Appreciation is Gratitude with Enthusiasm

Nowadays its fairly commonplace to hear talk of the importance of gratitude, and how regularly practicing it can be a game-changer for mindset (which it absolutely can, as science suggests gratitude could improve stress levels, reduce pain, help with depression and have physical health benefits too.) Much less frequently, however, do we hear people extolling the virtues of appreciation with the same amount of fervour.

Why is that? My leading theory is that although it has a nice alliteration, attitude of appreciation just isn't as pleasing as attitude of gratitude, ultimately because it doesn't rhyme. We're simple creatures, and we like things that fit nicely. Sue me!

But if you think you can get past the disappointing lack of rhymes, I think appreciation should get more airtime, too. Though it and gratitude can often be used interchangeably, it seems to me that appreciation is gratitude with enthusiasm; it's not only the feeling of being thankful, but also an action based on that. It's really going in on just what makes it so special.

For example, I can be - and am - exceptionally grateful to have a back garden that is lovingly tended to by one of my neighbours (it's a communal garden, I don't just bark at her to weed and mow and sow whenever the mood takes me). It was a real haven during lockdowns, and it's definitely not something I take for granted in central London. But that gratitude, whilst sincere and genuine and lovely, only goes so far: it's an expression of how I feel, not all that much on why I feel it.

That comes when I probe further into the feeling of gratitude.

I think about how much I love the apple trees that fulfil my childhood fantasy of what can only be giddily described as a glut of continuous apple crumble in the freezer. The mix of beautiful flowers so vivid that they look like a Monet painting. The fact that I can see the sunset through beautiful leafy trees, feeling surrounded and protected by nature and its wonder: that's appreciation. That's being right in the thick of it, and letting it swallow you whole. And that, my friends, is appreciation.

That's why you get Appreciation Societies so often, and not Gratitude Societies. Whether your Appreciation Societies are 100,000 members strong or 10 members strong; whether they're online or in person; Appreciation Societies are borne from a desire to dig a lil deeper on that gratitude. They're a way of showing your love, and maybe even finding someone else who shares it too.

And in turn, that’s why Claire from Delicious Monster Tea and I are launching an extra special APPRECIATION SOCIETY collaborative t-shirt (and kit) together! You can get whatever you want embroidered by Claire's talented hands on the dreamy, soft cotton, to proudly declare your membership to the Appreciation Society of your dreams - however niche it may be. Or, maybe you want to embroider one yourself? We've also got a DIY kit, where you can create your own. If you've always dreamed of pledging your allegiance on a t-shirt but could never find one niche enough - WE GOT YA.

Pre-orders close at 8pm on Tuesday 27th July 2021, so make sure to get yours in!

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