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I've been reading a bit about positive psychology, a new branch that focuses on what makes people happy rather than what makes them depressed.  A technique they advocate is to write down three things you're grateful for each day.  Research has shown that people who do this regularly see lasting benefits.

I try to do this, and I know it does help when I make the time.  I hope this doesn't seem too cheesey and trite when everyone here is going through so much, but I thought it might be cool to start a chain of gratitude right here on the forum.

Anyone want to join in?

I'm thankful for surviving a 9-day, 4-state road trip to see my husband's family that included hotels, a National Park campground, a KOA campground, and the inlaw's house -- all during a flare.  And I'm thankful to be home!

I'm thankful for ripening tomatoes and for flowers that not only survived but thrived in my absence (thanks to a friend's son).

I'm thankful for taking my fabulous 5-year-old daughter shopping for kindergarten school supplies today.

Melissa

 Reply posted for mhart.

I am thankful for finally stepping out and finding a forum that deals with people who have Crohns.  I can see that I am not alone in all the different feelings, emotional and physical, that I go through on a daily basis.

I am thankful for my God that has given strength and courage to face this disease.  He sent me a wonderful husband.  Blessed me with a beautiful daughter, age 6, and two stepchildren.  He answered all my prayers befoe I ever even prayed them when he gave me the parents and family that I have.  He is there through the good and the bad and I believe in Him.

I have suffered with Crohns for over 14 years now and have just realized that I really never accepted what it has been doing to me over the years, but I am thankful that I have the bad days in order that I can learn to really appreciate the good ones when they come.

May God bless each every one of you out there!

 Reply posted for Sarah.

Well, even though I started Entocort today for a mild flare of Crohn's:

I am thankful for my beautiful, giant, 180 pound saint bernard Elmo, he always makes me smile and is there to cuddle whenever I need him!

I am thankful for my wonderful support system, including my boyfriend, family and doctors! Without them I would not be able to do what I am doing! They udnerstnad my little quircks and treat me as they always have, which makes it easier to do things when I am doubting myself.

I am thankful for the opportunity to get a great education and hopefully attend medical school in the near future. I absolutely love learning, and it makes me feel great to know that I will be able to help others who are sick in the future!

This is a great topic :)

 Reply posted for mhart.

Oh man!  I love these positive topics

OK...I'm thankful for so much but to start...  I'm thankful for my kick-butt hubby and my pets who adopted me as much as I adopted them.  I'm thankful for my Mom who has been dealing with this disease for twice as long as I have.  I'm thankful for my GI doc who was the first doc to believe me when I said that I hurt.  I'm thankful for my friends and supporters at school and my mentors who give me incredible opportunities for advancement and recognition.  I'm thankful for each waking day when I can push my body and mind past my preconceived limits.

 Reply posted for kristinlauri.

New England must be extraordinary this time of year...We've had a gorgeous fall down here in Georgia!

I'm thankful for;

riding my bike to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and crisp, blue sky

my fun, wonderful and very loving family~we make a great team

school-however gruesome is can be, I am thankful for the privelage of an education

Thanks for the refreshing topic!

 Reply posted for mhart.

I am thankful for my beautiful 4 year old son Christopher, my wonderful husband, my parents, and my husband's parents.  Without them I wouldn't be able to function.

I am thankful for my good days where I can spend time with my family and have fun.

I am thankful for being alive.

 Reply posted for mhart.

Today I am thankful for so much!!!

Being able to say i have had a pain FREE 2 weeks is something i thought i would never say!!!! And for these past 2 weeks all i can do is SMILE and be 150% happy, it has been a long time since my smile was real and not forced!!

My God Son (and his mom) stopping by my house to brighten my day and to sit on the ground and do sidewalk chalk with him... and not make a face sitting on hard cement  

I am mainly thankful for my parents-they will never know how much they help me get through the worst times and enjoy the best times!! Plus who else wants to hear you had a good bum day HAHAHA

NOW i am off to the beach which is the most calming relaxing place in the world to me(even on this chilly fall day)... and i am thankful i can enjoy it today!!!

 

 Reply posted for mhart.

I'm looking at my 2-year-old's grin, and am thankful that he is healthy and perfect in every way. And I'm thankful that so far, even though my current pregnancy has made me very sick, even causing two surgeries already, my unborn daughter is 100% perfect in every way too! (according to the ultrasound) I don't care how sick I get -- if she comes out healthy, the prior nine months will fade into memories! And then I'll be even more thankful for her (if that's possible).

 Reply posted for mhart.

I believe gratitude is a powerful concept.

Today I'm grateful for my 14 year old daughter's strength and deep wisdom about herself and her body.

I'm grateful we have a diagnosis, treatment and health care coverage.

I'm grateful for the glorious New England fall days we're glimpsing outside the window and for the promise of going outside to crunch in the leaves today.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter who loves unconditionally and tries to understand when Mom doesn't feel good.

I'm thankful for people who do understand that you just need to use the bathroom urgently and don't give you grief about it.

 Reply posted for mhart.


