especially when we’re on vacation. The most kind time was during the great polar vortex of 2019 - it was like 35-40 below zero. We were in Florida and our house alarm went off at 1:00am. He got out of bed, went to the house to turn it off and the garage door was frozen to the ground. He then had to do whatever he did to get it to open and then went in the house to make sure no one was inside and to turn off the alarm. You can’t get a lot more kind than that.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

My awesome neighbor who is always doing things for me even when I don’t ask and is so spicy when I try to give him a thank you gift

My salty boss - he can be mean as the devil and extremely generous- he’s always been willing to help when help is needed no questions asked - he dies this for a lot of people and no one but me knows this

My dear friend on the DIS - she is like a sister to me and always there for me! Uplifting caring and thoughtful and understanding ! Not judgmental I try to do the same !!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

God's kindness, mercy, and Presence with me always, in all. His additional blessing of this time with my dad.

Our next door neighbor who has been a very good friend and faithful encourager especially these days.

Kindness daily of dear each of you

 

[leebee]

We have some awesome neighbors who help DH with the shoveling and mowing. Of course, I have realized this is because we have become the "old folks" in the neighborhood, hahaha, but I sure do appreciate the help!

When DH had knee surgery and it got badly infected (he almost lost his leg) and was in a nursing home for 6 weeks for 24/7 IV antibiotics... I was so freakin' stressed all the time. However, people were incredibly kind when they heard the story. People went to visit him regularly, offered to feed our cats so I could stay overnight in the nursing home with him, shoveled my driveway when we had a storm that dumped 4 feet of snow on us, added special treats to my grocery purchases for him (Trader Joe's, awesome, kind people). Generous acts of true kindness to help alleviate my stress, to show some support for both of us... and I'm endlessly grateful, even 7 years later.

Sometimes, my TAs take over for me. I manage the organic chem labs and it's my responsibility to oversee the TAs and the labs, and I'm supposed to be there if there is a lab in session, even if I am not teaching. There are times when they know I'm struggling (especially since having a knee replacement last summer), when they can see how tired I am, and try to help out. They'll do some of my grading, teach my lecture, cover my lab when I'm teaching, or just say "we've got this, go home." It's not up to them to do this, it's not their responsibility, but I really appreciate it when they voluntarily increase their workload because they worry about me, can see I'm weary, or just plain like to "have my back!"

 

[Tink-osophy]

Mountains - When I was going through the worst of my cancer care, the Rockies were the image I kept in my mind to try and keep me focused and help me push through. I knew if I got through it, I'd be seeing the mountains that summer. Although...We really shouldn't have traveled with her team that year. DD15 wound up in a boot from a small fracture in her leg a few weeks out and wouldn't be playing, but we went anyway. I cried a little when I saw the mountains that summer.

A pretty hit - As I sit here nursing a wound over my eye (was too close to the C screen while throwing batting practice for DD15 yesterday), I'm reminded of one of my favorite softball moms and us yelling "It's a BEAUT!!!" when someone gets a pretty hit/bunt. It's all very Clark Griswold, but it even gave me a little chuckle yesterday as we were trying to clean me up. I may have been bloodied up, but the hit was a beaut!

My girls - It's really been hitting me a lot lately as I work on all of the different kinds of senior pics for DD17. All that's left for me to take are cap and gown pics and actual pics at graduation. I was hit with the same kind of emotions earlier this spring when DD15 had her first photoshoot with the school team and we did all of the "where it started/where we are now" collages.

 

[Tink-osophy]

ACTS OF KINDNESS

I always appreciate those little day-to-day gestures. Like when someone lets you into a lane of traffic or stops to hold a door open.

I was staying at a hotel for a few weeks for work, once, and when the chef heard I liked a particular dessert (never on the menu), he made it for me 'specially. Some people are so thoughtful.

Spontaneous kindness from children - homemade bracelets, a much-treasured(!) chocolate shared, a handwritten note or a picture, a flower and, particularly, little gestures of encouragement and caring. They're all so sincere from younger children, aren't they?!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Donations to School Groups - We recently did a carwash fundraiser for our school's choir booster organization. It was at one of those drive thru wash places where many of the patrons have memberships. The company was already generously donating 50% of all sales for any patrons using a choir specific QR code. On top of that, they allowed us to set up camp near the vacuums so the kids could drum up more donations by helping patrons spot dry, clean glass, vacuum, etc. It was really some of the individual people that got me. I can't tell you how many people either skipped their membership and bought a singular wash on Saturday just to give to our group. Many others used their memberships, didn't want the kids helping with their vehicles, but still donated whatever cash they had on hand. Some went as far as leaving the carwash to go to an ATM and coming back with cash for donation. It's events like this that really restore my faith in humanity.

Our neighbors - They're around my parents' ages. They've been in their house since the 70s and have seen all kinds of people come and go. They really don't know us that well and it's normally just a wave in passing, but they are so sweet and kind. It's always been just some random compliments when I'm putting out holiday decorations. Recently, they popped by out of the blue because they saw DD17s high school senior sign in our yard. They had a gift for her! It was so random and unexpected, but so nice and generous.

Time Off - I just asked for some time tomorrow morning because DD15s permanent retainer is already coming loose. I was granted this time without any guilt trips or push back. This has been pretty much the norm for the last 10 years. It reminded me of a prior management situation that wasn't so kind and compassionate. I remember an old boss reprimanding me in a conference room because I didn't plan a bladder infection around her schedule.

 

[mumto3girls]

1. My neighbor takes care of my dog when we travel on weekends for DD’s sport. She’s 22 now with a good job, but she still does it even though she probably doesn’t need the money anymore. I do try to pay well because I appreciate that she’s still willing to do it and my dog has always known her and is comfortable with her.
2. My mom was getting towards the end of her Alzheimer’s disease during COVID. We knew she probably needed a nursing home and were desperate to get her vaccinated. My sister got both parents appointments and when the day came my mom refused to get in the car. My dad went and another sister sat with our mom. We get another appointment for mom, this one close to home, and I was the one supposed to get her in the car. I finally succeed and we head to the rec center. We were worried about how she’d behave when we were waiting so I went in ahead with all of her paperwork, ID, dad had medical POA which I took in. I explained that I wanted to check her in and would physically wait inside and when they were ready for her my dad would bring her in. I explained she was unlikely to keep a mask on and could be really restless and sometimes a bit agitated so we wanted to minimize her time with others. The woman checking me asked me to wait and went to talk to a nurse. I thought they were going to turn us away, but the nurse came over and asked a few questions and then told me she would go to the car and vaccinate my mom there. I burst into tears when she said that and am tearing up now typing it. I told her on the way to the car that my mom was a nurse and this nurse led with that and was so good with her. Even got my mom to consent on her own. I asked for her name because I wanted to write to her employer and explain how grateful we were but she asked me not to. Said it was really against the rules to go to the car, but she decided to make an exception.
3. When we went back for dose 2, much the same. Mom refused to get in the car. Swearing and yelling at me. We gave her the “emergency medicine” we had for when she was combative, but it needed time to take effect. My sisters and I wanted my dad to give it to her earlier, but he was always reluctant to use it. We were a later appointment and worried they would close. We couldn’t find a phone number for the pop up clinic so I went ahead to find out the hours while my dad stayed with mom trying to get her in the car. I got there and they were almost done, but said if we got her there, even if they were packing up, they would do it. My dad somehow got her in the car quickly and the nurse went out in the pouring rain on a cold day and gave her the second dose. They were amazing and so kind. Angels on earth.