Monday Motivation

[katie_huffman]

Here in the US, we are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving later this week. It's a good chance to pause and reflect on the good in our lives.

What are you grateful for today?

[kohai OA Ambassador]

It's not a holiday celebrated here in the UK (though I'm pretty sure we do have quite a few American students, people of all ages and families living here who do celebrate it).

In my last job, (online chess site) I worked for an American man (website founder) and his co-owner/programmer, both living in Cali. The rest of the staff, living all around the globe, all worked from home too. For almost a decade, we all got used to each others holidays, and what they represented, and the stories or legends behind them were fascinating. The staff, regardless of the country celebrating, would find a way, all via email, to participate. It also brought us closer together

So, as I can't see any other replies (as yet), I'll hopefully get the ball rolling 😀

• This year, I'm actually really grateful for three reasons..

(Am I allowed 3? or does it just have to be one main thing?)

I'll edit if its just one.

• I'm grateful to have such an amazing husband. When I'm suffering bad fatigue and every part of me hurts, I'm not the best person to be around, yet he still makes sure I have everything I need and am as comfortable as possible. So I am incredibly lucky and very grateful to have him in my life and sticking by me.

• I'm more than grateful I can, (though my doctor isn't sure how its possible) I can still walk. It may not be very far, or just around the house before one or both of my knees give way and get so painful, neither can weight bear, its a matter of 'an unknown time-frame' right now just how long I have left being able to walk. So I'm now appreciating the fact I can walk and and so grateful for that, regardless of how long it lasts.

• And finally the third thing I'm grateful for are the members, admin, staff and the OA Action in this group for everyones' continuing empathy, unconditional support and for being a platform providing a lot of listening - which some days, is all I need.

When strangers in r/l don't even so much as hold a door for me, bump into me like I'm as invisible as my illnesses, it can be really draining and a real kick in confidence.

Yet I log in here, and people of all ages, and from all walks of life, whom I've never met, or may never have spoken too before will post replies to me, always sympathetic and/or empathetic.

Genuinely caring and supporting each other without prejudice or looking for something in return.

I was so grateful when I found this site. It always makes me feel better, because when I get home after an horrendous struggle around town, this place reminds me and my "woe is me" attitude that what I go through is not nothing!, My illnesses and I are not irrelevant!, but that there are so many more on here who are suffering/struggling a lot more than me. It immediately gets rid of my "woe is me" attitude.

That, to me, is important and the above three things are what I am grateful for, for this Thanksgiving!

(and as an end note, I'm pretty sure its ok to repost if you're grateful too for something someone/others may have already posted ).

Whose turn us it next?

[Sillysausage234]

Hi I’m in the 🇬🇧 uk and very grateful for our nhs 🌞

[kirstenra Administrator]

You can be grateful for as many things as you want, kohai! Sky's the limit. (Thanks, especially, for #3. )

I won't lie, Alana234, I'd be grateful for the nhs, too, if we had one of those over here.

For my part, I'm grateful for having an awesome team to work with day in and day out at the OAAA.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn and be inspired by all of you who come to this site and are willing to share your experiences across the spectrum from challenges and frustrations to small daily wins to major successes. Living with chronic illness is not easy (I don't need to tell you that) and yet you do it every day without a choice and find ways to share and help each other. Thank you.

Last but not least, I'm grateful for my friends and family who I love and treasure. I don't tell them enough. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[Sillysausage234 in reply to kirstenra]

Thank you Katie,yes chronic illness is difficult to come to terms with and some days it’s small mercy’s is all we can be thankful for,I was totally isolated before my respiratory nurse recommended I join the British lung foundation site and it was the best thing I could of done as there are some amazing people on hu sites and sometimes it’s great to talk for someone like me that doesn’t do Facebook or twitter I’m grateful for not feeling isolated so much,enjoy tomorrow I know you guys over there do thanksgiving in style 🕊🍀