Just....APPRECIATE

We had the most amazing last week of the school holidays, getting away to a beautiful area in Western Australia’s South West region.  The best thing about going away in winter time is that it’s better value for money, and there aren’t so many crowds to contend with.  And winter is our family’s favourite time to visit the South West region, savouring the crisp, country air and gorgeous green landscape against the mint green and aqua hues of the glorious coast.

It was great to have down time, and to really just be in the moment.  We didn’t plan a hectic schedule – we barely planned anything at all.  We rose in the morning when it felt right, ate leisurely meals or missed them if we were engrossed in activities and didn’t worry too much about keeping up a regular routine.  We spent some time at the beach, clambering over rocks.  Some time at local attractions, climbing up and down steps of the local caves.  It was just an awesome time.  And we all felt so appreciative.

We appreciated the time we could spend together.  We appreciated the beauty of the environment and landscape, and amazing sunsets.  We appreciated the quality of the local produce we ate and drank, and the people that brought it to us.  We appreciated the place where we stayed and the owners’ ability to cater for all our needs. 

And on hearing of the most terrible act affecting Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 on the 18^th July 2014…. all those lives lost – many children, all of them innocent; the unimaginable pain of their grieving families and friends….. it just brought home the importance to appreciate what we have here and now. 

I really like the following quotes on the topic of being appreciative, and I hope you do too:

“I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.”
― Elbert Hubbard

“I wake up in the morning and I see that flower, with the dew on its petals, and at the way it's folding out, and it makes me happy, she said. It's important to focus on the things in the here and now, I think. In a month, the flower will be shrivelled and you will miss its beauty if you don't make the effort to do it now. Your life, eventually, is the same way.”
― Dan Buettner, Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way

“Be happy with who you are and what you do, and you can do anything you want.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”
― Oprah Winfrey

Do you ensure that you appreciate the goodness in your life?  Have you felt the benefit of acknowledging that appreciation?  I’d love to hear your thoughts, so post a comment below or send me an email to livewelllivesmart@gmail.com .