Appreciation

Not one of my best works. For that I apologise. This piece was more a venting, than a thought out position. It was an exploration into the reasons behind my disappointment.

I needed to find out whether I should be disappointed in myself, or in others. I keep surprising myself by discovering how many times it should be me. How can life or people disappoint you unless you expect to much?

Peace.

Overworked & underpaid, 1998

Appreciation

Why is it human nature to take for granted what we receive easily? The gifts in life that we should appreciate peoples time, and energy and thoughts. Why wonder about human nature when it can be seen that we don’t appreciate the things in life we receive.

We need to work for it, we need to fight for it

Value is personal.

We can only value someone, or something when we have paid a personal price for it.

Was it always like this? Was there ever a time when there was intrinsic value in something? Or someone? There are those who accept the value placed on something, someone, by others. But would we be willing to pay that price?
Is that the true value to us personally?

Why do we give?

If the only value is personal, then what personal value do we receive by giving? In the balance of life, and nature, there are those who tend towards giving, and those who tend towards receiving. Which one am I? Which one are you?

If I go out of my way to make you appreciate the value of my time and energy to you, does that make me scheming? Or does that mean that I have a better understanding of life and people, and accept the inevitable. Do I play the game, or step away from the table?
It certainly doesn't seem to make sense to stand at the table and not play!

It is my responsibility to create my value, and also to make this value clear to the benefactors of my valuables.
How can I blame someone for not seeing the value of my time,
when I in my actions don't value it?
I down play my input.
I average out my highs.
I refuse to shout from the top when I get there - "I made it".

It is human nature to look at me when I am down. I am willing to humbly accept my position when I wallow in the bowels of life.
Why am I afraid to accept graciously the light shining on me when I reach the apex?
Why do I look for the nearest cloud to hide under when I am on top?
Am I ashamed of my accomplishments?
Do my successes make anyone less of a person?
Or do they not help to raise the overall level?

Shout!
Set an example! Create challenges for those around you.
Don't blame others for your fears.
Don&'t allow yourself to be minimalised in the name of humility, humanity and equality. Equality means we all have the same talents? No. Life makes that abundantly clear.

Who are we to wish to be appreciated when we will not accept our mantle in life?. To take our understanding of life, of people, and of society, and use that to the greater good of all.

If Jehovah in his wisdom created us unequal in our talents, unequal in our challenges, unequal in our limits, why should we strive for such a state?

To be godlike, is to be all that God made us to be.
Don&'t compare, but look forward, look higher, harder, longer.
Value is personal.
Achievement is personal.
Extend your personal boundaries.

Cultivate along the way the ability to see great achievement, and reward it with appreciation. For even though you understand that it is your responsibility to create awareness of your value, this lesson challenges you to help those who have not yet discovered this.

The We requires an I, and a you - minimum.
Knowledge of the I, doesn't permit forgetting the you.