Three Things...Gratitude Thread

[slo]

TGIF Friends

#1 - My boss - He’s my only coworker now, which is great! We’ve also become good friends so we have a lot of laughs throughout the day. He does his thing, I do my thing and there’s no drama ever.

#2 - A friend from a past job - I used to consider him one of my very best friends and he’s DD26’s godfather. I still love him very much, but I don’t see him anymore - I’ve come to find out his wife is not happy about our relationship. The last time we met for lunch, he told me how he had to lie to her about seeing me, which instantly made me sad and uncomfortable - like we’re having an affair. I told my DH about this, and he told me that my friend has to figure this out and it’s not my concern, which is true, he has to be honest to his wife. The last time we attempted lunch I got stood up, and he said he got held up at work, which I believe. I told him I wasn’t mad and we’ll have to reschedule soon - that was over a year ago. I miss him terribly, because we’ve been close friends since we were 16 years old and we’ve been through a lot together.

#3 - Another friend from same past job as above - Before he moved to Arizona, he was such a great friend to both my DH & I. At one time, him and my DH got a job at the same place and became my DH’s coworker. When he worked with me, I made him my assistant manager of the store I managed, and I never had to worry about anything when I was away, especially when I had my first baby.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Coworkers - I had sone amazing ones at a job I had 30 years ago - we started out at 30 people family business grew to almost 100 and he sold the business which was so sad for us workers and so for the owner !! I made some lifelong friends at this job and one of them helped me 11 years later obtain my current job
This was one job where you could say we were family - especially when we were small I learned a lot I had a great time they were wonderful people I have lots of fun memories I can’t single out three but will say there was only 4 of us making up the whole Accounting dept we eventually grew to 5
We celebrated birthdays by going to lunches and having little parties we had Christmas parties in peoples homes it was just a wonderful group of people we all met up and had lunches on the weekends we did things outside of work were all friends
Even after we got sold to the new company not all of us went to the new company but we all stayed in contact for many many years a few of them I’m still in contact with them now
If I ever needed anything I could contact one of them right now and I know they would be there for me it was the one job I had in my 40 years that I didn’t have any corporate bs and kid back stabbing games etc it was fun productive nice decent people - I was devastated when we got sold because we got sold to a corporation that did not want anything to do with us and they proceeded to eventually lay us off it became a very hostile work environment which was really sad
But my take away was some lifelong friends - they always say don’t make friends with your coworkers because they’re not your friends but this job was an exception to that rule

 

[TippyThomas]

There is a team of 3 veterinarians that all donate their time, energy, knowledge, and money to the animals at the shelter where I volunteer. Without the wonderful things they do, many animals would have to be put down and others would live lives in much less comfortable situations. I'm so, so thankful that I get to witness the amazing things they do. That I get to play a part in such an amazing group of people is a wonderful and uplifting experience every day. I know not exactly coworkers, but they're the closest I have to them.

So very grateful and thankful for all they do. I make sure to let them know it regularly as well.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good morning friends

Dear Leebee thank you for the Cheerios memory. ITA. Cereal (I don't like it soggy) is too crunchy/chewy for me now. I sure loved Cheerios for many years. I even had a Cheerio heart shaped bowl and yellow T shirt. Thanks for the good memory

Ellen a fellow church member and friend I was blessed to work/volunteer at VBS one summer with. We had such fun planning, shopping, and most of all learning from God's precious kids.

An older teacher named Sharon who shared much kindness and enouragement with me a young preschool director so many years ago.

Jean, a lovely elderly coworker at a small town laundromat was a spitfire and great to know. At one time we had another friend June who also worked at the laundromat. June was from Australia and had a great accent. Many years and miles away later I met at church an elderly friend not from out of country but I believe Midwest. Mary semi resembled June in appearance and sure did in faith and heart.

 

[leebee]

Co-workers...

My TAs. I manage the organic chemistry labs at UMaine, which includes teaching a couple of sections, but the rest of the sections are taught by grad students. I love this group that I have right now. I get to "manage" the TAs also, and this is a great group. We are about to start our 4th year of working together. Not only are they smart and responsible, but they are great people, and we hang together quite a bit in the building, and occasionally get together at other times; some of them come to my home for THanksgiving and Christmas dinners, for example. I am old enough to be their grandmother (gulp!) but they treat me like a friend and co-worker. They always have my back, happy to cover for me when I have a home or health situation and can't teach my section, and will help me out when there are issues in the lab, too. I couldn't do my job without this great group of TAs (and trust me, not all have been as willing to help in prior years). I really feel like we are pulling the wagon in the same direction, together.

