“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt“Our true nationality is mankind.”
~ H.G. Wells
I’d thought to write a rousing piece for Australia Day – my country’s national day of celebration.
Or perhaps something humorous.
A blog full of pictures of pavlova and koalas. Kangaroos, killer sharks and Ayers Rock.
Maybe a tasty recipe to share at that traditional Australia Day barbeque.
But when I came to the page this morning, I found my heart so swelled with melancholy, nostalgia, love and pain, that no words came.
I love this country. Her dust is in my veins. After my time in the Kimberley with my Aboriginal Aunties I truly understand what it means to belong to country. To feel the pulsing heart of this great land beating as one with your own.
Even as my heart soars with the beauty and mystery of this country, it is breaking too. Breaking as I watch the effects of global warming. Breaking as I watch whole tracts of land laid waste by mining.
Breaking as I watch our government turn people away from Australia’s shores, forgetting that we were all once boat people too.
And my broken heart is also swollen with love. Love for the people who work this land. Love for the artists and the dreamers. Love for the good and honest people who value mateship and a fair go. Love for the people who serve, defend and protect us. All of the people whose lives are measured by how they contribute to family, community, society. Most of them who’ll never know an honour, or a medal, or a parade.
I guess that to love is also to hurt. How can it be otherwise when you care so deeply?
I am grateful to be born Australian. To know freedom and sunshine and plenitude.
Today I’ll gather with my husband and friends and we’ll share a meal, some stories and some laughs, and I’ll count my blessings.
Happy Australia Day!
I guess that to love is also to hurt. How can it be otherwise when you care so deeply?
This is definitely a TRUE statement…
Happy Australia Day! Enjoy. from across the pondx
Have a lovely Australia Day Nicole . You do have lots to be proud of …lucky u . We are visiting one day .
Cherryx
To All you Aussies, ” HAPPY Australia Day! ” Love from a Canuck!
I too love this country more then words can express, it is the best country in the world to live in and I am so proud to call myself an Aussie
Yes, me too. There is much to be done and much to be grateful for xo
There’s a lot to love about this country; the clear blue skies, room to have a garden, and the freedom to do what we enjoy is wonderful and something to celebrate. We are a lucky country, and I am grateful I was born here. Enjoy your day xxxx
I had similar thoughts this morning as I was journaling. The bittersweetness of love and belonging, being awake to some of the challenges we share and at times feeling frustrated. Reflecting on the inner and outer landscapes similarities. Deeply breathing in my mulitcultural Aussieness and feeling oh so grateful to be right here, right now. Have a wonderful Australia Day Nicole. Much love Nikki XX