Frequently, I see that people will take life for granted. Whether they are struggling with depression, an unexpected loss in their life, or just hitting a rough patch. After this summer, I have begun to show an appreciation for life. Just like many others, depression hits hard and you feel like you’re in a hole and it feels like there’s no way out. I was there, and I look back on the things I did to myself and just shake my head in almost true embarrassment.

I have more of an appreciation for life and everyone should as well. Sure, you can call me a hippie tree-hugger, but by doing so you will only put yourself farther behind in your mental stability.

Appreciating everything that is presented to you is something that is a virtue. Even when I ingest something as simple as food or drink water, I truly appreciate it. Being able to appreciate everything in life is not only a virtue, but something that is difficult to explain. Take advantage of everything that you can, live life the way you want to live it, and ignore what anybody says about you. Because in the end, all that matters is if you are happy with your life.

My goal by the end of each day is to sit and think that if I had died today, would I be happy with my life as of today? If the answer is ever no, I make it a point to reach out to someone or do something for me that makes me happy. I love working out and training. I love having a nice beer or a perfectly mixed cocktail. This is only a short list of things that I love and are specifically tuned to my enjoyments in life.

This is a start for anyone that wants to appreciate life a little bit more. If you have the means, go volunteer for some activity in the community. There are always places within the community that are looking for help. Go on mission trips if that’s something that peaks your interest. To really appreciate life, you need to not only take time for yourself to reflect on yourself, but also try and make an impact on the world. At the end of my life, I can only hope that I can make some sort of impact on the world or even a community of my peers and neighbors.

Monetary gain doesn’t always equal happiness. Even though it may help, the rich always say that money can’t buy happiness.

Always strive to make yourself a better person by giving your time, efforts, money, and to making an impact on the world. By doing so, you will see a vast improvement in your happiness. One of the best movies that really emphasizes this type of attitude is a movie called 'Pay It Forward', adapted from the book Pay It Forward. This story is truly amazing. I would recommend this story for anyone in the world. A phenomenon that can make someone’s day, and make an impact on the world.

What I want to come from this is hopefully I have inspired one of you that reads this to try and seek out a way to make an impact on the world. Happy Seeking!