“Today is a gift, that’s why we call it the present.”

1. Be grateful. When someone does something kind for you or when you receive something from another person, always remember to say thank you. You can say it, write it, or sing it, but the important part is that you express how thankful you are. Being appreciative is not only an expected social grace, but also a great way to remind yourself that you are lucky to have such wonderful people in your life. The more you get into the habit of being appreciative, the better things will work in your favor because you will spend your time thinking about someone other than yourself.
2. Give compliments. Did your coworker get his or her hair cut? Do Brooke’s shoes match her nails perfectly? Tell him or her! Happiness does not diminish when it is spread; rather, it is shared and able to to influence a wider audience. You never know how much people appreciate being noticed and given genuine, honest, and caring attention. Plus, seeing someone else smile is enough of a reason to give a sincere compliment, am I right?
3. Appreciate the details. Noticing how much work was put into a project or an event will make you infinitely more grateful for all of the planning that took place. Realizing how hard others work and how much other people care should encourage you to be reminded how everything you do and everything you say counts. If details were not important, why would employers request employees who have “attention to detail”? As Zig Ziglar said, “success is in the details.”
4. Love without concession. Buy your mom the trinket at the store that reminded you of her. Call your grandmother when you miss the sound of her voice. Listen to your friend’s woes. Being there for other people means loving other people, and I think we can all agree that the world needs more love. No one can ever fault you for loving too much.
5. Appreciate and learn from change. Your ability to recognize that every day is different and that you will never be in the same circumstances twice speaks profoundly to how you live your life. It is never too late to tell someone you care, to try something new, or to make a necessary change in your life. I would recommend regularly maintaining a journal and taking photos to preserve the present, a time that you can never relive. Writing down or capturing what made you happy at one time ensures that you will not forget about it.

“Sometimes, we don’t appreciate the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Learning to appreciate the present is the only way we can truly begin living without regrets and living a beautiful life that we look forward to each and every day.