Moments of Awe…

After all my recent thoughts of gratitude, I couldn’t help but think about appreciation.
How similar are these two emotions and what are their differences?

Before I turned to Google, I decided to explore my own thoughts.
For me, Gratitude is the feeling that I have for someone or something that has somehow benefited me, while appreciation is more often the feeling that I associate with being grateful for the very essence of someone or something. Thus, I appreciate sunrises and the sunsets, the cuteness of puppies, the innocence of children, the views from a mountain top, the magic of a shooting star, and the sighting of a dolphin, polar bear or whale.

These things, along with many more, open my life to the magical unearned moments of Awe. Their very essence is a gift, and just being in their presence is an inspiration. For all of these things and for all of these moments, I am once again thankful.