A Remembrance of Things Past

Image by Laurentiu Loradache

For me, November is a time to take pause and reflect on where my life sits in the span of human history.

Whom do we remember?

Remembrance Day is often treated as a day to commemorate the contributions of veterans in the armed forces. Less often acknowledged are the countless women and children who were sucked into a vortex of human drama on scales both monumental and intimate. This continues in many parts of the world that we in Canada seldom think about.

Tending to our wounds

The past imposes itself on our present. Advances in neuroscience tell us that the traumas experienced by past generations get handed down from one generation to the next. Until we acknowledge the wounds that have been passed down to us from our ancestors, we continue to perpetrate the same traumas on those around us. Healing these wounds depends on our willingness to do the deep inner work that only we as individuals can do.

Our inheritance

Within us, we hold the stories and experiences inherited from our predecessors. Their cumulative effect is written into our genes, ready to be triggered into action by life's twists and turns.

Writing the next chapter

With the large number of immigrants Canada has welcomed for generations, this country that we call home has the distinct privilege of having absorbed a multiplicity of stories and voices that can be woven into a more cohesive and resilient narrative that enriches civil society. When we choose to see one another through the lens of compassion, curiosity and generosity, we benefit from a deeper appreciation of what unites us. It also speaks to our collective responsibility to one another.

Honouring the past in the here and now

This Remembrance Day, I invite you to reflect on those who have contributed to your ability to enjoy the life that you live. It's worth remembering and giving thanks for.