The Power of Thank You

From my friend and fellow Board Member, Patricia:

In the spirit of Thanksgiving this week I'd love to share with you the benefits and power of two simple words. "THANK YOU."

They are two words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, athletic performance and success. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. A state of gratitude, according to research by the Institute of HeartMath, also improves the heart's rhythmic functioning, which helps us to reduce stress, think more clearly under pressure and heal physically. It's actually physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are grateful you flood your body and brain with emotions and endorphins that uplift and energize you rather than the stress hormones that drain you.

Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. In fact, the number one reason why people leave their jobs is because they don't feel appreciated. A simple thank you and a show of appreciation can make all the difference.

Gratitude is like muscle. The more we do with it the stronger it gets. In this spirit here are 5 ways to practice Thanksgiving every day of the year.

1. Take a Daily Thank You Walk - I started this practice 15 years ago and it changed my life. Take a simple 10-30 minute walk each day and say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day. I wrote more about this in The Positive Dog.

2. Meal Time Thank You's - On Thanksgiving, or just at dinner with your friends and family, go around the table and have each person, including the kids at the little table, say what they are thankful for.

3. Gratitude Visit - Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the father of positive psychology, suggests that we write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone. Then we visit this person and read them the letter. His research shows that people who do this are measurably happier and less depressed a month later.

4. Say Thank You at Work - When Doug Conant was the CEO of Campbell Soup he wrote approximately 30,000 thank you notes to his employees and energized the company in the process. Energize and engage your co-workers and team by letting them know you are grateful for them and their work. Organizations spend billions of dollars collectively on recognition programs but the best and cheapest recognition program of all consists of a sincere THANK YOU. And of course don't forget to say thank you to your clients and customers too.

5. Say Thank you and Goodnight – At bedtime reflect on your day, identify and share all that you are thankful for. 

A wild trip for me

This posting popped up in my Facebook Memories and I sure don't remember doing it. Now when these type of things show up on the wall I ignore them. It was fun/interesting/flattering/touching to read these comments posted back in 2009. I sure do hope to still measure up...I have deleted all the last names to protect the posters. 

Kim Lahaie Day

If you are reading this, whether we do or don't speak often, please post a comment of the first memory of you and me that pops into your head. When you've finished, post this paragraph on your own status. You'll be surprised what people remember about you...This might be opening a can of worms here, but have at it, folks!

Top of Form

Marcia The very first time I meet you was when Marian and Biff first moved to Florida, Marian came back to WI for some doings with the family and on one of the days after I went to visit her at her parents and she introduced me to you. I thought you were a very nice person and very friendly. Then years later (2009) I find out the you are a very good friend of Linda M. from WI which is a cousin to my husband.

Terri I don't remember the first time I met you but all I know is you bring joy and laughter to everyone so thank you for that!

Linda The first thing I remember is you as a young girl sitting in church with your whole family, I remember thinking what fun it would be to have that many sisters! Now I do!!!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, guys! Marcia, that would have been in about 1985-86....and now we have reconnected. Terri, I don't remember either, when we first met, but thanks for the kind words!! You are one of the loveliest ladies I ever met!

Kim Lahaie Day Linda, my dear, my sister! Now you do know what it is like to have a mess of sisters!!!!

Susan  Oh Kim, I have so many wonderful memories. A funny one was when my Mom wanted me to start wearing a bra and I wouldn't. I was telling you about it and you showed me yours. I figured if you could do it so could I, so I had to run home and get mine on!

Kim Lahaie Day When I see you again, I promise to show you my bra!!!!

Amanda The first memory I have of you is you running after Justin on the playground at Good Shepherd and yelling “Lamby wait for mommy.” :o)

Susan I remember all the fun games we played. Kick the can, red rover, statues. The thing that was funny and STUPID was riding our bikes down the street with our eyes closed!!!!!

Kim Lahaie Day "Lamby!"....oh, Amanda, you must have been a little girl yourself yet!

Amanda  Yes, Kim I was but I remember it like yesterday!

Susan Oh is this supposed to be my first memory?!?! I was too little to remember! All I know is I was very lucky to have you as my childhood friend. would head down 19th street as soon as my Mom would let me. Some other memories..going into your Dad's workshop. Still love the smell of cut lumber. You and I made a good team to ward off any neighbor kids who were mad at one of us!

