Yes, appreciation is important. I forgot about that in my response,. Now thinking back at the unconditional love and appreciation my grandkids seem to have for me always brings a smile to my heart (they have a pretty low bar, haha) and also when I am feeling down, I sometimes read my positive reviews, which make me realize that sometimes even if I don't feel 100% happy with myself as a person, at least I'm good at something!

Once in a while my friends tell me how much they appreciate my friendship, even though I don't always feel that I'm a good friend, since I like being alone so much. Appreciation is also something I can easily give to others around me, since I realize its value. Thanks for that reminder!

@Julie808 That's Ok although the appreciation that I was thinking of, was your own powers of appreciation. The equivalent of your. "Being happy with what you've got " But I would agree that being able to make a contribution and recieve appreciation in return is a good thing, which really helps, though perhaps not absolutely needed, since knowing you have made others happy, even if they do not show it to you, is perhaps enough.

But I think that appreciation, as a personal quality, is a slight improvement on, "Being happy with what you've got" since it is more general, and especially, not possessive in quite the same way.

@Fernapple Oh yes, it goes both ways, appreciation for what you've got. Good point. Focusing on the positive definitely contributes to happiness!

Keeping all your options open!

@yvilletom yes & no, I have had periods in my life where money was a huge problem, longer periods where I was in an emotional desert & didn't even know it. I deeply love & appreciate what I now have, it's Enough. I also think I am very lucky to Know what I have!

@AnneWimsey I have a mischievous mind.

Yet such a serious picture!