How will you celebrate Canada Day? If you're anything like me, you'll go to a party or take your kids to a parade and take in the festivities around town before relaxing with friends and toasting our land.It's not a bad way to spend a Friday off work, but it does little to reflect on the true meaning of the July 1 holiday.It's a time to think about where we live and the freedoms we take for granted daily.It was while complaining about my life to a friend this past weekend that I shook my head and laughed at myself and my worries. We were sitting on the beach in Roberts Creek, searching for starfish and making quicksand with our feet while eagles soared overhead and sunlight danced up at us from the ocean."What a fool I am to complain," I thought.I practically live in paradise. Of course, we people mess up the harmony of things now and again, but we can still smile at each other on the street and rely on the help of a stranger when our car overheats on the highway.We can leave our homes and not fear they will be destroyed by soldiers before we return from our workday.We can rely on a system, though imperfect and in need of repair, to catch us if we fall ill or are unable to work.We can speak our minds in public forums without fear of grave consequence.We can assemble to worship without fear of persecution, and we can live in tolerance of other religions and not create holy wars in our hometowns.We can sleep at night without fear of rebel soldiers "recruiting" our husbands, enslaving our children and doing much, much worse.When I think about the true meaning of Canada Day, I feel it's a time to reflect on the abundance we have, to honour those who fought for our freedoms and to give praise for the peace we take for granted.I also think it's a time to instill pride in our people and celebrate our differences, which is what makes Canada so unique.I am blessed to live in a country that embraces diversity, cares for those in need and provides the most spectacular landscape from ocean depths to mountain tops.This Canada Day I'll take some time to stop and think of all I have, and I hope you will too.
