Gratitude Month 2025: Support Groups

Up until a car accident several years ago, I had very little health issues, and even after that, the only issue was being hurt not sick. I have lived a life of blessed wellness—until I approached age 50. Now? I have so many health issues that mostly all I do in my "spare" time (whatever that is) is research all the horrible ways I might have to die or worse yet survive for years in severe suffering. It really is quite the cheerful hobby that is developing: worrying, realizing worrying is a waste of time and energy, reading studies and testimonials, feeling like I might get through things alright, find a horrific story that matches up with my experience that sends me into worrying, rinse and repeat. 

Then, I found a support group for my condition that I am learning about, and the people who are willing to spell out their good, bad, and even ugly experiences with this condition are changing my life. I feel empowered with knowledge about something I never knew existed and, frankly, got me afraid of the future, so afraid I felt incredible grief and decision paralysis. Thanks to the support group (and the Mayo Clinic website with clinical studies, etc.), I am now able to understand things instead of want to just hide from the realities, and I feel like I can carry on. What a gift. I will always be thankful for the person who thought to create that group and manage such a vital educational and support community. 

Gratitude Month 2025: Quiet

With so much pushing on me to do this and do that and go here and go there, I have come to appreciate the rare day when quiet is the gift that makes life better. I am thankful for having the chance to savor some quiet in these early morning hours on a Saturday and appreciate the calm quiet that I need after a week full of work and pressures and appointments. I feel seen in these peaceful moments, like God knew I could not take more noise and pressure, so He made sure to send me an island of peace for small moment to keep me going. Feeling thankful and sure I will be rejuvenated by it. 

 

Gratitude Month 2025: Education

I could never have guessed what an absolute fanatic I would be for learning. Or maybe I should have known? I do not recall learning how to read, just being able to do it. I do not remember learning my numbers, but I do believe I learned how to count from playing Black Jack with my dad. And I always loved a challenge in school insomuch that I got tracked into harder classes in fourth grade and stayed in the program clear through high school. I just really enjoy learning new things, trying new things, asking questions, and trying to understand complex issues. I love to find solutions to problems, and learning seems to be the way to find the problems to solve. I could not tell you how many studies I have read in my lifetime just on sleep alone. Of my own free will. No one assigning any of them! It may a little over the top to some people, but I love to learn, and I am thankful to have so many opportunities to gain various types of education and the quality of those opportunities. I count my education to be one of my most valuable assets second only to my family and my testimony of God and Jesus Christ. 

Gratitude Month 2025: Good Neighbors

I grew up with good neighbors on all sides of us and up and down the whole block mostly. Then, when I got into my first house, the neighbors on one side were amazing—the other side? not so much. But the one set of next door neighbors made up the difference honestly. When my mom died, the neighbors were so good that I could leave a key at their house just in case I locked myself out (my mom used to be the keeper of my emergency keys). I remember the wife hugging me when I was crying telling her why I needed to even ask for such a big favor. Then, when I moved states, I could never have planned on finding the best cul de sac on the planet to raise my sweet children at. Such wonderful friendships and memories made with such caring, supportive, mindful people. What a village we had. After that era, we had one bad set of downstairs neighbors, just one. They traumatized my children with being overbearing and judgmental, but that was a short time, and we had follow up neighbors who I cannot even remember their names they were so quiet. And now? Our downstairs neighbors are buddies with my oldest—and I can keep a key at their house for in case we lock ourselves out. So what I am essentially trying to say is I am thankful for a lifetime of good neighbors who have blessed and continue to bless my life. I just hope I am able to be as good a neighbor as they have been to me. 

Gratitude Month 2025: Comfort

The world is fraught with trouble and tragedy, so this day, right now, as I type out my gratitude, I consider the sheer blessing of having so much comfort in my life. I have problems, I do, but as I look around me, all I can see are the things that bring me comfort. I see so much protection and watchcare. These thoughts as well as being able to sit in a clean, warm home with a blanket on my lap, I am almost speechless. So thankful for all the comforts I am blessed with now and throughout my life.