It's The Thought That Counts

If there's one thing I wished I learned a little bit earlier while growing up, it would be how to be more appreciative to people who go out of their way to do nice things for me, no matter how little that thing may be. Unfortunately I didn't until sometime later, and everytime I remember the event which led to me finally coming to my senses, I get heart broken.

What happened was that back in the day (about 6-7 years ago), there had been this one particular short that I wanted and I would always tell my mom about it from time to time, hoping she would get it for me but she never really paid attention to me (or that was what I thought), until this particular day where she got back from the market and called me into the living room. She had a smile on her face as she dug into her bag to bring out the short.

When I saw what she held in her hand, I immediately became excited and she smiled even more, but then I took the short from her and realized it wasn't exactly the type I wanted and the young foolish me had opened my mouth and told her that, immediately the smiles on her face disappeared and I remember mentally kicking myself countless times for saying what I said.

My mom had told me to give her back the short because I wasn't being appreciative and I had laughed (because I knew she was joking) and ran to my room with the short. I later grew up to love that short, unfortunately, I never really got to apologise to her and tell her how much I love the short before she passed and now everytime I look at the short, all I think about is her and I get enveloped by this huge emotion of regrets.

Ever since then, I always make it a habit to be appreciative of everything anyone does for me from the goodness of their heart because, irrespective of how small that thing may be, the fact that they chose to give it to me and not someone else is more than enough reason for me to be appreciative. It's the thought that counts, and not the gift itself.

And the crazy thing is that ever since I started being more appreciative, I've come to get more favors, gifts and kind gestures from people because I've come to realize that people love it when you appreciate whatever it is they do for you, my mom did, that was why she had that huge smile on her face.

_{The image used belongs to me.}