The Art of Appreciation

There is an art to truly seeing what sits right in front of us.

Have we started living on autopilot with the very things we once prayed for?

Every morning when I take Emmitt out, I stop and appreciate the beautiful neighborhood that we now call home. It’s the feeling and the awareness of the beauty around, that we sometimes take for granted. It’s not about the things that we possess, for me it’s about learning to pause vs pass through.

Slowing down can Shift the way we experience our Day.

The Beauty of “Things” Without Attachment.

I have always tried not to get attached to “things”, but I really love aesthetics. 

I love repurposing furniture. For me it’s about creativity, not restlessness. It takes on a new shape, energy and can shift your mood. It does mine for sure!

You can have gratitude for beauty that does not turn into being materialistic.

Focus on Appreciation vs. Accumulation.

Gratitude for the Journey.

I appreciate the “here”. But not in the sense of the “place” we are now living in, but the seasons that passed to get us here. 

I recognize what was conceded along the way. The small sacrifices that were made and the people that were left. The latter being the most difficult. This makes the appreciation so much more valuable to me, remembering the road behind us. 

I thank god every morning and every night for giving me an incredible partner to have been able to share this journey with. And for the life we have built for ourselves and for our Son’s, who are now Men building their own lives.

And speaking of those young men :) I appreciate and do not just assume my relationship with each of them. Each is unique, spoken and practiced over time. I’m not above saying that I am still learning in this area. Sometimes I’ll be thinking about a conversation that I had with one of them and I think, “why didn’t I say this to them in that moment”.

Again it is about slowing down, listening and really being present, which is my next B4 Banter Blog: “Being Present is the Gift”. You are going to hate me for this one. :)

Remember,  Appreciation Strengthens Connection.

Appreciating the Body That Carries You.

Do you give gratitude for what your body allows you to do daily.

We can be so focused on the aesthetics of our body that we truly never appreciate or value the depth of it.

 I am reminded of this daily, thanks to muscle fatigue or soreness. Today the grand prize winner is my calves, thanks to my 1 lb ankle weights that I used in Friday’s Barre Class. Yes Peeps, I said 1 lb! Just to take it up a notch. I don’t look at fatigue or soreness as a complaint, but appreciation for allowing me to push harder with each new day of movement. 

Have we Shifted our Focus from Gratitude to Expectation?

The Gift of this Community and My Life Long Friends.

The B4 community is proof that connection can transcend screens, distance, and different seasons of life. During a recent pre-class banter, one of the B4 Babes shared that she doesn’t really have friends in her local community, and it stayed with me. Having just moved to a new city myself and not yet meeting anyone in person, I understood that feeling deeply. It reminded me that friendship is not simply companionship. It is the quiet consistency of women who show up wholeheartedly, who celebrate your highs and help you through your lows. It is not about proximity, but about shared experiences, laughter, inside jokes, and the comfort of being truly understood. 

The photo attached to this post was taken on a trip to Napa while visiting one of my B4 Besties. What first caught my eye was the glass itself. Victorian-inspired with a modern edge, it felt less like an object and more like something quietly expressive. To me, it was art. And as we know, art lives in the eye of the beholder.

But what matters most is where it now lives. It sits on the bookcase in my living room, not simply as décor, but as a gentle reminder. A reminder of conversations that lingered long after the evening ended, laughter that came easily, and the intention it takes to build and sustain meaningful friendships.

The greatest Luxury is not Time or Things. It is being Known, Supported, and Appreciated in return, and the Memories Created Along the Way. 💛

When we let appreciation slip through the cracks, we start taking things for granted. We lose the small wonder of the beauty around us.

It does not take perfection, or abundance. 

When practiced intentionally, appreciation can shape our life into a truly meaningful one. 

Cheers to Staying Happy, Healthy & Fit! xo, M