The Gifts of Appreciation

Quality of life is more about what is inside us than it is about what we have, or had and lost, or might have had--it has more to do with inner qualities than outside acquisitions. If we value our lives, treasure our friendships, respect and enjoy our families, we will have a full heart and a spirit dedicated to protecting our loved ones and appreciating how they enrich our experience of life. Perhaps one of the greatest keys to experiencing appreciation is a feeling of connectedness and interconnectedness--to not only perceive and appreciate the blessings that we receive, but to know that we can be a blessing to others, and to know that who we are, what we share, is appreciated by someone else; that our life matters and has meaning beyond what we do to keep our lives afloat in the material world; that the loving, supportive energy we take in also flows outward to others to enrich their experience, and uplift them. It is not enough that blessings flow to us, but that they flow through us to others.

Elizabeth ("Betsy") Shomler, a retired office worker, recently moved from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, CA. Her lifetime of experiences have served to reinforce a belief that appreciation is the key to quality of life. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and reading about the good old days.