I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read today's blog. It is a bit different than the usual, and I hope you will take my suggestion at the end of the blog and continue where I left off.
I have been doing this for over a year now. I call it “my attitude of gratitude” It sounds kind of corny I know, but it really has helped me. It actually started from a FB posting for the month of Thanksgiving 2010. Anyone else remember that? The idea was for the month of November, we were suppose to think of at least one thing we were grateful for that day. I did it, and have continued to do so every day since.
We tend to get trapped in the heartache and dwell on what our loved ones can no longer do, what we can no longer do together. It helps to reflect on what they can still do..... Lynn is late stage, bed bound and all that… but I have no problem finding things to be grateful for. And speaking of…. Time to go feed my sweetie lunch :)
Joan, today was a great day for me to read your blog. It was very inspirational. I am going to start a gratitude journal. I think that would help when I get in a "slump." Or to prevent a "slump." Your words just jumped out at me.
I try to remember to do this when I am really down. And most times it helps me to keep going. My life is so much better than it could be. You all are one of my biggest blessings :)
After a bad day yesterday, it was like a breath of fresh air to read your blog today....made me realize I too do have a lot to be greatful for, pretty much all the things you mentioned Joan. My Dh is making me a coffee as I write this, always adds sugar when I don't take sugar, but, heck that's nothing. I'm so gratful he can at least still do this..a gratitude list is what I need,
There hasn't been a lot for me to be grateful for in the last couple of years. But, I am grateful that DH can still do things that so may of your LO's can't do. And I'm grateful for all of you, your support and understanding. Thank you, Joang, I need to brush up on my gratitue list!
About a year ago I read a book that challenged me to be more grateful. The author suggested listing "a thousand gifts" either by writing in a journal or typing a file on the computer. There might only be 2 or 3 things to list one day but maybe other days would be more until it came up to a thousand. I've done it most days since and am almost at the thousand mark . . . and plan to keep going. It was a turning point for me to actually start focusing on the gifts present in each day if I'd just open my eyes to so much that I'd been missing or taking for granted. The book also challenged me to consider being thankful for the hard things that are a part of my life . . . that has been more of a challenge to do but honestly, just adding to a list has helped me appreciate my circumstances in a different way. Definitely recommend keeping track of the positives when living with challenges.
For today I am grateful that I have just spent 5 wonderful days with our daughter in Florida, and my wife was well cared for by the woman I hired. I wasn't too please when the pilot of our plane into Bangor, Maine, told us the temperature was 10°!!! But it's a beautiful day, so I can't complain.
Joan, I think it is wonderful some of the things you come up with to write about. It always pretty much sums up how i am feeling at the time. I have come up with several things, I wont list them as they are close to yours. I think listing a 1000 would be pretty difficult for me, i would probably have duplicates and would spend all my time checking to see if Id listed that one yet. But it is a good idea. i am very thankful for this web site, I have learned more about how to deal with my DH from you girls than you will ever know. Thank you all, you are quite a blessing!
I had begun texting to another person (trusted friend) every evening what I was grateful for. Not only is it a good close to the day, but it becomes a habit and forces me to reflect on what I do have, not what I don't have. One day, a particularly bad day, I was out on the street when a young woman turned the corner . She was on crutches with only one leg. Some days I am grateful that my little dogs curl up next to me. I am grateful that my husband goes to bed around 9:30 that allows me some time BY MYSELF!