There are many ways to show your appreciation. You can say thanks, give hugs, give gifts, even a simple greeting, to other people who have shown or given kindness to you. Kindness is very important, without it, most people wouldn't be happy or loved.

Kindness, to me, is time given to others. In life, there is an 'infinite' amount of time for everyone, but time cannot be returned , or back to the way it was, unlike money. Sure, you can lend a dollar to a friend of yours, and get it back later, (it may not be the same exact dollar, but still a dollar.) while time is 'un-returnable'. We can try to get to get a moment back, the best we can do is act for it. When you give kindness to others, you are giving them a moment of your time, your life, to help them. Why, if we didn't give kindness to the people we meet along the way, whether in highschool or at work or at any other time or place, there would be much more successful people in the world, because their time was on helping themselves. But then that'd also mean that there would be much more unsuccessful people in the world. Everyone has a place in which they lack in something, so when we nned help, hopefully people will be kind enough to help us there, and maybe we could help them in where they might lack and we don't.

When kindness is shown, the most obvious thing we should do is return the favor, and the best, probably the only way in general and cheapest way, is appreciation. Simple "Thank you's" and "Your welcomes". Opposite and equal reaction and all that, return what you're given. When we give the appreciation back to the person that gave us kindness, they'll probably be more happy for giving you kindness in the first place. People help others for many reasons, whether for themselves, for others, any reason why you help people, if you do. Maybe the only people that'll never help others is because they are so very content with living with themselves, they don't need love or the other immaterial things, just material things.

Which brings me to 'over-appreciation'. You can never be over appreciative, humans are prone to greediness, to self-amusement, any personal needs or wants. But one of the best ways to live life is to live with others, loved ones from family to friends to other companions. To get the love and recognition from others and also to give to them. Your true friends are the ones that give you constant kindess, and sure you may have fights and arguements, but you'll be back together again and again, sooner or later. The times spent alone and not with others, can be quite quiet, even cold. And when you see your friends again, you'll be overwhelmed with joy; you'll truly appreciate the time spent with others.

But then there are others that are 'over' appreciation, maybe even under it, people who take kindness because it's expected. The "Your welcome" you're 'expecting' doesn't return; they take your kindness and go. Even when you say or wave hi, they ignore you and just walk on by. To me, it hurts to see these kind of people. Sure, there are few and many people that give or are full of kindness, and these people might benefit from them, without having to return. But when or if the time comes when they really need the kindness, it probably won't come, because nothing was given back. Then they complain about why we aren't helping them anymore; they've been helped before, now they expect it. You could call them corrupt, if you will, taking and taking, as we all know. People who think they are better than others, thinking or knowing they don't have to acknowledge the 'lower' people, only hanging and talking with the higher ups, then possibly 'discarding' them when they are 'higher'. Why some things are just so bad.

So, pretty much, just appreciate what's given or already there, what's around you. Whether it's from the gifts given at Christmas Eve, to the simple act of or going somewhere with someone, just appreciate it. People are missed when they are sick for example, and when they come back, they're welcomed back heartily by friends. "It's good to see you back" and "Hope you're feeling better"'s. Kindness, or time spent for others, can be used to give happiness, care, love, warmth, all that good stuff to everyone around, or to certain people you really want to give to. Unless your 'time spent for others' is a negative one. Another way to live life, if you want, if you will.