Why is LIFE full of LATE APPRECIATION?

Question

Do we count our BLESSINGS backward?
because we seem to appreciate them only when theyre gone....

Answer 1

Hi Enki,
No, it depends I think on the person and on the situation. And really, there's nothing wrong with appreciating what we've had when it's gone because it makes us realise how lucky we've been, if just temporarily, to have had it. It also gives us pleasant memories to look back on.
But that's not the way it is all the time. Sometimes we count our blessings in the here-and-now, knowing that we are limited in the time we can enjoy what we have. For instance my son's now in Afghanastan and we treasured every moment of the six months previously that we spent with him, knowing that while he's away, we've got those lovely moments to look back on and hopefully more to come in the future.
There is a lot I appreciate in the present because I'd rather be glad of it now than realise when it's gone that I didn't make the most of it.
Pollyanna

Answer 2

We live a linear existence. We can only apprehend what we have lived and are living and not what is yet to come. It is in being here and now can I take in the blessing that was before and hold it up to today and appreciate its value and depth adequately. In the moment I can recognize the grace, but often fail to know its worth until I have soaked it in (or soaked in it.)

A seed is a wonderful thing, but a tree is a marvel to behold. The blessing of today is like the GIFT of a seed planted. Over time it grows into a lush tree. Yes, the seed is "gone" but oh so deeply valued and appreciated as the tree it was meant to become.

Answer 3

I think it is very humane for a person who have counted his blessings late or have given his late appreciation. The main problem lies in little things which are not given big importance. Albeit they might be small but it calls for an appreciation however ordinarily it is too late for us to give such appreciation. Usually it happened later in life you. It might be small but these little things are big ones. This may be for the simple reason that humans don't have time to appreciate it because they are very much preoccupied until such time or in the later time that such gesture of commnedation commands a very purposive action in life. This lies the problems in humans. They tend to appreciate things in a delayed manner. That's why you will notice that people give their appreciation when that person have already passed away. All good things are remembered after his lost. I believe what is important is you give your appreciation when a person is still alive whether that thing is small or big.

Thanks to your question. Have a great day!

Answer 4

Sad to say but true so many people do this and then its too late in life. After 9-11-01 when I saw people dying right before my eyes I always count my blessings God made me see this for a reason and I am here alive to share it with all of you !!!

Never be late on appreciation because you never know when your last day might be like the people that died on 9-11-01 God rest their souls always I pray for them always :)))) and the soldiers that risk their lives and get killed !!!!

Answer 5

Hi enki,

I believe that it is human nature not to realize the abundance of good things in our lives. People in general tend to take things for granted once they have them. However there are several categories to your question.

Examples:
Little children are to young to appreciate the fact that they have nurturing parents, materialistic things etc.. They have not experienced, or have seen less fortunate children. They have no basis to compare their lives to others.

The older the children get, the more they see and then do have a basis for comparison and only then do realize and appreciate what they have.

The teenagers, who have lots of friends has not experienced being friendless, and lonely.

The adult, who lives in the lap of luxury, or just economically "middle class". They have a great job, spouse etc. has not experienced poverty, physical or mental abuse. To them it is a give in to have what they do have. Of course they know that others are not as fortunate as them, but until it hits home it is only humane nature to take what they do have for granted, untl it gone.

Until you don't have something you cannot internalize the less fortunate . The older and wiser you get the more you learn to appreciate what you do have, or what you did have .

Call it what you want, hind site, maturity or growing wiser.
That is the bottom line.

Edit: For the mature person it also has to do with values. One persons blessing, is another persons curse.

Great question, and I enjoyed answering it.

Answer 6

I think it's because we don't live in the present. We live always either dwelling on the past or anticipating the future and very rarely live in the here and now. Even right now, we're thinking minutes ahead or behind. Not about this very moment. I am trying to learn to be in the present and appreciate all the blessings I have in my life right at this second. Which are too many to list!

Answer 7

What comes first, the lesson or the appreciation and application of the lesson?

Sometimes we are not aware of what we have because we haven't the learning to recognise what we have. Until we have the perspective, we don't see the gift for it's potential.

Whether we count our blessing forwards or backwards depends on the integrity of the lessons we've learned - synthesized into our understanding.

Answer 8

I think it's because it takes time to think and during the day or in a busy lifestyle, there is less time. We also rarely live in the moment. We look too much to the future. Such as always wanting more. And obviously taking things for granted. It's a bitter way to live.
I say count your blessings often because things could always be worse and could change at any second.

Answer 9

We don't fully understand how lucky we are to have something until it's gone. Once it's gone, we miss it and realize how much it meant.
Yes, a lot of the time we count our blessings backwards.


I think we should be looking at what we do have each day and counting our blessings then, instead of waiting until it no longer exists.

Answer 10

Because wisdom often comes late in life. And without wisdom, it is difficult to appreciate the things in life which truly matter. It's not just that we don't appreciate things until they are gone. It's also that we have to go through a process of unlearning to really understand what's worht appreciating and what's not.