On Giving Appreciation

Nowadays, I’m fond of playing “Wordscapes” in my cellphone during my free time. Thanks to my children for introducing me to Google play store where I downloaded said game for free. Wordscapes is a cross word puzzle game where scrambled letters are introduce to the gamer to form words in a puzzle. What I like about the game is that every time you guest a correct word, you get to be appreciated by the game application. Words like “Excellent”, “Nice”, “Marvelous”, “Great”, “Brilliant”, “Well Done”, “Impressive” and “Perfect” appear immediately in the background. It is so nice to see those words, thus it made me more enthusiastic to accomplish more words to solve. This is just a game and I already feel ecstatic after being appreciated. I cannot help but wonder how one feels if a boss appreciates an employee or a wife appreciates her husband and vice versa or parents appreciates ones children or vice versa or a friend appreciates each other. Such gesture brings a wonderful feeling.

Just recently I got to be appreciated by my eldest daughter. She told me “Thank you Ma for the support”. She further said “I appreciate so much what you’ve done for me”. My daughter was thankful, because for the last few days her group mates in one of their subjects stayed for hours and even overnight to finish their research work in our home. It really feels good to be appreciated by my children. As a widow I tried my best to put first the needs of my children in my own little way with the help of my immediate family.

On the other hand, whenever a situation arises where my children needs to be appreciated or praised I told them these words… “Thank You”, “Good Job”, Keep It Up”, “You Can Do It”, “Nice Work”, “I’m Proud of You”, among others. These are just simple words but ignite enthusiasm when heard.

Also, it seems words of appreciation were poured out in me these past few days. Friends offered words of appreciation like “I’m proud of you” and “Keep It Up” in my personal endeavors. Said words enkindle in me a desire to continue on what I have been doing like writing for DCHerald. By God’s grace I hope to contribute more articles in this paper in the future.

What about you? Have you appreciated a love one, an employee or a friend lately. I hope so. May we be reminded of these words from Sara Paddison who said that “The word appreciation means to be thankful and express admiration, approval, or gratitude. It also means to grow or appreciate in value. As you appreciate life, you become more valuable – both to yourself and others.”

With that, we should be generous in appreciating our parents, our spouses, our children, our employees and friends, for doing so would make them feel good about themselves. It would also inspire them to do better in their respective endeavors.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” – Margaret Cousins