I really enjoyed my co-workers when I worked in South San Francisco. We were doing Alzheimer's research, so felt like our jobs "had a purpose." We were all in our early 30s, so same interests, same stage of life, same concerns. We did happy hours, went to ball games, cookouts at each other's homes. They were a fun bunch to work with, although that was 30+ years ago and we've all lost touch now..

A third one is hard... I'll go with a dance mom who has become a great friend. We knew each other because our girls took dance classes together, but as the girls became more serious about their training, we spent more time together in places besides the dance studio: Driving to summer intensives, driving/spending the weekends at dance competitions, working on stage crew for various productions, serving together on boards of directors, etc. We have become very good friends and even though our daughters are now adults with very separate, different lives, Diane and I still get together about once a month and message/text all the time. We are good friends and always will be!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I buy mostly name-brands for my soap products (Dawn, All, etc) as I feel they do a better job.

Oh, I'm with you on Dawn! I am loyal to Dawn Platinum and Dawn Powerwash. They are one of the cases where they not only do a better job, but you need significantly less product to get the job done. In the end, Dawn saves me money.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Work People-

One of my old bosses (current company) - When I first met her, she was a senior level coworker. She became my team leader and then my supervisor. I'd have to go off on a multitude of tangents to begin to scratch the surface on why she is so special. Some of the big things...she treated us like humans with human needs and issues, she pushed back against the higher powers insisting on excessive micromanagement, and she genuinely cared about us as people outside of the workplace. Even after she took a promotion in a different department, she still would reach out to me for each and every FL hurricane to make sure my parents were OK. In fact, even since her really significant promotion outside of our division, she still does that. When I interviewed to join her group prior to the big promotion (was beat out by a fellow department member and friend), she agreed to sit down for a one-on-one afterwards to help coach me with where I could have done better in my interview. In the end, she let me know about another job with a neighboring group that would be opening up. I got that job!

Old boss/manager (restaurant) - I'm going to try and do this and not get into anything too controversial. I was working that day as a hostess and cashier. Later in the lunch rush, a couple of men were getting out of a truck. The manager on duty that day pulled me aside before they entered and told me to come to him if there were any problems. At the time, he didn't tell me who they were. I certainly had no clue. The men seemed pleasant enough when they came in, but when I seated them, one of the guys took my arm and told me "I know what you are. Don't come back over here." -All with a wink and a smile. Said manager on duty and I had a good working relationship, even though others thought he might be tied to a few too many regional stereotypes for such things. In any event, I told him what they said...he walked over, asked them to leave, and to never return. The owners praised both him and myself for putting human decency above profits. Without naming groups, the man that spoke to me was a very high ranking leader in a well known hate group. I know this crosses into some dark stuff that usually doesn't wind up in the gratitude thread, but sometimes the biggest gratitude comes from standing up for the right thing in dark situations.

My old work friend - We don't always chat regularly and our relationship has had its ups and downs, but we're usually there for each other in times of need and stress. During big storms, we're always chatting and talking each other down from hysteria. I also try and help her with travel since it's more foreign to her and she's wanting to get out more now that her kids are grown and out of the house. She deals with a very serious chronic illness, she has a number of family issues, and her mom passed last year. So, there's just always a lot on her plate. She was my go-to while we were in CA and DD17 was home.

 

[mumto3girls]

1. My DH. We have been coworkers several times. We met in high school (went to different high schools) when we worked the same after school/weekend job. For the last 17 years we’ve owned a business together so coworkers again.
2. An older man that worked at the same place DH and I worked at. He was well past retirement age, but had to work because the company he spent most of his life working at went bankrupt and he lost his pension. Despite that terrible turn of events, he was always a positive, uplifting man who saw the good in young high school kids and always had a kind and wise word.
3. There’s a woman I do some volunteer work with who is 88 and very inspiring. Escaped a bad marriage and then worked 2-3 jobs to support her 6 kids. She is still busy as can be at 88. Helps with great grandchildren, hosts holiday meals, volunteers, still works part time and looks 20 years younger than her actual age. She has already buried 3 children which I cannot even begin to imagine, but is still a positive person. She is amazing to me.

 

[PollyannaMom]

A particular older lady in a bank I temped at right out of college. She really took me under her wing, and we exchanged Christmas and birthday cards for years after I moved away.

The other moms when I was a SAHM for the first few years after I had DS. We met at a library storytime and organized our own playgroup when it went on summer break. Having a scheduled time each week when I could talk to others doing the same thing was so important.

The full-time teachers when I was a part-time sub. I've heard awful stories from other places about how unwelcoming they were, but it was exactly the opposite at my schools. People went out of their way to include us at lunchtime and made sure we knew they were grateful when we filled in for them.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you all for your wonderful shares as always. I also have good volunteer memories except I was by far the youngest. All through high school I volunteered for the American Cancer Society. God sure blessed me with so many lovely co volunteers

 

[bluecastle]

1. A colleague, who is now a friend, knew that I did not like fluorescent lights and she snuck into my room one morning before I got to school and put up one of those blue covers over the light near my desk. So kind!

