THAT GIVING THANKS TIME OF YEAR
Can you believe it? We are only 30 days out from Thanksgiving. I always feel like I have so much to be grateful for and this year is no different. In particular, I am immensely grateful for how far Jess has come in her maturity and her growth in her expressive communication skills. So, to what do I contribute this progress?
You. Good Ones. Jessica’s world has opened up like never before. She has made new and extensive social connections which has led to new connections being made in the wiring in her brain. For Jess, there is a name to what’s happening, and it’s called vlogging (aka blogging). Jess not only enjoys being a vlogger for the social aspect, but also because it is giving her additional structure, another job, a focus, a purpose. It’s important work. She’s changing lives.
THIS STATEMENT FEELS WEIRD TO MAKE
I’ll take a moment here to brag on myself.
We are finally in a really good place. How did we get here? Years of sacrifice and hard work is how we got here. When I first gave up my career to stay home and keep Jess safe and cared for, we struggled to pay bills, to even buy food, to celebrate birthdays and holidays. I was sad, depressed, and full of resentment. I felt completely alone, like no one else had any idea what it was like to go through what I had lived through.
I started blogging. It was a great outlet and quite therapeutic. There was a story I needed to tell, the story of how hard I had tried to make things work for Jess and for me. It was important to me to try to help people understand all that I had been through and tried, and that I hadn’t easily given up.
Something else happened, though. People that I had never known reached out to me through my blog to let me know that they could relate so much to the story I was telling. Over time, more and more people connected with my story. They let me know how much it meant to them to have someone to relate to, and others let us know that our story had inspired them in their own lives. Suddenly, I was not alone. To say it was life changing is a massive understatement. There’s much more to this story, but it feels a little weird to keep tooting my own horn.
WHY IS GRATITUDE SO MUCH EASIER THAN BRAGGING
Expressing our gratitude is something that often comes much easier than bragging on ourselves. Sometimes it just feels awkward to brag, and other times it’s really hard for us to find sometime to brag about because we can be so hard on ourselves.
Going into our third annual 30 day Bragitude challenge, I can say that it takes practice to find something to brag about on a daily basis. It can be done though, sometimes you just have to dig really deep.
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US
For the past two years, we have kept our bragitude challenge within Club Crispy because sometimes our brags feel personal – like a brag and a failure all at the same time. This year, we warmly invite to join us in our Bragitude challenge.
BRAGITUDE DEFINED
Brag + gratitude. That’s our definition of a bragitude. It’s a deliberate practiced balance of celebration and humility. Adopting a grateful mindset is one technique the ‘experts’ often advocate to help reduce stress and shift perspective. And brags? Well, in moderation, those can be good for self-confidence.
A 30 DAY CHALLENGE
Yep. 30 days! For the next 30 days, every day, share one brag and one thing you are grateful for. It’s harder than it sounds. For me, the brag part can be a struggle. So I give myself permission to celebrate even the tiniest victory.
Some days that’s celebrating a lazy day on the couch, or maybe it’s making the bed, or walking the dogs, or trying something new, or unloading the dishwasher (again), or a good social media post. No brag is too small. And, for gratitude, you can expect me to be thankful for an uplifting Instagram comment, or for sunny days, or for random acts of kindness, or an unloaded dishwasher (by someone other than me!). Anything goes.
FINE PRINT
Participation is flexible! If you aren’t up to committing to 30 days, try just a couple of days here and there. Or, just check in once in a while to see what the latest bragitude is on the thread. No matter how you engage, I’m confident you’ll be encouraged. And, if you do complete the 30 days of bragitudes, I predict your +30 day self will brag “I did it!” and you’ll be grateful to have forged deeper connections with virtual friends. Or maybe you’ll just be grateful you’re done the 30-day challenge :-). In other words, nothing to lose!
Bragitude Day 1
Brag – My Brag of the day is that I got dressed for the day before 9:30am! Since I work from home and don’t video conference or go live every day, there are plenty of days that I actually stay in my pjs all day.
Gratitude – This is a biggie!! I am immensely grateful to have the house all to myself this evening and overnight for the first time in almost 2 years! What will I do? Right this minute, I’m enjoying the silence hearing only the clicking of my keyboard, and since my windows are open, the occasional car driving by. I can also hear the fan in my room, reminding me that at least for today, I can head back and go get in my bed whenever I want. Later, I just may order my favorite pizza, have a light beer or two, and binge on Netflix without any distractions or interruptions.
Your Turn!
If you’d like to participate, go for it in the comments below!
