Remembrance is a wonderful thing, it is a vital element of soul searching to remember where we have come from in order to establish where we are going.
Much of the life we enjoy today comes from the sacrifices of others. Retreat back as many generations as needed to establish who had worked, fought or struggled to help you achieve your goals and dreams. It may surprise you to discover what lies along the branches of your family or community history.
The courageous act of my Grandfather Wyse moving to Canada from Scotland paved the way for my generation to have a blissful Norman Rockwell upbringing.
When I consider moving across the ocean to re-create my life in a completely foreign culture, it causes me to breathe funny and I put the thought out of my mind immediately. I am a fan of my creature comforts and honestly not very brave when it comes to facing new living challenges. My daughter’s best friend just said goodbye to her fiancé for a few months as he has joined the U.S. Marines.
This brave young couple has put their wedding on hold to give him the freedom to pursue his dreams while possibly defending our freedom in the future. Without knowing where his future home may be, this young man is setting off to places unknown with an unselfish desire to serve and protect with no guarantees about where he may live and when he will see his fiancé.
Not so many generations removed from us are people who have given up their comforts of home to travel to unknown shores with their only desire being to be of use to their fellow man.
While I may be here in Canada wondering why my command start doesn’t work – many are sleeping in huts and hostels while they sacrifice their comforts of home to contribute to the greater good.
Could you put all of your needs aside to go to a new land and lend aid or fight for the freedom and comfort of others or would you miss Netflix and your heated blanket?
Because I am not inclined to give up the comforts of home, I am deeply grateful and respectful of those who do and who have gone before me to make this world a better place. My utmost reverence to all of you and I acknowledge today of all days to remember. My life would not be what it is today without your life being profoundly changed and may I never forget what has been sacrificed in the past to help shape a free future.
Take the time today to remember. Give thanks to someone you may see with a poppy on their lapel or a veteran licence plate on their car. Remember our ancestors who built and were pilgrims in an unknown land who gave you the life you now enjoy. Those individuals who give up the comforts of home to give their talent and time to a world that is in need, who put people ahead of their comfort and gave time to those who needed it the most.
Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Ask a Designer’.
