How We Can Become Happier: Appreciating the Work, Loving Life more!

Waking up in the morning to find out that your sandwiches are on the table and wrapped up in your lunch bag, waiting for you. This is the routine every morning for millions of youngsters, teenagers, husbands, some wives and children. You come home from work to find out that the house is clean and the laundry has been done and the sheets of your bed is clean. You know that when you get home there'll be someone waiting to give you a hug, that when things are sour you will always have a shoulder to cry or lean on. The reality and challenges of life differs for many however the basic fundamental which is the hard work that has been put into making that early morning breakfast, doing the chores, supporting others in times of distress remains the same. Do we recognize the work? Do we appreciate it?

In life we strive to attain different goals and in the struggle to make possible our goals we put in a lot of hard work whether it's simply making an A grade in school or graduating from a learning institution or auditioning for a role as an actress or musician or interviwing for a job. For most of these situations, there's been hours of hard work that has led up to that final examination or the possibility to be able to attend that audition or interview. The bottom line is that a lot of work has been put into it to make it a reality. How much do we appreciate that job when we get it? How much do we appreciate the work we've put in to get that job?

A good example is Paul, he's wanted a car of his own even before he learned to drive. Paul worked two jobs just to save enough money to buy a car and he worked those jobs for two years. In the end, Paul buys the car. When he got into the car which is a used car, he feels very proud of himself for an instance and test driving the car was one of the best feeling he's had in a really long time. A couple of weeks later Paul begins to compare his first car, the used Golf which he's been wanting for a really long time to other cars he saw on the road. He continued comparing his car to every other car he found on the street that soon he hated his car. He felt embarrassed to be in his car and all he was thinking just after one Month of buying his car was that he was going to buy a new car soon, a better one, something better that the golf which he thought has become rubbish. Paul promised himself that this wasn't his real car and that soon, very soon he was going to buy a new car and start living the real life.

What's the whole point of Paul's story? Well Paul forgot about the work. He forgot those long days and nights that he would miss out on parties and spending time with his friends because he was trying to save enough money to buy a car. He didn't appreciate the hard work that he's put in, the time, energy, sacrifices, sweat and money that he had put in to be able to save enough money to buy himself a new car. He forgot about his dream of buying a car that he would ride with his friends and travel to cities he's never been to. Paul forgot about all of the most important things especially -the work that was put into buying that car. The only thing he allowed himself see was that his car was a used car and it wasn't the best in the street. Paul didn't appreciate the work that went into the car because if he had, he would love his car because it's all he always wanted, he would enjoy riding his car, he wouldn't compare the car with other cars on the motor way, or in the car park and on the streets because only he knows the amount of work he had put in to get the car. This is what happens to many of us, we loose sight of our dreams even when we're living it because we forget about the work. We stop appreciating the reality of it. We compare our worst to someone else's best.

This analogy is typical of our lives. We want some things in life so badly and we would do everything we humanly can to get it. When we get it, we don't appreciate it for long because we forget the work and therefore we don't enjoy life. This is the reason why many people are unhappy with life.

Married couples become dissatisfied with their marriages because they forget the hard work of, loving, emotions, sacrifice and years of investing time in order to make their marriage work, they forget that and then sometimes make big mistakes like cheating on their partners, they forget their wonderful children and all the work they put in to make those kids strong individuals. They forget it and so they ruin what they have.

Actors or musicians sometimes forget the hard work they have invested into their careers and they stop appreciating all the opportunities that have been given them and have come their way, they forget the sacrifices they have made to have what they do now. Sometimes they forget the grace they have and they stop appreciating "the work". Some of them turn to hard partying and drug abuse because they have forgotten who they were or how they got to where they are. The point they start remembering the work that has been put into to get them to the point they are, that's when their lives will take a positive turn around. And many would end up happier and live longer. Maybe enjoy a better career!

When life seems like it's going no where, take a look down your memory lane and remind yourself of the work, appreciate the work and your life will automatically seem better. For those trying to keep fit, when you think of the work it's taken you to manage your health and weight, it'll make you appreciate being healthy and you'll be back on track for living a healthier life.

There's always a chance of salvaging the situation turned bad, we just have to remind ourselves of the work we've put in, or remind ourselves that we have to put in the work because nothing worthy comes without some work and finally whatever we get from life (family, friends, careers, gifts, love, relationships e.t.c) we should appreciate the work that has been put in and it'll remind us to love life more and be grateful.

Choose to live your best life always.

K.C Nwokoye.