2. The school nurse in my first elementary school job who covered my class when I needed to get home for personal reasons.

3. The wonderful sub who was willing to work half days (we are talking very little money!) when I went from full day disability to half days. She was a gift.

 

[AustinTink]

Hi everyone! This is my first time reading and posting on this thread. Hope it’s ok to join. I read the rules so here goes…

Co-workers:

1) My husband who was my co-worker 30 years ago. We became fast friends and then fell head over heels. Life started when we met.
2) My first boss after college graduation who took a big chance on me. I learned so much from him and my other managers and I will always be grateful to him for hiring me.
3) My co-workers in January of 2020 who brought food to my home for weeks when my son was hospitalized and then bedridden for months with a mysterious illness that turned out to be covid. My boss gave me all the time off I needed and my co-workers gave me endless love and support. I work somewhere else now but I will remain friends with them forever.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Hi everyone! This is my first time reading and posting on this thread. Hope it’s ok to join.

Absolutely!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (Sat, 8/10) - 3 Lazy things you're grateful for

 

[slo]

Happy Saturday Everyone

#1 - Floating In My Pool - it’s one of my most favorite things to do. Especially when I can dedicate about 5-6 hours doing it.

#2 - New Years Day - this is my most favorite day of the year. It’s my day off from life. Everyone knows to not bug me and to not ask anything from me. I wake up, I go downstairs, I watch movies all day. I don’t get dressed, I eat my favorite snacks and the only time I get up from the couch is to use the bathroom and get food. I love this day and have been doing this since I got married.

#3 - Watching TV Outside - This is a new favorite. We bought nice outside furniture for under our gazebo and also bought a TV. The gazebo has a screen that goes around it to keep out the bugs. I love going out there at night to watch TV. It’s like I’m inside, but really outside - I love love love to do this. I sleep really good after sitting out in the fresh air for a few hours

 

[TippyThomas]

* Hanging out around the campfire with my camping friends.

* Enjoying a meal with friends from my old community where I get to keep up with their lives and the lives of so many people I know and love. I don't get to see all of them like I used to so it's nice to just sit back and reminisce.

* Sitting back and enjoying my time with new friends here on the DIS. So many people have befriended me and made me feel like part of their group. It's so nice to feel wanted and involved. Thanks!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Welcome to our kind thread, AustinTink. Glad you joined us

TippyThomas, I love how you shared your #3. Blessing to also have you here.

PeopleMover in tne olden days of Disneyland. In a different way the Disneyland Train today.

Leisurely mornings and afternoon naps. These days all naps I am so grateful for and have realized they are healthy for me.

Browsing at the library. God willing I sure look forward to going back to the library ome day this year.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Sitting down to watch tv and falling asleep in my sleeping chair - I thought I purchased a regular chair to go with my couch but I’ve discovered it’s a magical sleeping chair because every time I sit in it I fall asleep I don’t mean a quick nap either - like 4 hrs of sleep

I’ve discovered and allowed myself the luxury of guilt free Sunday afternoon nap - I take a little snooze with my dog not every Sunday but most ( not in magical chair because those are long snoozes - although it would be big enough for both of us it’s huge ) but on couch - this is huge for me as I’ve never been one to do this and always would feel guilty or feel like I should be doing something and then I thought I am doing something I am getting some rest

Cruising the internet & DIS - I allow myself an hour every morning to enjoy my coffee and read my emails / instagram & mainly the DIS - great way to start my day !!! I potty my dog grab my coffee and find a quiet comfy spot ( not the magical chair ) and chat with my friends and catch up on being grateful!! Great way for me to start my day !! Plus SLO poll which I always look forward to !!

 

[SarahM1987]

Watching TV together. Especially when it's raining hard outside, because it's so peaceful hearing the rain hit the house.

Taking our side by side ATV out of state to go riding with other friends. We love it because we can see all kinds of amazing views and wildlife in some really remote areas.

Getting together with family and friends for parties, bonfires, and watching the Buckeye's football games.

 

[leebee]

Lazy things...
Doing absolutely nothing at all. Sometimes it's important to just "be." I'll take the time to browse thru my magazine, message a friend, watch a little TV, whatever. Just being.

Reading in the car. My house is full and usually full of happy noise, but sometimes it's too much. I'll take my nook when I go grocery shopping. I get a large diet Coke at McD's and sit in my car, in solitude, reading before going back to the madness!

Go driving. I love to drive and it relaxes me. In the winter I've been known to blast the radio and heat, then drive with the windows wide open, so it feels like cruisin' in the summer!!