How often do we have thoughts of appreciation? I am sure that the majority of us will say: “Often. I am filled with appreciation for all good things that have happened to me”.

But I think about appreciation in moments of tragedy, grief or loss. I think about the power of acceptance and appreciation in the lowest, most emotionally fragile time of our life. How do we act and behave then? Are we able to keep our spirits up and trust that all will be fine?

Appreciation is easy only when we are talking about it. When something really terrible happens we tend to play victim of circumstances. Some lose their faith in in fellow human beings, some in God and some believe that they have been cursed or are a subject of black magic. It is extremely rare that we are able to rise above “pity me” and see the whole picture as much as possible. Maybe then we would begin to see the bigger plan: how this predicament has been orchestrated to make us stronger, better and more compassionate. Maybe we would see that this is the time to forgive those, who (we think) have played a parts in our misery? Maybe it is an opportunity to walk straight and say: “I do not know why this happened, but I still trust that all will turn to a common benefit, hence I appreciate it”.

People say that what will not kill you, will make you stronger. But how often circumstance did not kill us, but made us bitter, resentful and put us on the quest for revenge. It is interesting how easily then we can come up with excuses for our behaviour. Funny, in a sense, how forgiving we have become of ourselves.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to notice not immediate gratification and benefit, but the element (even a spark) of goodness and grace in everything what happens to us? Life would be even more amazing then…

I do my best to look for appreciation in every moment. I will APPRECIATE your comments…