The series of actions taken by an individual after a person’s death or absence in their life is very predictable. Humans always want what they cannot have and appreciate things more when they are no more. This is the same for relationships, a job position, a living situation etc. While I was living in Milan, Italy, during university, I saw the same thing. It was much easier to appreciate Italy and all the beautiful places we experienced, when I was living back in Canada, wishing I was back in Europe. There were also a lot of exchange students living in Italy with me who spent their days and nights working, never leaving their rooms and experiencing their new environment.
We are all guilty of not appreciating someone or something enough while living it. Envision the change of a person, item or situation in your life. Would your actions or attitude differ with that change in your life? If someone was gone, would you appreciate them more and want to tell them you love them more often? If you did not have your job, would you wish you had complained less about the work or your boss? Take a deep breath, put things in perspective and recognize the situation or person for what it is. Try to look at things with a more appreciative eye. Viewing things with gratitude is not easy, especially when it is so easy to view the world through the lens of a news camera; negative, fearful, and judgmental. The habit of looking through this warped lens is probably engrained in you after years of doing so; however, you can change it. I would encourage you to start a gratitude journal. Before bed, write down 3-5 things that you are grateful for that day. Some points may be very general, like how you may be grateful for your house. You will however, become more specific and recognize immediately when a situation occurs that you are grateful for. Your appreciative eyes will quickly develop; leaving no reason for any person, item or situation to pass without receiving the deserved gratitude and appreciation.