Gratitude & Taking things for Granted...

Gratitude & Taking things for Granted...

I've been thinking a LOT about gratitude & appreciation the last few weeks...

I suppose... becuase so many of us are so busy, we tend to be self-focused (which is not meant in a bad way)... simple, some of us tend to take things for granted, whether we mean to or not...

and I do believe- often, its due to busy lives...

A wise person once said (okay, I found it on pinterest!) ,

"Always pay attention to the smallest things people do for you before they stop doing it"

This is very true...

I am a type of person (as many of us are) willing do just about anything to help...

but... once I feel that I am being taken for granted... I automatically put up a shield.

Since I've been pondering this subject, I came up with this theory-

People get so caught up with their own lives and immediate events around them, they forget the little simple things around them.

This leads to them- taking things for granted- as if it were always there and always will be.

In turn, people who are there for them, start to feel taken advantage of.

BUT...

there are people- special people- who even think about the small things.

there are also those... who truly understand gratitude & appreciation.

these types of people truly sparkle (and most of the time, they are so humble, they never realize it)

two recent instances I've encountered...

(one of them happened today.. that's why Im writing this blog)

Today, I came in to work (at 2:30 in the MORNING) and found a bag of Snickers Chocolate

(which I LOVE)

It came with a note, saying, "thank you" for lending my co-worker $1 at the vending machines.

Mind you, this person ALREADY paid me back, which he didnt have to (becuase I forgot about it anyways and I was just there when he his change wasnt being accepted)

(plus, I've had instances where people have borrowed LOTS more money- and never paid it back or even mention it again)

But the note & chocolate really made my day (and heart warm!!!!!)

Few weeks ago, I came to work and found a thank you card from another co-worker's daughters.

They thanked me for an umbrella I had-

 that was something special to them, but not to me (just another umbrella!)

It made me feel all warm and fuzzy to know how appreciative they felt- even though for me, it wasn't anything special!

So I found a few quotes...

"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."

  -Aldous Huxley

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them"- John F. Kennedy

I think I'll take today and the next few months... to try to be more grateful (just in case!)