In our last Wednesday Check in we learned that Thanksgiving Day doesn’t have to be on the calendar for us to focus on being thankful. We can remind ourselves that we can find something to be thankful for every day.
If you have COPD, it might be hard sometimes to feel thankful. You may be feeling a loss of what you were once able to do, or the loss of a life you once knew. But with changes, good things sometimes come along unexpectedly. Unwanted changes in our everyday lives may actually lead us to find new opportunities: to see things in a different way, give us a chance to slow down, learn new things, meet new people, and even have a new opportunity to help others.
We know that when people write down what they are grateful for, it can improve their moods, help them not fret so much over minor issues, and kept their everyday life focused in a positive way.
Last time I asked you to consider jotting down something each day – something you were thankful for. If you did that, we’d love to hear about it.
I’ll start. Here’s my list.
This past week I was thankful for…
- Being reminded how important it is to spend time with those we love, and for keeping memories close.
- Caring friends and family.
- Sunshine, gently falling snow, and the ever-changing weather in West Michigan.
- Making comfort food in my kitchen with gale force winds outside my window.
- A family member’s job loss with a silver lining.
- Work that I love.
- The discipline of a routine.
And again, I am thankful for all of you! I look forward to hearing from you!