My Brag-
Today my 2 school aged boys got up on time and I got them both out the door for the bus and carpool to school on time with no yelling and rushing! My 15 year old son Dakota struggles in the morning. With his cognitive delays he is so slow. I have to do his step by step routines and go over his daily agenda. Plus get my 11 year old son Cooper ready. Keeping him on task in the morning with his ADD can be a struggle. And we have a wild 3 year old AJ who we were able to adopt when he was born. So our mornings can be stressful and chaotic. So today when everything went just right and we were dressed ready to go on time it just makes my entire day feel better and happy.
My Gratitude-
Today I am grateful for my son Dakota’s football team. This boy was born with the soul of an amazing football player. But heartbreaking to us all his body does not fit his dreams and his giant old soul. He has hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, vision impairment and vasculitis an autoimmune disorder. Sometimes it feels like mom had to be the dream crusher and tell him he can’t be a football player. 💔 So when I talked to the High School coach and he said he wanted him on his team and they had a place for him, my mama heart exploded. His entire life, attitude, and purpose has been uplifted and changed and a joy of being on a football team this fall has brought out my son in ways I never thought I would see. His teammates are amazing and have embraced him and take care of him. They are his brothers he says and they truly are. The coaches are amazing. They are mentors and leaders for him to learn and grow in ways we never expected to see. I am a complete believer in it takes a village to raise children. And when you have a child with special needs the village needs to be special as well. We have been blessed this year to add to our village an amazing group of young men and coaches who have changed Dakota’s life and our life for the better.
Hi everyone HayHalloween my grateful is my honey of a Husband. What I’m proud of . Going through surgery thisThursday come up. ))) have a good one everyone Diane and Tim
My brag today was I signed the Final Papers on my Reverse Mortgage today. Yeah, My gratitude is that I was greatful that my dear HS friend was able to spend the afternoon with me.
My brag today is I was able to visit with one of my long time friends that I went to school with in Thailand and I am grateful that we are both here to enjoy these times together.❤️
BRAG: Put bad feelings aside and talked to my daughter. Was understanding and supportive. Still have issues but it takes so much negative effort to stay upset and we aren’t promised tomorrow. GRATITUDE: The Geek Squad came and fixed my TV remote. I know that sounds silly but we had to get a new TV and remote and I needed help getting it to do what I needed it to do. These young men are so smart and helpful. I thanked them and called them my hero.
Yes! on the negative effort it takes to stay upset. I agree completely.
My brag for the day is I got thru another day of doing daycare for my great grandson. I love him to pieces, but there are days I wish I could sleep in, go shopping, or just lay on the couch and read. But instead, I am changing diapers and washing bottles.
My gratitude is that I am physically able to do it! And watching him grow and change is a blessing! I am one lucky great grandma!
My brag for the day is that I have gotten thru another day of doing daycare for my 5 month old great grandson. I love him to pieces, but some days I wish I could sleep in, or sit and read, or jump in the car and go shopping. But instead I am changing diapers, washing bottles, and comforting a teething baby.
My gratitude is that I am physically able to do this! I just turned 65 and feel young to be a great grandma. I adore this little guy to pieces and the rewards are fantastic – a big smile when he sees me, sloppy kisses, and the opportunity to get to watch him grow and change!
I certainly understand both sides of this!
My brag to day is I got up, got dressed and having coffee. Trying to keep my mind in a positive note. I had a liver transplant a little over a year ago. I suffer from PTSD so I have moments of severe anxiety that something is wrong. I also have a 33 yr old son who has CP and a VP shunt with
seizure disorder.
I as grateful today he is healthy and vibrant. Sitting next to me eating his lunch. I thank God every day that I am still alive.
❤️
I think this kind of may end up being a vlog of my recovery image that
I´ve been following you for a couple of months and I´m so impressed by your work with Jessica. You are doing a tremendous job and so are Hannah, Baddaddy and all others involved in Jessica´s progress. Today I read your text about bragging and gratitude and I found it really important and it really touched me. I had just come home from a session with my psychotherapist and we had talked a lot of being alone/feeling lonely and the importance of bragging, something I find very hard. The idea of ”30-day Bragitude challenge” is great.
First a little about me: I´m 77 years old and I live in Strängnäs, a small town 80 kilometers west of Stockholm in Sweden. I´ve always lived alone, probably because I´ve been afraid of relationships. Why? My father committed suicide when I was 13 months old and then I moved to live with my grandparents for 10 years. During those years I was sexually abused by my grandfather and I was 3½ years old when I made my first journey alone with train between Stockholm and another city three hours away. (I didn´t tell anyone how scared I was.) When I moved back to live with my mother we couldn´t connect in a proper way. I´ve no close relatives and quite a few close friends and I´ve been struggling with mental disorder as long as I can remember. I´ve been a teacher and I´ve worked a lot with children suffering from dyslexia and different disabilities.
