Appreciate What You Do Have

by Marie Vonow (follow)

Gratitude (133)      Perspective (98)      Enjoy (7)      Appreciate (6)     

It can be easy to get used to things and take them for granted. This may be your health, family and friends, your home, money and possessions or the area you live in.. It may only be when someone else comments on something you realise how good it is. Perhaps when you visit someone, go to a different town, see a documentary or talk to others about their experiences you suddenly realise how much there is to appreciate in your life. Sometimes it may be years later that it occurs to you a certain event or person in your life was something to be grateful for.

Perhaps you would like better health. With all the tests and checkups available it is possible your doctor has found something that needs to be treated or at least monitored. Many people also have aspects of their health that are very good. It is important to be positive about your health instead of just dwelling on the negative points.

It is unlikely you will get on with every person in your extended family. However, hopefully you will be close to some members and have one or two (perhaps more) with whom you have a fantastic relationship. Sometimes it takes an observation from someone outside your family circle to make you realise how great your family really is.

If we look with envy at the people who seem to have ‘more’ than we do, then we are going to feel discontented. However, it often depends on how you view things, it depends on your perspective. Yes, Mr and Mrs X have a bigger house with all the mod cons. They also have a bigger mortgage, a higher house and contents insurance premium and higher council rates. When the house needs repainting it is going to be a bigger, more expensive job. They may also have a higher power bill because there is a larger area to heat and cool and there are more light switches which can be left on.

Sometimes we forget the good features of our home and may get stuck thinking about how small it is or how ugly the carpet is. It may only be when someone comes to your house on a cold day and makes a comment about how warm and cosy your house is you realise they are right. Perhaps your house is warm and cosy because it’s easier to heat a small house. That carpet may not be the most beautiful or fashionable but it helps to keep the warmth in. Maybe your house isn’t the most prestigious but if it’s cosy on a cold day that really is something to appreciate.

We may complain about modern technology when it isn’t working properly (or we don't understand it). However, I would really miss my computer and the internet. I remember the days of writing essays by hand. Even a typewriter is very limited compared to a computer. I love having instant access to information when I have a question. My mobile phone can be very convenient.

Many people think they would like more money. Sometimes it is difficult to manage with the money available, especially when unexpected expenses occur or there is a drop in income. However, more money doesn’t necessarily mean more happiness. C. H. Spurgeon, a nineteenth century British preacher and author said, ‘It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.’ This statement is true, not just in relation to money but to all the other things in life.


# Appreciate
# Enjoy
# Gratitude
# Perspective

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