Love of Country

Love of country means so much to me - I have deep appreciation, respect, and love for my country. It’s not perfect, but the beauty it holds is quite extraordinary, from the little cities in Nebraska to the major cities like New York. I am an American who has had the fortune of living in another country and traveling quite extensively throughout the world. I came to love Switzerland as my home country because I lived there for many years. The culture is different from the US, but I came to appreciate the diversity and celebrate it. Switzerland, like the US, is not perfect. I don’t believe there is a country that is perfect primarily because we are not perfect. I believe our roots though are important, from our birthplace, to where we settle as we age, to the in-between. I often look at a world map appreciating how diverse the countries are and the people who in habit them. I believe people have the right to be free. I have compassion for people who live in countries that are not. I have the freedom to say what I want, to wear what I want, to believe what I want, and to pursue my dreams.

To think my ancestors used to travel through the US by foot, horseback, and/or horse and buggy to today we can use our smartphone to schedule a ride to where ever we want to go. Regardless of the type of country we were born in, I believe it holds a special place in our hearts. My hope is we all have a love of country whether its our birthplace, a temporary stopping ground, or your permanent place of residency. Loving and honoring where you are from and where you are living is important. One can always find things that can be improved, which is necessary to create change. However, it’s much more useful to acknowledge the things that are right and good within your country. The more focus I put on the good - the more good I will see and attract. I can’t help but close with Mahatma Gandhi ”Be the change you wish to see in the world.”