Appreciation

How many of us take time to appreciate the small things in life? The tiny tid-bits that others do for us, and the things which they do to show they care? I believe that we don’t show, voice, or even in some instances, feel enough appreciation for what is done around us.

The other day a friend and I were going to hang out for the day after work. She insisted on following me home and taking me to her house so I didn’t have to drive in my cold car that doesn’t have heat. I look back on this situation, and realize that she drove three times the distance that she normally would have if we had just met at her house. I look back and am thankful for the amount of gas she used, so I could be more comfortable. Small? Yes. Unworthy of appreciation? No.

I was doing my laundry one day among other things this week, and a friend texted me and wanted to know if I wanted to come over. Ecstatic at the thought of getting out of the house, I hurried out and over to his place; completely forgetting about my last load of laundry in the dryer. I came home a bit later that night to find my clothes, which I can’t stand to be wrinkled, laid over my couch and the rest folded on my floor. Confused at first, I remembered that I had left them in the dryer! My mom had taken five minutes to take them out for me, fold them, and hang them up because she knew I hated my clothes getting wrinkled. It was a small effort, but definitely worth being thankful over.

My car, as I mentioned in a previous paragraph, does not have heat. My grandpa’s brother is staying with my grandparents for a while, and when he heard about my predicament, he insisted that I bring my car over so he could take a look at it. He used to work as a mechanic, and enjoys working on cars. I took it over a few days later, and he had a look at it. The whole process took maybe forty-five minutes. Naturally, I expected to pay him for it and left some money on the counter for him to take. At church a few days later, my Grandma came over to me and handed me the money back, saying that he wouldn’t take it. It wasn’t much for him to do to my car, but it was worth being very thankful for, as was him doing it for free.

I write this article hopeing that people will open their eyes to the things around them, and notice the small things that others do for them. When you drop something and another picks it up, thank them. When someone notices your hands are full and opens a door for you, be grateful, and don’t hide it. But also be the person that is the helpful one as well. It may take a few seconds or minutes, but it may mean far more than that to the person that is being helped. How many of us keep our eyes open for a chance to help someone? How many of us make a difference and stand out to do a good deed, even if only miniscule? I’m not sure about you, but I want to be one of those people more often.