I had to think twice to realize what Voltaire meant. I usually associate appreciation with saying “Thank you” or “Good job.” But, in this context, appreciation is more a matter of understanding and recognizing quality. When I read something just to get the facts or simply follow the plot, I am not appreciating the author’s skill in crafting the book. When I pay more attention to what I am reading, I appreciate the choice of words, the flow of ideas, and the pacing of the story....

At Thanksgiving, the blessing that I am most thankful for is the community of friends and family.

Trophies, certificates suitable for framing, and cash are all nice awards, but they have a couple of shortcomings.  1) They usually don’t arrive until long after the fact.  2) There are always questions about who really deserved the reward and what (political) motives were involved.  On the other hand, an unforced Thank You makes me feel appreciated right now and lets me know that what I just ...

After a couple of hours hiking up hill, I was discouraged to see that the summit was still far ahead.  When I paused briefly and looked behind me, the view of how far I had already come was refreshing enough to give me more than enough energy to keep going until I reached the top.  When your current work seems too hard, you might want to think back on how much you know now than you did two years ago.