Monday, November 30, 2020

It's Monday ...

 ... and I'm grateful! The pain from my kidney stone(s) finally stopped on Thursday. (Imagine a chorus of angels singing The Hallelujah Chorus here.) I was a little wary about whether it would last, but it's been four days and all I've felt are small twinges.

I'll take twinges any day instead of mind-numbing, teeth-gritting pain that narcotics only took the edge off of, so the cessation of pain provided the perfect reason to start my gratitude journal. 

I haven't been very good at keeping up with any kind of consistent journaling in the past, but these first entries have been easy. 

I am so very grateful, for lots of things, but no pain is the big one so far. What are you grateful for today?

Also, here's an interesting episode of the Hidden Brain podcast that I came across on Sunday. It's entitled Where Gratitude Gets You, and research shows it can get you a lot (better self-control, improved health, etc.)

13 comments:

  1. I am so HAPPY to hear that your pain has subsided, Bonny. What a relief that must be! :-) I hope you enjoy keeping your gratitude journal as much as I do. (Some days it's much easier to find the gratitude than others, but I figure those are the days I need to look harder to find it.) XO

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  2. I am so thankful that your pain is gone! I was worried about you all last week, and I'm really glad it decided to go away in time for you to enjoy the holiday.

    I actually listened to that episode of Hidden Brain on my walk yesterday and found it fascinating. My mother usually gets me a weekly calendar (with some sort of art) every year, but I haven't used one as an actual calendar in a while because everything is on my phone these days. I was thinking yesterday that one of those calendars would be perfect for a gratitude journal, because there's just enough space on each day to jot down a few sentences.

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  3. I am cheering as well that your pain is gone! I try and note somethings to be grateful for each day (and the days I miss, I absolutely can tell a difference inside me) I will have to queue up that podcast, thank you!

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  4. That is a giant gratitude. I live with someone who has constant pain and I have seen how it can wear you down. Gratitude seeking is a helpful diversion for me, especially on the shadow days.

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  5. I am so grateful that you are better, Bonny. You had a lot to be grateful for on Thanksgiving! I hope this means that you are going to have a great week to make up for the last couple of bad ones. Stay safe and be well! Happy Monday!

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  6. I'm so glad you're feeling better!
    I love Hidden Brain...thanks for the heads up on that episode.

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    1. Thank you, Velerie! It honestly feels like a miracle. I'm a big believer in science, and that Hidden Brain episode convinced me that gratitude can do a lot!

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  7. I write gratitudes daily and it helps frame for a better state of mind. However, the pandemic likes to rock my peaceful boat... So glad you are not in so much pain!!

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  8. I'm grateful your pain is gone, too! And I'm really happy to see you starting that gratitude journal.

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  9. I am so very happy for you that your pain is gone! Wishing you all the best with your journal...I've not been very successful in that area!

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  10. Oh thank GOd you are better? Today I'm grateful for a new interest my husband has taken up. He is doing a paint by number from my daughter's photo. IT takes him into a quiet place. He says he has no artistic talent....but he does!

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  11. So glad to hear that your pain is subsiding. I journal every day and always begin with a gratitude list every morning. It makes the day more positive. Hope you have a good week.

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  12. Oh Bonny, I am SO GRATEFUL to read this post ... and I've got a few more days of catching up - I hope the pain is still ok! Grateful (or Gratitude - I never could quite decide) was my OLW in 2009 and I started a daily practice then of writing down ONE thing every day that I was grateful for. A few years back, that morphed to Five things. and I'm still doing it. I have a pretty solid morning journaling practice and I close out every entry with those five things. It really does help to put me in a good frame of mind for the day. Good luck with your practice!

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