Why is it so hard for people to appreciate what they have?

Question

Okay, so i really just need to get this out. I guess you could call this somewhat of a rant but its whatev's. I'm a 17 year old girl in high school, and I feel like I am surrounded by people who are more concerned about dumb trivial **** rather than things that actually matter. I understand that this is typical in a high school setting, but its just very frustrating to see people act the way they do. I hate it when people let gossip run their life and have nothing better to do with themselves. There are people our age across the world who are forced to be in the middle of a war who would kill to have the opportunities we do, and all we have to talk about is how drunk we got this weekend or who had sex with who. So many people do not truly appreciate what this country has to offer. The fact that I wake up everyday is enough for me to be thankful for. Although it may be hard to do every day, just try sometimes when you wake up to take in a deep breath and realize you are alive.

Answer 1

Don't worry, most get it figured out in their mid to late 20s -- but don't count on it.

Answer 2

This may sound silly, but many people have no reference point. No point of comparison.

Stand on a street corner in the middle of downtown and you will see people of all walks of life. My wife and I did that while waiting for an outdoor concert. It stuck us that we lived in a very sheltered world.

Don't get me wrong. I'm in my mid sixties and she's in her mid fifties. We are both Viet Nam veterans. We've traveled the world. But that was years ago and we have since fallen into our own little cocoon. It's more comfortable there.

You are entering a period of enlightenment we call it "adolescence." It means "growing up." Some people have a harder time with it than others. Many people fight it. They want to stay children. It's more fun.

As you change so will your friends. You are actually going through a lot of change, but since you are so used to it you don't even realize it. Change will slow as you grow older, but it will always be there.

Read Plato's "Oracle of the Cave." Remember: "In the land of the blind, it's the one-eyed man who is king!"

Answer 3

Rarely do we hear someone your age show that level of maturity. It is admirable. Indeed most people , not just teenagers, go through life talking about the most mundane and trivial things in the world. It is sad. You are on the right track. Your mental quality of life will be determined by how much knowledge and wisdom you have. I know people that are authentic troglodytes. I know how you feel. You showed courage by stating it. Kudos to you.

Answer 4

during high school, teenagers tend to focus more on themeselves. (i'm a 17 year-old girl too so I'm not going off on a stereotype or talking down to you). but really, when you look around it's just easier to be self-centered than be bothered with the heavy problems of the world. It's so much more easier to just say "i give up!" and ignore everyone else and just primp yourself.
but i agree with you, it gets annoying to hear everyone talk about what they want or who they want or who's with whom and blah blah blah.
unfortunately, trying to tell other people to try to not be so self-centered won't work. a lot of people are narrow-minded and sometimes we have to just accept how other people are.
ideally, people would learn how to look around and appreciate what they have, but it's not an ideal world.

Answer 5

People always seem to want more no matter how much they have. You seem much smarter than most.

I was always told to mind my own business and never gossip, and it worked. I have a lot of good friends and no trivial ones.

Keep thinking the way you are, you'll be much better off. I admire your maturity.

Answer 6

It's hard for people like naggy, close-minded teenagers you speak of and condemn because they've never experienced real, true pain... They've never slipped into the abyss of insanity, of madness to truly realize how precious and fragile life is...

Answer 7

We Humans are born different with each other. Different looks, different built, with different languages, and cultures...
We are born with such different countries of our own.....
We belong in different clans and different generations.. with different focus and point of views......
Everyone of Us has its own way of living..... has our own way on how to deal with life...... we are set to have our own opinions and entittled with it as long as we live....
Lucky are those who are more aware of what was happenning out there....of what was going on with ones country... but, we are all individual........ we cannot tell and make someone to be like others.......we are set to live our life in our own way, because we have our own mind to run with.... we cannot put others in our own shoe........ the best thing to do i guess...is let's try to deal with our life in the most and fullest way.... for where we are happy is good enough to lead our journey.... your friends are different from you...they want fun.......forget about those who loves gossip,....we are only human beings......they are happy i guess for what they are doing...... by the way, do you believe in karma? Life is simply like a bouncing ball..... every little things you do have its own affects in you.......if you done something that is quite annoying to someone, time will come that you will be the one to be annoyed by someone, too. And if you've done good with others, a reward will be waiting ahead of you!!!!

Answer 8

It's basic ignorance. You are aware of a larger world and your interconnectedness with it. Your peers are not, and thus focus on their local social circle.

Keep your big picture view as you grow older. It will make you that much wiser.

Answer 9

Long winded answers to this question are quite unnecessary...the answer you ultimately seek is quite simple. The reason they don't appreciate what they have is because they've never not had anything to appreciate. Simple as that.

Answer 10

You're absolutely right. We don't appreciate the things, privileges we have in life until we lose them. Then we start wishing we could have them back...