Linda M I remember your huge smile in high school. You always had a huge purse and wore maxi dresses which were not popular at the time. You were the closest thing to having Janis Joplin walking in our halls.

One day you were walking down the hall and somebody commented about this huge chandelier earring you were wearing, asking why you were only wearing one. You said "because I only have one ear pierced!!"

Susan  Linda, that is definitely a ‘Kim’ answer!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh you guys.....you are too much!

Linda M  She drove a hearse!! She was my hero!!

Sue, I still don't like wearing a bra!!

Kim Lahaie Day I don't know if I drove the hearse but I certainly did ride around in it! Susie may have too, although I am not sure.....

Susan  I’m with you on the bra bit Linda! I loved it in the halter top era. Unfortunately now I could not do the halter top era!

Linda M Well, you arrived in a hearse!!!! That’s riding in style!

Kim Lahaie Day Susie, the hearse Linda M. is referring to is the one Willy Kangas drove. The other Suzy and I would ride around with him, through "town" or wherever we wanted to go. Once at the light by Kresge's, we threw the doors open and jumped out, freaking out the cars waiting at the light....good times!!! I wore my blue fedora, way way ahead of my time!

Anna  I remember the first time I talked to you. I called to see if there were room for Amanda at the pre-school and you answered the phone. I can still remember how positive you were about the school and Ms. Deb and I knew then that I would not find a better place for Amanda to go to pre-school. Not only did I find a great school for her, but I also found a wonderful place to attend church at. If you had not been there that day, we might have missed out on a lot me and my girls. Thanks!!!!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, Anna!!!! You blew me away with that. I don't know what to say, except, that is the way the Lord works! I am so glad to have you in my life and part of my church family!!!

Carole  well, let me see, it was at Cindy's house - scrapbooking - you and Martie kept me entertained - made me feel right at home. Thanks!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, those were the days, weren't they, Carole????

Bonnie  I met Kim during my junior year at MLHS. Since I went to WHS for my first two years I didn't know many people. Kim stood out as being different from the rest, because she was instantly and unconditional a friend...no questions asked. Being a new kid in the school, that was very memorable. Glad we've been able to reconnect.

Kim Lahaie Day What a wonderful sentiment, Bonnie! Thank you for saying what you did....I hope I am the same now as I was then, or it will give me something for which to strive, at least!

I am also glad to reconnect! Thank God for Facebook, right?

Darlene  Let's see...over 40 years ago. Sitting in 4th grade class, no one talking to me cuz' I was the new kid. Cept' you Kim, asking me to play at recess. That started a long and beautiful friendship. Did I tell you I met the guy that lives in my house at Mishicot and he invited me over to see what it looked like now? The shed is still there and I told him how we use to climb up there. "Angel of the Morning"

Darla  Look at your responses...and it was supposed to be one word? OH HOW NEAT is that?

My one-liner would be: Very cool lady, lots of energy and loves God and her family...

Peggy  Kim, I just remember you being happy all the time when we went to FG. I had to laugh---my brother and sister also rode in that hearse and my Mom would get so mad when Wally pulled up in front of the house to pick them up...

Kim Lahaie Day Dolly! You had to mention the 40+ years ago....great fond memories of our time together. I wonder what it would take to get us up on the shed again...dynamite!

Hi Darla! This is so much fun, tripping down memory lane, stumbling more like it! Thanks for the compliments!!

Peggy, I think I do remember your siblings being in the hearse but not specifically. We ran all over creation with that car, even went to the outdoor in it!!! Willy (Wally) lived down the street from us growing up. Was this Nancy who rode in the hearse, and who else???

Peggy Yes, Nancy and Dave

Kim Lahaie Day I always liked David, you know. The secret is out!

Peggy  I will have to let him know the next time I see him.

Diane  I can say we were in class together in grade school at First German. I remember spending many a night at your house.

Your parents speaking pig Latin so you couldn't understand. But I knew what they said. I think it was something about pie for dessert.

Diane  I'm pretty sure David liked me :).

Carol  It was at Cindy Ritchotte's house - scrapbooking. I'm sure I heard you laugh before I actually met you. You were probably wearing a bright color (red?). Thinking of you, Kim, always makes me smile!

Kim Lahaie Day Dee Dee: What a funny recollection about the pig Latin---who knew I grew up in a multi-lingual household! 

