Appreciation

What is the one thing we can do in our lives that could so simply affect everyone around us and even those that are not around us? What can we do that is so small and relatively easy for us, but can make one of the biggest impacts on the world around us? What is one attribute that we can learn to possess and use that would always have a positive affect on those we come into contact with? It is very clear and very simple. We could learn to become appreciative. We could become appreciative of those around us, of what they do, of who they are. In an address President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, gave to students of Brigham Young University he tells them, “We can be appreciative in a very sincere way. We must not only be tolerant, but we must cultivate a spirit of affirmative gratitude for those who do no see things quite as we see them.” Just imagine how different our existence would be, if we could all follow President Hinckley’s counsel.

By being appreciative of others and not just being tolerant but grateful for their differences there are so many good things that could possibly begin to come about. Education would never be stopped. It would be a continual process with no limitations, because people and their new ideas would not be put down. With more appreciation for others and their uniqueness we would be able to better learn from each other and combine our intelligences. I am certain technologies would advance in untold ways. Countries would grow together in appreciation and trust. Contentions and arguments would begin to subside in the world. On a more personal level, friendships would grow. Life would become fuller, flavored by differences and new experiences. There are untold possibilities of what could happen if we could cultivate more appreciation for those we come into contact with.

Brigham Young, a previous prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints once said, “Every true principle, every true science, every art, and all the knowledge that men posses, or that they ever did or ever will possess is from God. We should take pains and pride…to rear our children so that the learning and education of the world may be theirs.” (69) How can we even imagine to begin starting to follow this guidance if we do not appreciate the knowledge and respect of others? One of the most important action that can be taken to support and encourage education is to let those learning feeling comfortable asking questions and sharing their knowledge. How can we allow this to happen if we are not appreciative of others individuality and respect what they have to show? When others feel comfortable they then allow themselves to open up and let their minds explore all possibilities in every direction possible. When they feel like that are not as good or worth the same as the other learners they do not let themselves grow and learn nearly as much.

Education in this day and age has some what of a narrow vision. Sometimes we assume that science and technology knows everything. We do not want to go back to the “dark ages” and use some of the basic practices that have been around for thousands of years. By this logic, though, we miss out on some solid knowledge and truths that had proven true time after time for our ancestors. One example of this is the practice of medicine. There are many ancient practices that physicians of today tend to ignore because it can not be scientifically proved. Take the ancient Chinese medicinal practices, they believed in the balance of the body and the elements. For example, if they had something cold, they had to have something hot right beside it. The Chinese healing arts are legendary, but they are not practiced in modern day practices. Not all of their practices were practical or, in fact, worked, some practices were just tradition. Why can we not combine that knowledge and our modern day knowledge to make a more complete healing process? If we could more fully appreciate that knowledge that is still practiced in parts of China today, we might be able to learn more of the body and heal more people.

Elder Holland once described the way education should be. He described it as this, “Gathering, uniting, learning. Community, cleanliness, communion. One in feeling and sentiment and purpose-a basin, a circle, a bond. Humility and service.” (72). This seems to be the same kind of vision that President Young had. The bond that Holland wants to see cannot be formed with out appreciation and gratitude for people and their uniqueness.

If other cultures could cultivate the same sense being one in feeling and sentiment and a purpose and Elder Holland was talking about there would be much more unity and peace in the world today. Today countries and governments and so worried about getting what they want and what they need at times they seem to hurt themselves