Appreciation

When will we ever start appreciating things for how they are? When will we start realizing that even though our lives may not be perfect to us, those families who have nothing would die to live as we do? We can see. We can hear. We are completely self sufficient. We have our independence. We have people who love us. We have opportunities thrown at us from every direction, every day. We have the ability to be taught. We can drive our own cars. There are more than many people to lean on around us. There are more than many people who are willing to reach out to help us. We have shelter. We have clothing. We have food. So what’s our excuse? We should appreciate the things we have. We shouldn’t wish and wish for more.

Recently, the people living in Haiti had a devastating earthquake and who have to rebuild their entire lives back up, with nothing but a concrete slate and lack of family members around them. Here, all we do to build back up our lives is to call a contractor and a funeral home. Families in Africa see water as a gift. Here, we pollute it.

When Katrina hit, I think we all got a better glimpse of how we should appreciate our lives. Sadly, those outlooks have changed over the years since the hurricane. It was a time when we realized that even though we didn’t have the material things we loved, we still had people around us who had survived the downfall of the city.

And on that note, relationships. Nothing is ever perfect. No one is ever perfect. No relationship, whether it be friendship or something more, will ever be perfect. But there’s a time to let go of a barrier you put up, a wall that you build inside you to keep you safe and independent, and let someone in. There’s a time to step back and appreciate the amount of people around you who care for you more than anything in the world. If you do that and realize how many people look out for you and only want the best for you, I bed you’d be appalled. Get rid of all the petty bullshit and drama. No one needs that. Look at what would make your life better. Look at who would make your life happier. When you find someone you can lean on and reach out to and who will be willing to help you whenever, wherever? Then you’ve found where you should be.

We have so many things we should be thankful for, but we forget to BE thankful for them. Up there is my list. Where’s yours?