Carol, my dear: others have said they hear me before they see but you heard me before you met me! Did it sound like Roseanne??? Thanks for the compliment, Carol!

Cindy   Good times, fun crops. Do you remember the Mudslides?

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, my gosh, Cindy! I did not until you reminded me! Paul is the best mudslide maker in the world!

The moon and stars

It's Reformation Day today, what others consider Halloween. Until recent years Justin enjoyed celebrating Halloween with his friends but I think they may have outgrown it. One year Justin fixed himself up with stage make-up to look like a zombie, complete with fake blood. I do believe this was when Jesse still lived at the Beach and they did a bar stroll as part of the celebration. Thinking that may have been the last time they did something as a group. He's with Ron and Sarah helping hand out candy and holding the baby in the process. 

No one came to my door asking for candy, since the little granddaughter of my neighbors no longer lives here. Oakley was the sweetest thing and I was glad to bestow gifts upon her such as kids' books, crayons, stuffed animals, chalk, that sort of thing. We do presently have three school-aged kids in the building but they go off property for their trick or treating. I'm okay with it, able to come and go freely without having to plan around the doorbell ringing. 

Nancy W and I went to have dinner tonight. She picked me up at 6:05, enough time after "The Five" to get downstairs. She told me the daughter of our friend, Toni, was moving into the apartments so we drove over there to see if they were home. We found Toni waiting for her daughter to get there, so she gave us a tour. It's a cute place, just right for a single lady or even a small family. Two bedrooms and two baths, new carpet, washer and dryer in the unit, new appliances, nice and fresh looking. 

Her daughter arrived at the apartment and was glad to see the work done in it. I introduced myself and wished her well in the new place. My building is visible from her porch so I said if she needed anything, I was a stone's throw away. S. admired my nails, saying they were sparkly, and I told her I raised them from pups. Everyone laughed about that. She asked me, "Are you a Leo?" to which I replied, " I am a Lahaie". Toni explained the S. was wondering about my astrological sign and I said something like, "Oh, the stars!" Toni said they didn't really believe in it, not in psychics and all that, but S. was interested. Once determined when my birthday fell, S. said she would have sworn I was a Leo. Then she was trying to determine my moon. Oh, really? I have a moon? Cool!  We talked briefly about our Myers/Briggs scores, and told them mine was ESPN, which made them laugh again. It's actually ESFP, but that's not nearly as funny. Nancy didn't know what we were talking about so I explained it to her over dinner. 

She wanted a salad so headed to Fleming Island to Longhorn. As we drove through the parking lot I mentioned that La Nop has a wonderful taco salad. She said she could really go for a taco so we changed course and pulled in there instead of Longhorn. Cool with me! We both loved our meals (the waiter let me order from the lunch menu!) and we each took home an order of the rice for another time. I should just skip the quesadilla and be done with it, since I've discovered how much I enjoy their rice 'n beans. At this point I also had the opportunity to explain to Nancy about the origins of Reformation. In our small circles we expect that everyone knows, but that is so not the case. Glad to be able to do so in a non-confrontational manner. No margaritas, either!

Such wonderful news!

My friend, Suzanne, has been battling cancer in the lymph glands for about a year. She first of all noticed a nodule in her neck, and after some delay, began treatment earlier this year. Her chemo treatments were two days in a row, once a month, for 6 months. Things mostly went smoothly for her, Suzanne not losing her hair, but only having it change color and texture. I guess a person can live with that. Toward the end here she changed jobs and in so doing, insurances, and there was a snag as regarded a follow-up PET scan. After several weeks it was granted and today she reported good news to us---she is in remission and presently cancer free. Praise be to God!

Suzanne playing her viola for the Ladies' Advent service

This news was texted to Judy, her mom-in-law, while we were at lunch at Longhorn. She was able to report to the table of ladies this wonderful news from Suzanne. We are all so glad for Suzanne and her family. She was blessed to have so many folks thinking about her and keeping her in prayer. Our continued prayers are with her that she remains cancer free the rest of her life. We have a good and gracious Lord!

