Since last week’s link post with Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about appreciating. Google dictionary states that to appreciate means “to recognize the full worth of.” It lists the words “value, treasure, admire, and respect” as words that mean the same. I think that appreciation is tied to gratitude, because if we don’t see the value in something we won’t be thankful for it.

In order to see the value in something, we first have to pay attention or be mindful. How easy it is to muddle through life just seeing what’s wrong or out of place and miss the beauty and goodness that surrounds us. I’ve written about gratitude in the past, but today I want to focus on how to appreciate.

How To Appreciate

• Pause and notice where you are.
• What do you see, smell, hear, feel or taste?
• Pick one item in front of you and focus on it.
• How intricate is this item?
• Did it take skill to make?
• Does it add value to your life?

Appreciating someone or something is not difficult to do. It just requires that we slow down enough to really see and experience what’s around us.

An Example

Now that it’s been cooler, I’ve been able to take walks more often with Dottie, my chihuahua. These are very slow meanders around the block. Now Dottie knows how to appreciate. She sniffs and examines practically every blade of grass and ground we walk over. Her nose would blunder her into a honeybee, so I have to keep a watch on the clover so she doesn’t get stung. This summer there are a great deal more bees about.

I noticed this black bee with yellow pollen in his little saddlebags, as he bumbled about in the purple crown vetch. I could hear his little buzz. Isn’t it amazing that a small bug can collect pollen in little bags on its body? To me this shows God’s design. Without these bags, bees would have to make many more trips per day to bring in enough pollen. Bees are fascinating. So is God.

Then while waiting for Dottie to water the grass, I noticed a very small gray butterfly with a tiny orange dot near the edge of its lower wing. When it opened its wings the top was a beautiful shade of pale grayish blue. The picture on the left is my pitiful attempt at taking a picture of this lovely, delicate creature. The photo on the right is the closest I could find to my butterfly in the online field guide. It was taken by Cam Mannino. He obviously can hold his camera steadier than I can.

Now It’s Your Turn To Appreciate!

So, what will you discover? Share below. I’d love to hear from you!

Till next time, Kathy

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