Bragitude day 1
Brag – My Brag of the day is that I wrote this about my life. It´s still hard looking backwards remembering what has happened in the past. Just as Jessica I´m learning more every day about myself.
Gratitude – I´m so grateful that I´ve got the opportunity of seeing my therapist since two years. When I first met her I didn´t want to live any more but now I´m making progress and I can ”see the light in the tunnel”.
Gunilla,
Thank you so much for choosing to participate even though it’s a true challenge for you! I appreciate you sharing your story. One thing that I have learned over my time with blogging is that the more I write about, the more I find people who can connect with my story. I hope this participation helps you in many ways.
Also, welcome to Club Crispy!! We are so happy to have you on board and I look forward to you getting to know some of our members. We have quite a few who live closer to your side of the world, and I will try to connect you all up since the timing of our livestreams don’t always work for those in Europe. Do you have an Instagram account? If so, I encourage you to set one up so that you can better connect with our Crispies!
Brag: I cracked 2 barrels of black walnuts this week to use in my thanksgiving and Christmas baking.
Gratitude: My puppy got out when I was answering the door today. My neighbor and 5 neighborhood kids chased her for 15 minutes and she was safely returned to her warm home. All the children were rewarded with ice cream sandwiches.
I’m so glad you got your puppy safely back inside!
Do you have a walnut tree?
Brag-I am getting a promotion at work ! I have worked hard and excited to stay with the same company but in a new capacity.
Gratitude -For 20 years with my sweet “puppy” Kobi. He has been the best friend and companion for so many years. We know he will be leaving us soon but are so grateful for the years we have had together.
Congratulations on the promotion!
Wow! 20 years! What breed of dog?
Thank you everyone for sharing!!! I’m GRATEFUL for everyone who shared here. You made my day better with all your shares, so you can add that to your list of things to brag about (perking up a random stranger!) 💜.
PS posted my bragitude on Insta, but couldn’t resist applauding everyone here and I’ll be checking back for comments and sending you all my best wishes.
Thanks, Saskia! I think making bragitude public this year was definitely the right move!
Day 1 – So very grateful to find the right combination of essential oils to help me sleep and wake up pain free from my fibromyalgia. Brag – to continue to be pain free, I walked across my resort at work for my daily morning meeting. Hoping to continue walking to lessen pain.
I’m so glad to hear you are finding the right combo!
Day 1: I have been fostering a mama dog (a very sweet rat terrier I named Trixie because she had no name) and her 5 puppies. They are 5 weeks old and FINALLY eating puppy food and drinking water!! Mama, on the other hand, has settled in with my crew of 4 chihuahuas… even figured out the doggie door yesterday all by herself. I’m exhausted. But who doesn’t love puppies? I needed the sweet unconditional puppy love (and breath) after the last few months of loss, my stepdad and my father. So, I’m fostering the innocent.
I’m sorry for your losses. ❤️
Brag – Heading to my “Home” state for my nephew’s wedding. I haven’t made this trip in almost 5 years. Although this trip will be very bittersweet for me – My Dad passed away Oct 31st of 2020 and due to rampant numbers of COVID we were unable to have a service for him, I am heading home For a wedding celebration. For a brief visit with family. And to bring my heart closure on the1 year anniversary of my Dad’s passing. I can do this. <3
Gratitude – I am grateful that I found your story. You have grace and compassion, and prove to your followers everyday that being disabled does not have to be a handicap. It may not always be easy but you keep pushing Jess and yourself forward, Keep being the best Momma you are to Jess and Hannah and Madison. Keep being friends with BadDaddy. Love the houseful of dogs. And keep cooking!!
Thank you, Kevan. I’m sorry for your loss. I hope the trip helps with the closure you are seeking!
My brag today I didn’t do anything but tomorrow I will I did make a pot of soup
love it!
Ok, I think I’ll try this! Brag: Uuuuuhm, I can’t think of anything 🙈 Oh, I have a new great-nephew born on the day after my birthday (not that I had anything to do with any of it 🤣)
Gratitude: After spending this morning at my uncle’s funeral, I’m so grateful for family. Family means everything to me. Sadly, some deaths can bring out some ugly things among family. I’m praying for healing among my cousins.
I’m sorry for your loss. It is sad that deaths cause divisions sometimes.
Congrats on the new great-nephew!
Day 1
Brag -today I got three crafts done for gifts and started my Chrisymas wrapping.
Gratitude – to be alive and feeling well enough to do this today even tho I have end stage renal failure and need a kidney – most days feel kind of weak. today i am just so grateful i am alive and have fun things to keep me happy an d busy that others will get to enjoy.
Lisa what a great share. I’m sorry for your health struggles and applaud you for your bragitude. 💕
I am replying here since I’m in Facebook jail and I can’t comment or like on Facebook. Hopefully I will be out by tomorrow afternoon.