Hurricane Matthew

Justin and I did everything we could to ready for the hurricane. We laid in food supplies to eat with or without refrigeration or the microwave. Water was stored up for flushing toilets in case we lost water. Plenty of soda was available for drinking. I had a first aid kit put together, baby wipes for washing up, insurance papers handy, legal documents in my custody, car gassed up in case we had to run for it, electronics charged or charging. My most precious things, besides Justin, moved away from the windows in case they blew out or in, and plastic over the windows for 'just in case'. The firemen who paid us a visit seemed to think we'd be okay here and that helped to calm me. Justin wasn't scared for his safety, nor was I. He felt, as I did, that we were better off staying here to protect and defend our belongings should something happen. I am glad we did stay. 

Borrowed photo taken of the hurricane off shore

 This photo was taken by someone else on the east beltway (9A) as the storm approached 

Hurricane Matthew is here! Taken through our patio door. I kept watch over the river as one of our 1st floor residents asked me to report if the water came over the bulkhead. There were waves doing so but never did the river rise to that height. Their belongings were safe!

Prayers were answered as the eye and strongest effects of Hurricane Matthew veered slightly east, away from the North FL coast. No direct hits, mercifully, but yet incredible damage occurred.  

This area lost power right after 2:00 pm on Friday. I was holed up in the back bedroom and Justin was across the hall in his room. The Brooklyn lantern would provide light and my phone entertained me with podcasts of the week's radio programs. At night I was comfortable with my iPad mini playing Seinfeld for me. I managed to sleep even though I'd been snoozing off and on all day. (I think Justin slipped something into my drink to knock me out!) In the morning, Justin came to wake me, saying he thought I would like to see this---Matthew was moving to the north. Good-bye and good riddance!! I was glad he woke me to see this. Justin was already busy taking down the plastic sheets and piling up the towels which protected our floors in the living room. NOT ONE DROP of water found its way into our home. NOT ONE DROP! Yes, I do believe in miracles. 

Justin fixed up this cooler with bagged ice Judy sent home with him and put it next to my bed. He said, "With a cooler of Diet Coke, your Draw Poker game, and Seinfeld, you are unstoppable!"  

We were notified that our power might not be restored until Tuesday afternoon so I asked Judy C. if she had room in her freezer for our meat. She cleaned off a shelf for us. Someone let me know via Facebook that Grumpy's was open, they had power!, so Justin and I loaded up the meat from the freezer in coolers and bags and took it to Judy's. We all went to lunch at Grumpy's which was crazy busy. One side of the train tracks had electricity, the Grumpy's side, but not the other. People were there at 5:30 in the morning for coffee!!!  I had my electronics charging at Judy's so we dropped Justin off at home and then Michael took Judy and me for a drive to survey the damage. Not nearly as bad as the storms of 2004, especially along the river, which is good. When we got back to Judy's, as I started to gather my electronics together my phone went off. Justin was trying to Facetime me to show me the ceiling fans going round and round. The power was back!!!  I was going to take the meat back home but Michael said he would bring it over after church tomorrow so the freezer would have a chance to catch up after being off 24 hours. He is so kind! 

As Justin and I sat in the dinette portion of the living room, the sun broke through and washed across the floor. We had just moved the furniture back into place (except for the wing chair in the back bedroom yet) and the glass items returned to the window. Loved to see the sun again, after days of the nor'easter which preceded the hurricane. Welcome back, sunshine!!

As Justin looked out at the river, there were manatees back in the basin. We guess they rode out the storm in the shelter of the marina areas, somewhat protected. 

My neighbor, Ellen, went to the Dollar Store to secure plastic and tape for covering her windows after hearing that I was doing that here. Her young houseguest had evacuated but thankfully Josh did come back to help her cover her windows and all her sliding glass doors, as she has a corner unit with more glass exposed. Ellen couldn't leave because of having 4 dogs in the house. She put her precious items in the master bathroom shower for safe keeping. I have glass, she has guitars! Eventually she was able to leave as a friend on Fleming Island said she should come and bring the dogs with her.  

It was Josh who told us that one of the local newscasters was crying on live TV, a man, begging people to evacuate. Of course, these TV stations cover a vast area, not necessarily only OP, but Josh took it to heart. I had to simply go on radio and TV silence because they were freaking me out. At all hours of the night the phone was going off with warnings and cautions. My family kept in regular contact, one sister calling twice, something which rarely happens. Yes, it could have been much worse, especially if Matthew hadn't veered east. I think my building survived nicely (as far as I know), Nancy W's place is okay, Bill and Nancy M. lost a tree and had two windows crack when they opened their front door (opposite side of the house from the windows!), but for the most part, good news! Praise be to God for sparing my home and perhaps, my sanity!

