Dear Canada,
Due to a longing for a taste of Canada again, I went to a wildly Canadian place in Manila: Tim Hortons. After feeling my heart of gratitude, this letter came flowing out like the Niagara Falls.
2006: This was taken in Quebec during my first white Christmas.
Oh, My Dear Canada,
I find myself lost in ideas of where to even begin writing this letter. Forever, I cherish the time spent in the space of your landscape. I experienced so many “firsts” with you. When I first met a snowflake. When I first lived alone. Where I was first hired to be a photographer. Where I first went skiing and felt I was riding a rainbow. But, more than anything else, Canada will always be the country who gave me an opportunity to befriend the world.
Your ability to sincerely welcome cultures, embrace individuals, respect beliefs — among other noteworthy characteristics has enabled me to experience a resplendent tapestry of humankind. During my time experiencing you, no other country would have been able to take pride with the fact, that in one classroom of around 40 people, no less than 25 different languages were spoken collectively by the attending students. While living on campus, I was privileged to create memories with such astounding individuals who became my friends. Through them, I felt immersed in the culture of all the nations where they were born and have lived. I was made aware of a variety of living standards, traditions and beliefs — from across many places in this blue dot we all call home. We shared meals, merged traditions, shared resources in moments of lack, cared for each other in times of trial, embraced each other in instances of sorrow. But also, in our togetherness, we celebrated monumental as well as tiny victories life had to offer. Simply put, we turned the word that is “love” into a verb. Through those experiences in Canada, a dawning realization came upon me, being:
Humanity has much more common ground that there are reasons to bicker. Kindness is that element which will allow people to revel in the majesty of what being human is designed to feel like.
If only, every single individual would collectively practice altruistic kindness — maybe, we would evolve1 from a race and actually be able to actively usher in a wonderful presence that would inspire change in everyone. Hope remains in me that many are moved to be more than human and also, be kind. Then, hooray! To humankind!
I digress. Back to the corner of the world named Canada: I again, am writing this not to gain anything. Instead, share the gift of my personal revelations of what it was like to live within your care. You stand true, my dear Canada to your anthem. Through the ages, your land has truly been kept glorious and free.
For my beloved Canada, O, Lord, I pray. I pray that the nation unite to serve as a stronghold to enable people’s hearts to grow anew. Consequently, aiding each to the wonderfilled realization that the purest source of light is You.
Belovedly,
Jolyn
Photo shows some of us at my York University flat in Toronto, Canada.
Did you ever notice that LOVE is spelled backwards in the word EVOLVE?