BRAG – Gosh, this one is hard. I’m not use to bragging about myself. I rarely get much done to brag about anymore. The fibromyalgia, neuropathy and restless legs keeps me in pain and I sleep very little.
So I guess my brag would have to be that I actually got dressed before lunchtime today. I felt well enough to go outside and sit for a while too.
GRATITUDE – I’m so thankful to be able to be home with my husband who has had a rough year. He was diagnosed in March with kidney failure. It has been a rough touch and go with 3 surgeries for 3 ports, the sickness (vomiting and diarrhea) for months, plus the treatments 3 times a week. We had been going to a clinic 30 miles away 3 times a week. We recently was able to get him transferred to our hometown which is 2 minutes from our house. He is doing so much better since starting in April. He keeps a great attitude although he is drained of energy and tired. I have so much gratitude to have him still with me.
I hope you get out of Facebook jail soon. But if not, I’ll be over here getting inspiration from you all!
Brag: I’ve cooked dinner three days in a row! Too many days I’m lazy, and my husband and I get take out. Had girl! Gratitude: I’m so thankful for my sweet husband of 50 years, who every morning has my coffee made, fixed and waiting on me. He makes it better than I can. That’s his first I LOVE YOU of the day! Val you and your family are so inspiring to me.
Oh, what a sweet sweet story! I love it! ❤️
My brag today is that I was able to get through another day of volunteering as a Bingo Assistant in our Senior Center. My gratitude is that the Good Lord was with me all the way showing me patience and tolerance.
Great! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love this idea! Thank you for sharing it!
Brag- I got my COVID booster yesterday (yeah) but it really hit me hard today. So instead of dragging myself into work and being miserable and possibly making others miserable, I stayed in bed. Without guilt…..And may do it again tomorrow if things don’t turn around significantly. Now I didn’t just lay in bed (which would have been ok), I did attend a conference via zoom, and I did arrange to have a load of wood delivered. So…it was a win-win….
Gratitude- This is where Autistic Interpretations comes in. I became a teacher of students with visual impairments several years ago, and have been pursuing certification in cortical blindness. You and Jess have given me confidence to know that many of my ideas and thoughts were not way out of the park. I now have several very young students with CVI and I pray that they will all be able to love life and thrive despite their “different-abilities”. I look forward to hearing Jess saying “dirty, dirty garbage”…..Thank you for starting this venture of sharing your life and Jess with the world. I know it has opened my life to many possibilities.
Aw, thanks for sharing that. I love the reinforcement of learning that we are making a difference! And good for you for taking care of yourself today!
It’s been a rough road for awhile…surgery, a stay at an LTAC, and now at rehab.
Brag: I advocated for myself when things went awry with my transfer to rehab, and finally people are listening to me and starting to give me the care I need. It’s taken me advocating sternly up the chain.
Gratitude: I am grateful that I have the ability to advocate for myself… and I am super grateful for friends who drop off food at the rehab because their food is atrocious.
I’m so sorry to hear that it’s been so rough, but like you so thankful that you have the ability and know-how to self-advocate!
Brag-I did all of our laundry today! It is folded hung up and put away.
Gratitude-I am so thankful for cooler days where I can open my windows and air out my home.
Ah, me too, me too on the windows!
My brag? At 60 years I learned to change the ignition coils and plugs on my car because I couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it.
Gratitude? I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my 3 grown children. I was pretty out of sorts when my husband divorced me after 33 years and the kids wanted no involvement. So I’m thankful and grateful they’ve come around.
I’m so impressed with your brag! I don’t know how to do anything with vehicles except check the oil. What a blessing for you that your kids have come back around. ❤️
I am getting heart valve replacement surgery Friday and because of swelling I was admitted to the hospital early yesterday. I was afraid I am an adult with a disability.
Day one brag : as much as I want to go home and miss my cat I chose to go to rehab after the hospital. It’s important I get well
Gratitude I have wonderful staff and neighbors at home and great nurses
Marla, Thanks for sharing! I can certainly understand being afraid in that situation. I’m proud of you for choosing the best road for recovery after your surgery!
Brag: I got up at 530 even after a restless sleep due to back pain and took care of my 3 fur babies and headed to work.
Gratitude: I am grateful to be home with my husband and 3 fur babies. Nothing better than all 3 babies piled up on me after a rough day.
Thanks for sharing! I hope you get a more restful sleep this evening!
My Brag today is I walked for 1 hour and 15 minutes this morning. .My gratitude today is for my little 3 year old nephew that is my heart. I got to play with him in this beautiful weather.
Thanks so much for sharing! What a great walk! I hope that is one of my brags one of these days!