Appreciation and respect.

Two words that are often overlooked, sometimes overused, and yet somehow not delivered enough.

I had a friend of mine who was very close for a number of years. We’ve done a number of things together: traveled, played golf, etc.

While I very much appreciated and respected the things he had done, what I grew to realize is that those feelings were not mutual. It was a very hard realization to make, but one that was critical in my development and ultimately in me ending that relationship.

All relationships deserve appreciation and respect. All of them. Whether you agree or disagree on politics, social issues, money, or whatever. At the end of the day, relationships require a degree of respect and appreciation for that individual’s belief system and who they are as a person.

Absent that, what do you really have? Is the relationship really worth it?

We see this oftentimes in our kids, where they don’t appreciate the things they have been given. The opportunities that they’ve had. They certainly push the lines on respecting the parent!

Those are critical moments in our children’s development, and those are times that require us as parents to bring to their attention and to make sure they understand how lucky they are and how appreciation and respect are two-way streets.

The same thing is true in our marriages, business relationships and so much more.

So, I urge you to surround yourself only with people that appreciate and respect you, and that you do that in turn for them.

And let those important relationships know.

-J.D.