The practice of appreciation

There are things we appreciate every day without really stopping to notice them.

A person we love. A familiar place. A good conversation. A cup of tea. The sound of birds outside. Something that made us laugh. We can appreciate something and still move quickly past it.

I’m curious about what happens when we give our attention to something we appreciate.

When something matters to us

We don't always need to think about why something matters.

We might simply enjoy being with someone. Feel grateful for a place we know well. Appreciate something small that made our day a little easier.

Sometimes the feeling is there, but our attention has already moved on.

We notice the good thing, and then we get on with everything else.

When we pause long enough to notice

Perhaps appreciation begins with paying attention.

We might notice the person sitting beside us and the fact that we are together.

Notice the warmth of the sun. Hear a familiar voice. Take in something beautiful rather than simply passing it by. Nothing needs to change.

We are simply giving our attention to something that is already here.

When appreciation becomes noticing

Appreciation doesn't have to be something we make ourselves feel.

Sometimes we may not feel particularly grateful. We may be tired, distracted or caught up in something else. Perhaps we can simply notice what we value when it appears.

Kindness. A moment of connection. Something that brings us joy. Something we might otherwise have overlooked.

Giving something our attention

Our attention is often drawn towards what needs fixing, answering or doing.

Appreciation asks us to notice something else. Something we appreciate might already be here, waiting for us to notice it. Sometimes giving our attention to it allows us to see it a little more clearly.

What do we appreciate?

We cannot hold our attention on everything.

It will drift, as it naturally does.

Perhaps sometimes we can return to something we appreciate and give it a little of our attention.

A person. A place. A moment.

Something small that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

I wonder what you might notice the next time you come across something you appreciate, and give yourself a moment to really be with it.