Kent Wayne

Musings

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by

DirtySciFiBuddha
in ,

All too often, gratitude seems overly transactional and justification-heavy—I have to be grateful FOR something.  I prefer to appreciate.

I feel stilted and awkward if I try to express gratitude for the clump of bushes on a roadside median, but I can easily appreciate the green color and easy arrangement, the hum of my car as I step on the gas.  I can appreciate the smoothness of a blanket as it slides across my skin, the blueness of the sky that stretches above me.  I can appreciate the reliable hum of my keurig in the morning, the excitement of caffeine as it moves through my body.

It’s just a personal thing.  I resonate more with appreciation than the “practice” of gratitude.  For me, appreciation is simpler, visceral, and more intuitive, if that makes any sense.

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Comments

16 responses to “Musings”

  1. Aushana Avatar
    Aushana

    It is so calming.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  2. Opher Avatar
    Opher

    I often appreciate something and feel grateful that I have been privileged to experience it.

    Liked by 3 people

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  3. Lorna Wood Avatar
    Lorna Wood

    This is a really good essay on how gratitude was deformed by pop culture into a self-serving cult.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Lorna Wood Avatar
    Lorna Wood

    Sorry–here’s the link to that: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/opinion/sunday/the-selfish-side-of-gratitude.html

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    This is even more thoughtful than usual! It is like appreciation is the skin of gratitude. It is as if the item you are not feeling any gratitude for is just the shape of the item. The actual thanksgiving and appreciation is what makes up that item or how that item works. The feeling of caffeine as it courses through your body or the feeling of a blanket as it caresses your skin.
    I adore your books, I’m glad for them, yet your words are my favorite part. They make the book or the musing or the fun thought, but without them, you’d not have any followers. Although, you probably have picked up some on your podcasts. Thus, my dissection of your musing should split hairs to being an adoration for the visual in your shares! (although, to be fair, the few casts I’ve listened to, I have enjoyed your voice!)

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Haha! Thank you, dear. Indeed, the appreciation doesn’t have to be attached labels or judgments–it can just be.

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Kris Avatar
        Kris

        BIG squeezy hugs!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Dianne Lehmann Avatar
    Dianne Lehmann

    It makes perfect sense to me, although I don’t think I could have expressed it as well as you did. I have a similar relationship with “happy.” I much prefer the concept of contentment.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Happiness is great! And so is the ease and mildness of satisfaction and contentment.

      Like

      Reply
  7. Susan Mather Barone Avatar
    Susan Mather Barone

    Yes, I’m tracking with you. Appreciation and random acts of kindness are dancing around in my thinking. Gratitude — that thankfulness that makes you want to return the favor or gift others with an act of kindness. I tend to forget how many blessings I’ve received in the midst of some seriously dark times, so remembering and thanking God tends to have the heart-and-mind-lifting effect I needed. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Indeed! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. anotherkatewilson Avatar
    anotherkatewilson

    Hmmm… Interesting… appreciation is simpler, it requires only one preposition at most, gratitude requires both a “for” and a “to”. Undirected gratitude is meaningless – or is probably just mislabelled appreciation. I do think gratitude is really important too, but not in the fluffy undirected “cultivating gratitude” way, but rather in explicit, practical ways – an actual thank you card, or better yet a box of chocolates for someone to whom you are grateful.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      Very well put! Yes–that articulates it a few steps further than I did.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  9. silent poetry Avatar
    silent poetry

    Great depiction of appreciation and gratitude 😊 I also find the subtleties in appreciation. I definitely understand it’s simplicity. However, speaking of gratitude… Id like to kindly thank you for always liking my poems, it is much appreciated, and definitely noticed, thank you ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. DirtySciFiBuddha Avatar
      DirtySciFiBuddha

      I am grateful for your thanks. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. coach4aday Avatar
    coach4aday

    Liked this thought – I resonate more with appreciation than the “practice” of gratitude. Thanks for the recent likes

    Liked by 1 person

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