Appreciation before or after absence?

[TheMelodyMaker]

Do you tend to appreciate people or things more while they're still around, or after they're gone? Please discuss.

[Radical Dreamer]

Generally, after they're/it's gone. Then again, it depends on who/what it is. Usually, if it's a good friend/relative that I enjoy spending time with, I'll appreciate them while they're around, and appreciate them even more when they're gone. If it's something else, though, something material, I tend to appreciate it more after it's gone.

Anyways, I voted for the "It Depends" option. XD

[KBMaster]

I voted "after they're gone". My sister left to go live on her own and I appreciated her more when she was gone. I spent a week with her, then appreciated her more when I left. She's a cleaning nazi, lol. But it's true what they say, "You don't know what you got til it's gone."

[wingedfox]

i said after they're gone. it's impossible to know what you have until it leaves and you wake up one morning and relize it's not there anymore.

[goldenspines]

It would depend on the person, I think. Sometimes I appreciate people when they're here because they have affected my life in some way that is noticable, but sometimes, if I take people for granted, I appreciate them a lot more because they're not here.

I choose, It depends.

[mitsuki lover]

Depends.

[soul alive]

Depends.
ie. I have a great relationship with my family when it's long distance. But I miss my close friends when we're apart.

[Alice]

Well, the flip side of that is, when a certain phase of your life is over, you tend to forget about it after awhile (aside from losing a family member, which I think you never truly forget about).

[SailorDove]

There's a quote that goes something like this:

"Some create happiness when they arrive, others when they leave"

[TheMelodyMaker]

I've never heard that quote before, and I suppose it is quite true in many instances. ^_^ Perhaps the time has come for me to create a bit of happiness here, then...

(But please carry on with the discussion, all. )

[Fish and Chips]

Actually, I have the opposite issue. You never know what you can live without until you live without it. Gaming used to be a big part of my spare time. Now, not so much, in fact I'm usually hesitant to even play.

[Alice]

It was really difficult for me in the past when I've lost pets, but I didn't "appreciate" them more afterwards.

[JediSonic]

It's true you dont' realize what you can live without till you can live without it; I lost my mp3 player for a couple of weeks and when i found it I didnt listen to it half as much!

I'll say I appreciated my friends in Nebraska more beginning when i knew i was going to move away, though.