There is no Place Like Home.

I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my life in Canada. However, I realize not many people in this world have had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and freedoms that we have in this great country. Indeed, not all Canadians are able, or perhaps even wish, to participate fully. There are many different reasons why that is so. Thus, even in Canada, there are those who live in poverty and conditions far below the standard. It is also said that education and income play an important  role in how we live our lives.

Having said that, I have learned over the years, to appreciate the opportunities available here and to constantly remind myself how fortunate I have been. The last line of a song written in the early 1800's was, "Home sweet home". Since then those words and the sequel, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home," have appeared in many songs, movies, T.V. shows and even book titles.

When we travel  we encounter 'cultural surprise'. We know it is a different experience from home. However, when people go to live in another country, or immigrants come to Canada, they must learn to adjust to the new culture if they hope to work and live in that new reality. I remember when I moved to Belgium. For the first few months I questioned so many things but gradually learned to accept life as it was in that culture. (However, in retrospect it was not really that traumatic! Coming back to Canada later even provided some re-adjustment to the Canadian way!)

"I wish I was Twenty again"

As we grow older, our view of life gradually changes, and we too experience a kind of 'cultural adjustment'. We are like immigrants coming to grips with a new reality. Modern advertising tries to convince us that we need all kinds of wonderful things. If I only lived on a tropical island I would be happy! If I only had a better car I would do more travelling! If I had a bigger house I could impress my friends! A new companion would make me a new person! If I could only win a lottery my life would be complete!

But no matter where we live, or the size of our 'boat', we are basically the same persons who must perform the normal daily tasks of life - eating, working, doing the laundry etc. The location, or surroundings where we do these common tasks, does not change the need to do them! 

There is nothing wrong with planning and even dreaming. After all, a lottery ticket only allows you to dream a little. As long as you realize it is the dream you are purchasing, and not the actual million dollars, you are fine. But wishing constantly for this or that will deprive us of the enjoyment and appreciation of where we are and what we are doing. It sours our current condition and makes our life less fulfilling. But even more importantly, it causes us to fail to see the beauty and wonderment of those we love and associate with. Learning to be not only content and open, but appreciative of our habitat and loved ones, will fulfill us in a way we never expected possible. It really is true, at least for  Canadians, there is no place like home. So enjoy it here and now.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week