WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME

[tomdurst]

WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME

by Thomas E. Durst

Nine-tenths of wisdom is appreciation. Go find somebody's hand and squeeze it... while there is still time. ~ Dale Dauten

I've often thought when I've heard the deceased eulogized at a memorial service why people didn't say these good things about that person while he/she was still living. After a person passes on we forget their failings and remember only their good points. Why can't we start doing that NOW while they are still living?

At this point in my life perhaps I GO OVERBOARD in expressing appreciation but I intend to keep right on doing it anyway. I make it a frequent practice to tell clerks in stores how much I appreciate the great customer service. They usually don't know what to think of this but it often brings a smile. These people stand for long hours on their feet and work hard for very low wages. Perhaps someone else will pick up on my enthusiasm for expressing appreciation and do it more often themselves.

My personal appeal to you, my friends, is this: Everyday express appreciation to at least one other person starting with immediate family members and others who are close to you. We often take family and friends for granted when often they need to know more than anyone else how much they are appreciated.

I remember hearing my dad express that many others recognized his accomplishments in life but he never got any appreciation from his own family and what he said was very true. If I had it to do over again I would tell both of my parents over and over again how much I appreciated all that they did for me. It seems so difficult at times to say "thank you" to loved ones we are close to. We need to break through that hesitancy.

When we do positive things like expressing appreciation we plant seeds that will bear a harvest of good. The evils in our world are ultimately only overcome by the good we can put out in life.

Would you like to join with me in really making a difference and helping to bring healing to a very needy world? If so, a good place to start is by expressing more appreciation.

I invite you to read WATCH OUT which is on the link below:

WATCH OUT

[Deleted]

Gratefulness, as one of primary spiritual qualities, is very powerful. Why not extend it to 'non-personal' world? (i.e. being grateful for the sunrise, breakfast, comfortable chair...etc.)

[Kenneth]

Tom,

This business of expression one's thankfulness and appreciation is something that should be emphasized. My father was also was so appreciative, even to the point of thanking the ambulance staff on his final ride to the hospital. When I began to trace his family history, that I knew little of, I gained an appreciation of him and an understanding that was very enlightening. On his death bed he thanked a hospital chaplain for visiting him and then laid his hand on her head and prayed - she left in tears.

We lighten the day for so many when we remember to appreciate them with our words.

Kenneth, thankful & proud to be a son of George

[Carin Khieya]

Thank you so so much dear Tom! Good reminders and truly appreciated and YES, will wholeheartedly join you in expressing far more appreciation then I have been doing esp to my own!



Blessings



Carin

[Karen]

So good to be reminded of this, I have been thinking about having a heart to heart talk with my mother (never easy) and  this post caused me to reflect on how I will make this happen this week (she lives in another state) and thanking her in detail for all she has done. This has inspired me, thank you

[tomdurst]

There is in particular a hesitancy to recognize and express appreciation to those we are close to--especially to parents. We MUST consciously break down that barrier. Floods of good will start flowing in this needy world as we open the door to expressing much more appreciation than we have been doing. DO NOT NOW!!! Don't put it off even one more day. Everyday give recognition to someone, somewhere, in whatever way you can. Most of the time just a few simple words will do the job.

[tomdurst]