Appreciate.

“Every day of the year (not just at thanksgiving) appreciate everything you have been given,” says Rachel snyder. She goes on, “slow down for a second and appreciate a moment of silence. Be grateful for the stillness. Appreciate just how blessed you truly are.”
Come on Rachel, aren’t there times when the complexity of life overwhelms your basic sense of appreciation?
just the other day my son approached me with the kitchen magnet in hand and asked if “it was THIS kind of day”. Note: the magnet reads “I try to take one day at a time, but lately several days have attacked me at once.” I appreciated the interruption, the laugh we shared and the big hug and kiss before he left.
But, that is not always how this Gemini reacts. My sister sent me an email about a videogame programmer named Matt. When I first received the email, I resented the interruption. “Another thing to do,“ said my overburdened mind. But, I watched it. I watched it to understand why she had sent it. Matt didn’t like his job, so he quit and decided to travel. A travel buddy encouraged him to videotape himself doing this funky dance during their journeys. The video was placed on a website to keep family informed of his travel. Somehow Stride Gum found him and the rest is history. Matt now travels the world introducing the world to his dance. My lesson? Appreciate the sentiments sent my way. Appreciate the unique dance I bring to the world.
When I think “appreciate”, two children books come to mind: the velveteen rabbit and Alexander and the Wind Up Mouse. In the first example, the rabbit didn’t know that being worn = loved = real and in the second example the mouse didn’t know true friendship until he thought he had lost one. The common theme in both is loss. Loss = a realization of what was before them all along and regret for not appreciating it when they had it.
I do not want to be a could have, should have, would have kind of person. I want character building opportunities. The ones that others see as obstacles or challenges. I want the people I meet and choose to call friend to always know the authentic me. I want to live a life with my family that isn’t dependent on words, because my actions say it all. My struggle is getting the “I want” into the actionable “I will.”
But back to the Rachel Snyder question. Does she have days? I bet so, I bet many, but I also bet her attitude and approach get her by. My wish for you is this: that you enter today appreciating you are a better person then yesterday, appreciating the treasures that surround you and celebrating the unique dance you bring to the world.
-Stacy

Velveteen Rabbit can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_m054tLKvs