APPRECIATION; THE VIRTUE WE SHOULD ALL ADOPT.

Appreciation is slowly phasing out from its initial incorporation in our day to day lives. Appreciation has several meanings or how and when it should be used for the receiver to understand that he/she is being appreciated. Appreciation very simply means GRATITUDE. Some of the scenarios where its used are below;

1. thanks or gratitude

2. assessment of the true worth or value of persons or things

3. perceptive recognition of qualities, as in art

4. an increase in value, as of goods or property

5. a written review of a book, etc., esp when favourable

Appreciation nowadays is basically confused for 'recognition'. Celebrities get 'appreciated' and I use the word very loosely when they get awards,athletes get medal and trophies,campuses and other educational institutions have the dean's lists,couples exchange gifts and while family also just go through the motions.

Being appreciated makes everybody feel good and loved. It boosts our self esteem. It makes us work harder at our various endeavors so as not to let the people who saw and showed us appreciation down. It makes us know that all we strive to achieve isn't in vain. We are so caught up with our careers,studies,children and all other endeavors to remember the people in our lives who've supported us,who picked us up when we were down,who were patient and tolerant of our bad days or mood swings and those that know how horrible we can get but still love us and stand by us and even fight for us when someone tries to bring us down.

Appreciation appears to be losing the fight to 'recognition' in this day and age. Appreciating the little things like; the everyday cooking we do for our children and spouses that's believed to be mandatory,appreciating that our parents worked hard for the lives we have and some even hate their jobs but still stick it out for us. Even our teachers and lecturers deserve a little bit of appreciation if not much. Their salaries are pathetic yet they stick it out to make us get that education we sometimes really hate and consider a punishment at times. Another victim of appreciation are our spouses; the fact that your spouse spoils you with beautiful trinkets or the latest gadgets and latest designer label clothes and shoes...I need to be clear that its not written anywhere in any laws of any constitution or a verse in the Bible or part of the ten commandments that they should! So stop competing with your 'guys', girlfriends or fr enemies and sometimes even neighbors while you put your spouse through MISERY when they don't deserve it. When all your 'friends' probably sneer,roll their eyes and even hiss or jeer when your not listening or seeing.

Man in the form of Adam as the Bible clearly states was given an obligation to take care,provide and protect his family. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't show him appreciation because its his obligation. Parents are supposed to provide,protect and teach their children beliefs,religion,the wrong and the right to shape us into better people but we shouldn't take them for granted either. They struggle! For those with parents that stuck by them that is! The more cowardly ones choose the easy way out and disappear while others choose to be dormant but I believe their unbecoming and selfishness should be appreciated because they still affect the decisions we make and how we handle situations because in some way we always want to be better people than our runaway parents and that I believe our unborn children deserve.

Let's put away all the fancy things that technology has made possible for us to have,the fancy designer labels,the outrageously expensive beautiful cars and hair extension....after you have all that are you happy?! You'll look Kemp and proper and in most cases even more attractive as you smell heavenly as well....but who appreciates your God given beauty without the enhancements who appreciates you as a human being with all your 'baggage'?? Who appreciates who you really are away from the 'expensive packaging'? Who stands by you completely even when the rest of the world ridicules you and finds you worthless? Who's always home waiting for you; probably worried when its late and your phone's off?! Who takes care of you throughout when you fall sick and are hospitalized?

Hmmm....its made me think as well. Those are the people we need to appreciate. But sadly, for the fact that we are human and all we do is take rather than give most of the time is...they end up being taken for granted and appreciated least of all. They won't be around forever, don't cry with regret when they pass because you were selfish and didn't even acknowledge how much they gave you or gave up for you. Call them now,text them now or even go them today and let them know you've noticed and that you appreciate them and the value they add to your life no matter how small. And let's never forget...its those little things...'Appreciation' topping the list.