Appreciation is Just That

The word appreciation can be used basically in two ways:  first, the appreciation and admiration of something for its value and what it gives to life, such as art work.  Secondly, appreciation in the sense that something is understood or comprehended e.g., she appreciated the time it took to paint the painting.  Observing color and shape and then being able to paint them on a flat surface with a three dimensional effect.  Appreciation can be natural, sensitive, and insightful, or a learned appreciation sometimes including judgments.  In college I took a class entitled, "Art Appreciation." And it was just that, an appreciation of what we saw, what stirred our souls, and what we liked and acknowledged as "art."  Appreciation can be for people, places, and things, and often compliments are given when someone is appreciative, and then, in turn, the compliment is appreciated.  There can be appreciation and comprehension at the same time.  A piece of jewelry, which is not only admired, but the process of making it and the workmanship involved is understood.   On the other hand, there can be appreciation and admiration without understanding, such as loving Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night," but not knowing what the painting is about or what it means ("Starry Night," has an involved story).  The epitome of appreciation is a sense of delight and wonderment shared by others.  Relative to gratitude, when a person is grateful to someone and gives thanks, they appreciate what has been done or said.  In other words, they are in appreciation.