Appreciating life opens the door to a more meaningful existence. When we get so busy and forget to stop and recognize the many aspects of living, we suffer. When we stop and ponder and really observe, we realize each step in life is magnificent. Appreciation is easy, once we open ourselves up to the process of each moment here on Earth. 

Everyday functions and mechanisms that our body depend on to survive may seem quite simple if we don’t think about it but if we really look at the entirety of what our bodies require, we will discover it is not simple at all. The complex symbiosis involved in the formation of the air we breathe and the way in which our body uses that air is amazing. Our intake of food and water and the fuel and energy it gives us to function, and the many body systems that make us work, is unbelievably stunning. Every little detail of our bodies processes and our abilities as humans in our daily life is an accomplishment. If we go further and look at everyone, everything, all the workings of life here on Earth, every detail of everyday life and how many conditions must come together to make it work, it is aww inducing. 

When engaged in our everyday routines, we may become so used to the process, we don’t think about what we are doing; We often may not expend much of a deeper thought process on everyday task. If we do look more intently at our everyday actions, it can expand our appreciation for what may appear mundane. Let’s consider the act of typing on a computer, think about all the effort that went into that computer; How many people created that one item?  Consider all the people that came up with the design, all the people that created the many different materials, all the manufacturing, and delivery.  The creation of every item we use and everything we ingest takes a lot of effort, it is by no means simple.  Thousands of people worked hard to give us everything we have; What we have encompasses the efforts of so many, including ourselves.

Life- it’s what we make of it. When we can appreciate everyone despite our differences and everything even when we struggle to understand, we are then living and experiencing life in an authentic way.  Appreciation goes well beyond what we have and what we see.  Appreciation goes beyond just the positive.  With positive there is often negative as well, life as we know it cannot exist in the way it does without negative.  Sometimes the negative is difficult to understand and often it cannot be explained but there are ways in which we can appreciate it as part of our lives.  If we chose to appreciate the positive aspect instead of focusing on merely the negative, we can then appreciate it in that way.  Often, something can be so negative, it is hard to find a positive or maybe we don’t want to find a positive, but it is always present. It may take longer to access the positive, but yes, it is always there.  Although negative experience is part of life experience, it does not mean that we should make negative choices when we are aware of it.  Purposely creating negative is not a good choice.  When we act in negative ways, we are detached from truth and in that moment, we very much lack appreciation.

When the sun is shining, it gives us life.  When there are clouds and rain, it gives us life.  When we see buds or flowers bloom on a tree, we see life; Nature is life.  When we see each other, we see life.  All around us is life and intricacies existing in a continuum of every aspect of living; All around us is a universality of helping and hoping life continues, births and renews.  Everything and everyone has purpose and meaning.   

I hear the birds singing, I see the wind blowing, the trees dancing and nature about. I breathe deeply. I truly appreciate the wonder of all the complexities.  The profound essence of life is amazing. Life is Beautiful.