Bracing

I think I have done all that I can, that we can. This includes crying out of fear and uncertainty. Yesterday representatives from the fire department came by to check on who was staying and who was going from The Palace. The Lt. was quite sure we'd be fine sitting it out on the 3rd floor as far as the surge goes, and he didn't expect we would get the winds the beaches area will experience. Hurricane Matthew is causing me terrible upset! Oh, and we know it's all about me, don't we? There are others who stayed in my building, at least 3 on this floor and some upstairs. Boy, I sure wish Dick and Debbie were in town, but again, that's about me. I am glad they are away from all this as they have enough stress to deal with in their lives.

I find myself walking room to room, thinking of what else I should/could be doing to make sure we have what we need, and that things are protected. We/I are sure all about the things. Last month we had a lady at church lose her home and almost all her belongings other than what she could fit in her car. What would I do? My heart breaks for her, and am glad that we at church could step up and lend a hand to get back up and running again. If things go terribly wrong here and I lose all my belongings, my treasures, well, I can't face that right now. Sadly, my testament of faith is not what it should be right, guess I can dish it out but not take it?? Shame on me! One of our readings from last Sunday had the passage where the disciples pleaded with Jesus to increase their faith. This is my prayer as well. 

What do I know? This building is a fortress (at least it has been!) and it also leaks like a sieve. Right now, dealing with the leaks is less a concern than my windows holding. Justin has some finishing touches on the plastic he put up yesterday to better seal it off in my room. We used shower liners, plastic tarp from Dollar Store, and a painter's drop cloth. At first the plan did not work and he got frustrated but I persuaded him to try again using a different method or place for them and it seemed to work. They are in place, at least, which gives me calm. We also have duct tape but he is reluctant to use it, thinking it won't stick to the wood or something. I hope he will try it.

This a.m. I was awake about 3:30 or so and that was it for me. Went to bed early because of not sleeping much the night before and did manage to sleep. I feel like I could sleep again right now, and wish I would sleep until tomorrow. But I have prowling to do, picking stuff up and putting it down again, moving things from pillar to post. My back is bothering me from doing this so it helps to sit for a bit. We have food but I have little appetite, but should have something with my ibuprofen. 

Justin and I are hunkering in the back bedroom for the storm itself so want to have things with me, thinking I will work on stuff. Somehow I doubt that will happen but I have to try to focus on something other than destruction. It's like Justin says, if the house is damaged, it's going to happen whether we are here or not, and if we're here, we can start dealing with it. I went to sleep praying and woke up praying to the Lord for His mercy on us, on all of us. My thoughts are messed up but this is sure, God is our refuge and strength! 

Filled with apprehension

My stomach is in knots, even though I plan to meet Terri for lunch today. There is a serious storm coming our way and it's possible to make landfall here, or come very close. Justin and I are charging our devices so we can at least have them for entertainment, even if we have no Internet or other services. I want to ready things for disaster but Justin just let me know he will help me move the glass stuff away from the windows. I pray the Lord that storm goes east and that my windows don't break. 

My next door neighbor said her hubby wants to board their windows but she said it's so coffin-like. They'd have to do it from the inside, of course, which would then require some repairs once the storm passes. Hardly a concern right now, I guess. I have no plywood and am not sure having it inside would do the trick anyway except if the windows break, it would help keep the rain out somewhat. Ahhhh!  I know I should fear, love, and trust in God above things, but I also fear this pending storm. May the Lord be merciful to us and veer it to the east! 

Justin has some ideas for storing water for toilet flushing for when the power goes out. I wanted a bin into which to put my photo albums and precious things, but he had an idea to use them for water storage. His bathtub as well works for that plus the washer. We can use buckets to catch rain water (plus that water which drips in from above into my living room!) for the toilets if he doesn't want to go down the steps to the pool for water. 

Last night we went to Publix and got a few things to hold us over for when we lose power. Mostly snacks and stuff to eat on bread. I hope we got enough of that type of thing. We have food in the cupboard which can be eaten cold or go to Nancy's house and heat it up on her grille. She is equipped and prepared, even has a gas range! I do hope the power is restored quickly so we don't lose everything in the freezer and fridge, like we did in 2004, twice! Several days then without power. If that happens here, I will have to use the steps. Yikes! Might be good for me, not might, will!