It is my husband that has UC. He has been without symptoms for 6 years but had cancer last year and this year the dr says he must take some meds because UC is active on in the inside. The last two weeks have been very difficult because he is taking lialda now and feels terrible - like a bad flare up and prior to starting the meds he felt great. I think he is a little depressed. and it is hard for me to fully understand what he is going thru. the diarrhea from the meds is the worst part of it. if only there were meds that did not cause that side effect. i feel like he needs to take the meds to keep his colon and he feels like he does not want to take them. how do you know when the meds are giving you adverse side effects?

anyway:

i am thankful that his biopsies all came back cancer free last week.
i am thankful for all of you for posting what you are going thru so i can try and  really know how he feels.
i am thankful for our niece and nephew who came over and spent the night on saturday. we played games and laughed and had a great time.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I am thankful for this day because today is a good day and you never know what tomorrow may hold.

I am thankful for my family (my beautiful daughter, husband, siblings and parents....and the list goes on)

I am thankful for my heavenly father for without him I am nothing.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I am thankful that I have earned the right to say that any day out of a hospital is a #$^$^$^% good day and to have the understanding of knowing the alternative.

 Reply posted for dmcgarv.

I love this Thoreau quote.  Thanks so much for including it.

 Reply posted for Sues.

Sues,

I'm thankful you are here!  And all the rest of you, too, of course.  I am so grateful for this forum.

I'm also thankful for a nice day spent hiking with my husband and daughter.  Even if a one-mile hike did exhaust me, it was great to be up in the mountains!

I'm thankful that I got bold and ate a handful of fresh huckleberries, and a piece of corn on the cob tonight.  (Let's hope I don't regret that later.  But I can't let summer slip away without sampling some of its fruits.)

I'm thankful that I'm flat-on-my-back sick like last weekend, and hopeful that the next few days will bring more improvement.

Melissa

 Reply posted for mhart.

This is my first time posting a reply on this board, but right now this topic is something I have been thinking so much about.  I am relatively new to UC, I was diagnosed in in May or June of this year.  A few weeks ago.  It seems like a lifetime, a differrent struggle everyday.

Anyway, I started a home based business 3 years ago and it now can sustain my kids, my dog and myself.  I had high fevers and pain on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  It really sucked however I was thinking on Wednesday how blessed I was that I was running a fever, but was home working, not having to go to an office or call in sick.  I was working at my own pace and got quite a lot done.

I am thankful that today I am not running any fevers.

I am thankful that the people who love me will not let me push them away.

I am thankful for my kids, my amazing kids, 11 and 13.

I am thankful for my 3 year old 94 pound black lab.  She makes me smile no matter what.

I am thankful that I am not bleeding internally.

I am thankful that my Mom was told by a friend of hers to tell me about this website.  I have been feeling more alone than I ever want to feel.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I am thankful for being able to get out of the bed this morning without severe cramping.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful son, daughter and husband that are there for me.

I am thankful to have support from people that truly understand the diagnosis of Crohn's Disease.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I really like this idea of saying what we're grateful for.  I keep hearing how helpful it can be. I'm grateful that as long as I eat carefully, I've had only mild symptoms for two years now.  I'm grateful that I'm able to work fulltime at a job I enjoy. I'm grateful for my little grandbaby.

                                                                           Debbie

 Reply posted for Sarah.

I am thankful that I don't have pain like a week ago.

I am thankful that I can take meds that help.

I am VERY thankful for a husband and kids that know my limitations and keep asking me if I am pushing myself!!!!

I am thankful for my grandson who keeps my mind off of my illness

I am REALLY thankful for my granddaughter who isn't due for another week........getting ready for her has helped me cope with my hospital stay.

I am thankful for support groups, websites, and others who know what I am going through!!!!

Grammycarol

 Reply posted for mhart.

i am thankful for my husband, who is the best!

i am thankful for my crazy kitten who makes me smile!

i am thankful for what i have, because it can always be worse!

 Reply posted for mhart.

    I am thankful to be blessed with such a supportive family and a doctor that hasn't given up on trying to get me into remission.
I am thankful that I was blessed with the ability to not give upon the idea that I can live a productive life even when others say I should.

 Reply posted for IBDaMom.

I'm thankful that you heard that beautiful word "normal", too! 

 Reply posted for mhart.

Today I thankful that my daughter's doctor called and left a message that all of her labs look "normal" 

The word 'normal' sounded like music to my ears!

 Reply posted for mhart.

I'm thankful for my sisters who care so much about me and show that in so many ways.
I'm thankful for my sweet daughter who loves so beautifully and tenderly.
I'm thankful for my friends who are always there for me and constantly supportive.

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.
                                                                           Henry David Thoreau

 Reply posted for Sarah.

I am thankful that I have such a supportive and loving husband and family.

I am thankful that I am able to get out of bed each day, go to work (thanks to a supportive boss) and earn a paycheck.

I am thankful for this forum because it has helped me understand so much.

 Reply posted for mhart.

I agree that although things suck sometimes with this disease it's important to look at the positive. I'm a therapist and I often do this with my clients who are depressed and it does work. Good thinking!