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March 2008 - Heather Jones
Life can be good regardless of where we choose to live. Emigrating
from one Commonwealth country to another doesn’t generally require
major personal adjustments. For immigrants whose cultures differ greatly
from ours, they’re confronted daily with huge learning curves. Struggling
with a foreign language, completely different food, climatic change, or
even central heating can be a challenging adjustment. Add homesickness
and the challenges could seem insurmountable. Maintaining a positive outlook
and remembering why we wanted to emigrate can make integration into a
new, chosen society much more comfortable. If we focus on all the things
we like while doing our best to understand and accept the things we may
not like, life can be good.
Positive or negative thinking will make or break any situation. The more
we exercise the positive, the more we’ll appreciate and enjoy our
new surroundings. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it’s
definitely worth every effort. The degree of enjoyable, positive results
correlates directly to the degree of positive effort expended. It’s
like swimming with the current rather than fighting against it.
Our loved ones in spirit want us to be happy but they can’t tell
us how to think or what to do. Spirit loved ones do inspire and encourage
us but never dictate. How we choose to perceive the world around us is
entirely our responsibility. One method we can use to be open and receptive
to spirits’ encouraging energy is to pay attention to our instincts,
those little gnawing feelings we get in our solar plexus. This is often
the easiest way for spirits to provide us with feelings that are very
helpful. For this to be effective we do have to learn two things. The
first is to recognize the feelings, and then secondly, interpret what
they mean to us as individuals. Doing so can ease many of the adjustments
we encounter during a lifetime, including integration into Canadian society.
To live in a democratic society that allows freedom of thought, freedom
of speech and religious belief for all its residents is a luxury and a
privilege well worth preserving. Very wise are those who respect this
freedom. While we may not be well versed, if at all, in many of the world’s
belief systems, we can all surely respect the right of others to find
what’s comfortable for them. Freedom is impinged when those lacking
such respect break laws that have been enacted for society’s greater
good.
While daily life for all new immigrants is a challenge, it can also be
fun, exciting and rewarding. Keep an open mind, a sense of humour and
a willingness to learn and adjust. Listen to your instincts and follow
your beautiful inner guidance and you’re sure to find your way.
It’s because of all those who have chosen to accept Canada and all
it encompasses as their new home that we can be proud of a diverse, multicultural
society, learning from and respecting each other.
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