We Don't Appreciate Things Until It Is Gone

There's a truism that's genuinely true: people don't value something until it's gone. It's a hard learned lesson, but one that's hard to reconcile unless we think about the consequences of valuing the things we have.

It's a good idea to try and appreciate the things we have now instead of waiting until they're gone. Too often, we abandon things that we feel we already have, failing to acknowledge the value they actually have to us.

I have a theory about human nature. I think many of us have a hidden desire to do without all the possessions, luxuries, and foibles we take for granted. It's like we're able to identify with that desire on a subconscious level, until the day arrives when we understand we will never be the same.

The Importance Of Appreciation

I think appreciating the things we have, however small or big they may be, can help keep us grounded. It's one thing to desire something and another to be thankful for what you have. Without much justification, you begin to notice the little things in life that others may overlook. You become more mindful of what you have and you don't take it for granted.

I like this idea of being grateful for what you have. As counter-intuitive as it sounds, it's been shown that gratitude can be a powerful emotion. It can even protect against the ill effects of stress. However, most of us learn through experience that it is better to be careful with what you have, because someone else could take it away from you.

That doesn't mean you should live a destitute life though. That's just as bad if not worse. You should try to have a good and happy life, but you can't do that if you're worrying all the time about what you don't have.

It's important to be mindful of that. For me, this has been a journey of learning to appreciate the little things. I'm not the same person I was, five years ago, let alone two. I'd like to think I've become wiser, more well-rounded and more appreciative. But, I probably haven't. That's something I should work on.

There are a lot of things in this world, that I would like to have. But what I really should appreciate are the things that I do have, like my own health and the people who are in my life.

Three Things To Remember About Appreciation

There are three things to remember about appreciating anything.

First, you must focus on the fact that you're appreciating it at all. If you just gave up and stopped caring about something, you'd have let it go. There's no use remembering what you had if you don't even bother to appreciate what you have now.

Second, you must be willing to let go of the thing you're appreciating, eventually. Even the greatest things can be taken away, given enough time. There's no use preserving something that will soon be gone.

Third, the more you use a thing, the more it will eventually cost. Appreciate it now, use it often and it will be gone soon. So, don't take for granted the things that are easy for others to provide.

Let's try to apply that to our lives.

The first thing we should do is to make sure we're appreciating all the things that we have. It would be a shame to waste all the good feelings we have now, only to have them dissipate when we don't even have what we thought we wanted. We already know that we aren't wasting anything; so, why should we wait? We should just go ahead and enjoy every minute of it.

Think of everything that you have right now, and make sure you're allowing yourself to be fully appreciative. Maybe you can't afford that fancy yacht, or fancy a house in Paris instead, but you do have a warm bed to sleep in, you are in relatively good health, you are not hungry or thirsty right now and you have the freedom to do as you wish right now. Make the most of it. You'll only be able to do so much in this world, so enjoy every minute of it while you can.

Now, let's see the other aspect of it. As much as it may sound silly, sometimes you have to actually let go of things, in order to progress. If you cling to something, it will never give you what you want. If you don't let go, you'll never find out. But, you must be willing to let go. You can't force things. It doesn't work like that. Think of something that you've been holding on to, that you really want, that you think you'll never be able to have. Remember, it can be anything. Then, let it go.

You don't necessarily need to throw it away. You can always donate it to charity if you're feeling particularly generous. That's a worthy way to get rid of it. But, you are letting it go. You are recognizing that it is not within your control and you are being merciful to yourself by not acting on that desire. As soon as you give up that attachment, the object of your desire will come to you. You'll know it when you see it. If you follow this process, you'll be surprised how often you'll be surprised by the things that come to you.

Realize, That Everyday Things Could Be Badly Missing Once They Are Gone

There are a lot of things that we cling to, for various reasons. Maybe it's a childhood fear, maybe the familiarity, maybe just our own stubbornness. Whatever the reason, we don't realize how much we're relying on those things, until they're gone. Let's say we just turn on the tap and water flowing out of it, we turn on the light so we don't have to be in the dark. We open our eyes in the morning and see the daylight, we hear what other people are saying to us. All these things are so certain to us, but what we would do if they would just go away all of a sudden.

What would we do? Would we be able to function? Would we even know what to do? We would get used to it, that's what we would do. It would take some time for us to realize that those things were never coming back. But, that time would be less than you think. You can't really know how something will affect you, until it actually happens. You can't know how you'll react, unless you try it. And even then, you won't know for sure.

The point is, you shouldn't take anything for granted. Not the light, not the water, not the sound of other people's voices. You never know when those things might be taken away. It's not that you have to be constantly in fear. It's just that in the back of your mind, you have to be aware of the possibility. That is the main reason why we have to appreciate things we have right now, even if it is the smallest thing in the world or if it is so certain for us to have. Because, even if it is certain that you'll have it, it is possible that it could be taken away from you.

Thank you for reading.