The More You Have The Less You Appreciate

The More You Have The Less You Appreciate

Hi all, miss me? Been on a Cruise the last three weeks and had a great time with great friends. So few people can afford the time or the cost to go on a cruise. It got me thinking about how lucky I am and how I need to make a point to never take things for granted.

As wonderful things come your way, do you take the time to appreciate them? It's harder to do so the more you have. As a kid I had many wonderful friends. We were all in the same boat, so my friends were something I didn't think about. I took them for granted.

However, we all saved up money to buy the Wilson NFL football called the Duke (the Duke is still the standard NFL football sixty years later). We really, really appreciated that football. Each kid got to take the football home after we played street football (some of you might remember the play - go behind the red car and I'll hit you with a pass).

At sixteen (the driving age at the time), My Uncle Harry financed me enough money to buy my first car - a VW Beatle. He lent me the money under one condition. I had to make a payment book and pay him money every month until the $1500 was paid off. I really, really appreciated my car.

The more money I made the more I could afford a new car every three years. The fact is I didn't appreciate those cars anyway near the appreciation I had for that Beatle. 

The more money I earned, the more promotions I got, the few health problems I had and the more friends I came to know, the less I appreciated all that I had. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy having those things, it's just that I didn't stop to really, really appreciate it all. I was more focused on what was wrong with my life than what was so great about my life.

Now, I'm seventy three and can't stop appreciating all that I have. I love my Honda CRV. I love my Ellen. I love being retired. I love having people around the globe reading my blogs. I've accepted my bad back and appreciate that I don't have to go under the knife. I love that I have enough money to live out the rest of my life and still be able to do wonderful things like going on a cruise.

Hopefully, life is giving you as much or more than you believed you would get when you were younger. Please don't let getting more hold you back from appreciating what you have NOW!