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As I did this time last year, around Australia Day, I went back again this year and reread both Appreciate Everything and last year’s follow-up post. Both are reflections on the good things I have in my life, and appreciating them for how great they really are. This year, I’ve tried to write another…

…but I really didn’t know what to say, so I’ve written one of a different ilk.

I love Australia. It’s so beautifully boundless. We live in a wondrous place, and it’s great in so many ways, for so many reasons. The sheer size of this land, with it many and varied environments and landscapes: from the thick rainforests in the north to the dry deserts in the centre, to the high bushy mountains scattered down the east, to the great canyons in the west, to the broad beaches running all the way round the outside, Australia is a beautiful land gifted by nature. You could spend your whole life going from here to there, travelling all around Australia, trying to see every one of its wonders and there’d always be something else to see.
Australia also has a great culture, with a belief in equality at its very heart. The mateship and fair go attitudes of its people is somewhat unique and characteristic of the Australian way of life. That’s not to say that it’s perfect out here. There’s still many people that live in substandard conditions, without a home or shelter, without enough food or heat. There are those who are abused, and mistreated through no fault of their own. And there are those whom society, for the most part, refuses to recognise for one reason or another. These are situations that the “She’ll be right” attitude of Aussies isn’t helpful for, because it’s something that won’t mend itself without conscious effort.
And yet, more people are constantly trying to come here as refugees. They go to extreme lengths, betting everything they have on the better life they hope they’ll find when they get here. This country is built on generations of people like that: people moving away from where they were to find a better life. And many found it in here. And hopefully, many more will too into the future, so they can further enrich the multicultural melting pot of Australia.
I love my home, Australia, and I’m thankful that I live in such a wonderful place. But things could be better for others out there, in this great land. So we need to make it better!

Anyway, that’s how I feel. What do you think? What are you thankful for? Tell me in comments, or there’s always the “Contact Me!” page…

Post again soon,

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