“Appreciation is a wonderful thing;

It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well “

• Francis-Marie Arouet de Voltaire

Dear friends and children, 

My 90 year old grandma lives on her own in an 80 year old home, spends her time housekeeping, gardening, cooking delicacies and innovating recipes, sharing them with people who visit her and blessed to taste her delicacies and would never miss the carrot kheer served by her with affection as its main ingredient. Oh! Life goes on for this wonderful woman, an inspiration to the present and coming generations. But I used to wonder! what is it that motivates her even at this ripe old age? The answer is simple - APPRECIATION. “Patti, you keep your house spic and span and your kheer tastes heavenly “. These words of appreciation is all she needs to give her the strength to do more than what’s expected. Well! She is proof that appreciation can act like an elixir energising the whole body and mind inside out.

All humans crave for appreciation -  we want to be noticed, recognised, and popular. Humans greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Appreciation outweighs one’s weakness, thus boosting self-morale and self-belief, cultivates positive attitude, responsibleness and perseverance to achieve better.

While it is easy to criticise others, many find it difficult to appreciate or even make an effort to appreciate. The impediments maybe social status, age differences, qualifications, pride and vanity, or any other. These qualities deprives a person from reaping the goodness of life.

Appreciation, not only encourages the recipient but also benefits the conferee, it develops wisdom, modesty and also earns mutual trust and respect. It comes effortlessly and spontaneously and never hesitate to appreciate celebrities while we fail to appreciate and recognise the ideas, efforts and achievements of people in the family or close to us. Well! Flattery, exaggeration and falsehood has no place here.

Dear friends, appreciation is like watering a delicate sapling wanting to grow up into a strong tree. Our children are the saplings, blooming with creativity and eagerness, hence never hesitate to appreciate their little feats of achievements even though it may be silly or childish to you. Appreciation and encouragement is all it takes to kindle those young minds and keep up their spirits to learn more and achieve more.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life 

Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary”

• Margaret cousins 

So let’s start right away by appreciating this article!

• Uma Maheswari.