I sit on my stoop with the warm sun beating relentlessly on my arms and back. My strawberries smile at me as I taste their cool, juicy flavor. I let their juice roll down my lips as I savor each seed and burst of flavor. I feel content. I feel warm. I feel loved.
The concept of food and digestion is a miraculous feat if you think about it. A seed is buried in the earth, and with gentle care from humans and nature, is developed into nutrition for us to eat. Animals produce milk and meat that can be combined with what is produced from the ground. Together, all of these ingredients give us the energy and sustainability to flourish.
But, we do not simply live on food alone. We rely on strangers’ skills and efforts to create products and provide services to better our daily lives.
With the past several years proving to be an unstable time in the nation’s economic health, there are a couple of things we can internally believe in: a true faith in hope, hard work, and appreciation. Our lives are affected by people whom we may never meet, but greatly influence the person we become.
So, I propose a dedication to you, the stranger, whom I may never meet, but who has influenced my life greatly.
Today I have:
- An appreciation for the restless farmer who cares for the ground and animals which provide our food, energy, and sustainability.
- An appreciation for the social worker who cares for people who need help in our community.
- An appreciation for the researchers and doctors who work endlessly to cure our diseases.
- An appreciation for mothers and fathers for their often thankless, 24-7 jobs to raise well-rounded citizens who will one day run our government and companies.
- An appreciation for community, both offline and online, that creates a sense of belonging and contribution for each person.
- An appreciation for educators around the world who teach subjects, and create responsible students and young professionals.
So, today I am grateful for you, the stranger, who uses your skills to better the world and each of our daily lives. Because just as the farmer creates crops that feed the community, and the doctor helps the ill, you deserve appreciation for your daily efforts to better your community.
Appreciative Revolutionary: Carla Blumenthal (@carlablumenthal)
Bio: Carla is a recent graduate of Emerson College’s Global Marketing program and blogs at The Lost Jacket.
Favorite ice cream flavor: Birthday cake ice cream!
I appreciate Carla’s unique perspective on social media, marketing, and PR, as well as her kindness and enthusiasm!
Hi there! So happy to see you here again! Haven't gotten your fill of life's chocolates? Subscribe to my RSS feed, and check out the Connect page to see where you can find me around the Web! Thanks for reading!
