FriendBurst Blog

Treasure. When we talk about treasure we often think of a chest full of objects that are worth a lot and we value the most. We all have things that make our lives happier and easier and we should show appreciation for having the good fortune to own these things and have them in our lives. For me, the possessions that I am most grateful for are my house, my computer and my camera. My house provides a place for shelter and a place for love and comfort to be shared. My computer provides a bridge that connects the vast distances that exist between me and those whom I have come to care about and love  but who live at various ends of cyberspace. Regardless of how far apart we are, we all are able to meet, gather and share in this one place. My camera allows me to capture, record and share with everyone my world as I see it through my eyes and from my perspective.

These are the possessions that I truly treasure, but regardless of what these items mean to me, in the end they are just that… ITEMS.  People are by far more important and bring more happiness than any possession ever could. The house might provide the physical shelter, but the love and comfort that fill it’s walls can only come from the human hearts of the people that live there. The computer wouldn’t mean very much if it wasn’t for those aforementioned friends and loved ones who also make the internet a place where love and comfort can be shared. And what true joy would there be in taking pictures if yours were the only eyes to see them? Yes, inanimate treasures would not be able to be considered treasures at all if it weren’t for the true treasures in this world……people.

But treasure is not just a person or object. Treasure is something that we also do. Treasure is also something we feel. To treasure someone or something is to hold that person or object dear and close to your heart in such a way that to be without them/ it, your life would truly not be the same and would certainly not be as good and worthwhile as it is with them/ it in it. A true difference is made because of their/there mere existence. One of the key components involved in treasuring is gratitude. We need to be grateful for that which is special in our lives. We shouldn’t just assume or take for granted that they/it will just always be there because nothing is promised to us and nothing is guaranteed to last and be around forever. Another component of treasuring is expressing appreciation. While we might love and enjoy the people and things we treasure, just how often to we stop to show appreciation for them?  How often do we stop and take the time out of our busy lives to let the people who mean the most to us know just how much they do?  And just how well to do we take care of the possessions that mean the most, too? Don’t we often let needed repairs in our homes go undone far longer than we should just because we don’t feel like doing them?  The same can be said for the mundane jobs of dusting and cleaning, too. Is that any way to show gratitude and appreciation towards the homes that shelter and protect us from the harshness of the world around us?

The act of treasuring is really a precious and special one and can only happen in those rare instances when someone or something stands out, attracts our attention, and makes us pause for a moment. We must always try and remember somewhere in our hearts and minds that first special moment that made us stop and made that person or thing special to us because when we do this, gratitude and treasuring come easy. It’s when those initial special moments become fleeting memories and no longer stand out in our minds, getting lost in the mental storage space where we pile up many years of old memories like so many old and forgotten magazines and newspapers, when gratitude, appreciation and treasuring begin to fade. Once that happens…..it’s truly sad how something that was once so special to us can be lost so easily. So to all who are reading this, please stop and take a moment right now and go through your mind and think about all that you treasure, all that touches your heart in some way, and make a point to treat that person or thing like the treasure they really are to you.  You will never regret that you did.