How much gratitude have you seen during the current devastating drought, the raging bushfires and the severity of floods in our very diverse nation called Australia? How does one return from the mortifying emotional, physical and financial loss in our agricultural industry? Despite the disastrous effects surrounding our every being, you can see the gratitude everywhere. But you must look past the obvious and observe the more delicate ways that gratitude is expressed.
How can our one single country be experiencing these extreme gut-wrenching weather events? From flooding in Northern Queensland, to bushfires in northern NSW and Tasmania… and drought almost everywhere we see. The horrid effects that weather is casting upon our hardworking farmers in crisis, is none other than mass devastation and loss.
But beneath all the heartache, there is a flicker of hope. A hope that is yearned for, day after day. With one foot in front of the other, farmers are finding the strength to face the struggles and battle to sustain the future of agriculture in Australia. Gratitude is expressed in two very different ways and is an absolute reflection on either side from city to country.
We see everyday Australians of all ages, adults and children alike… dig into their piggy banks and savings to throw our farmers a lifeline. We see donations of canned food, toiletries, water, anything at all… just to show appreciation in a gratifying way. Many charities step up to take on the challenge of distributing these donated funds and grocery supplies, as the liaison to unite the efforts of the Australian people.
To see the gratitude within the community and the heartfelt actions of lifting the spirits of our farmers, is genuinely profound. To understand that communities care about farmers, the food they produce, the fibres they yield… and feeding and clothing our beautiful nation, suddenly became of utmost importance and the compassion is sincere. These actions alone proved that the mental state and future of our farmer’s wellbeing, was accepted with gratitude by a compassionate nation and then a sense of obligation was accepted warmly.
On the flip side… the farmer’s hearts are breaking, surrounded with the burden of loss and devastation… yet they are overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation to the community and charities holding them afloat and trying to power their natural farming spirit again. The silence in this case, can be as quiet and non-existent unless you look beneath the emotional surface. As a farmer presented with a natural disaster accepts some form of assistance… the guilt in their own mind can be over-powering, they can feel unaccomplished or unsuccessful in their usual farming operations and ashamed to have accepted the help. However, beneath that tough exterior, it is visible but camouflaged in disguise… the gratitude is rampant.
Gratitude is expressed silently in that sad and solemn expression… an expression that is only seen by very few. Gratitude is depicted as the farmer’s head falls into his callous hands or as he wipes those tears of relief from his cheeks. Gratitude falls into his burden of work as he feeds his hungry stock and is somewhat overlooked until the day he manages to comprehend the specific degree of gratitude, as he digs himself from that hole consuming his life. It is then that we see that honest, hearty grace that he feels indebted to.
The thankfulness exists within each and every farmer, but expression is limited, through farming workload and the disastrous burden that has impacted their lives and the welfare of their family. The warmth and cordial emotions surrounding farmers at the moment is overflowing with acknowledgment and recognition of an industry they are so passionate about.
The Australian community is empathetic, compassionate and resilient… and the division diminishes as disastrous events unite our nation. With heartfelt thoughts and actions, it allows the gratfulness to emerge. I am proud to be part of the Australian community and I am proud to be a farmer supporting our agricultural industry. Gratitude is what makes our nation unique and it is the kindness in ordinary people that make us extraordinary.
Thank you to the farmers that work to feed and clothe our nation. And thank you to all those beautiful people, businesses and charities that support farmers and rural industries. If you eat food and wear clothes, you are supporting the agricultural industry. So thank you!
Take care, Karen.
“Gratitude drives happiness.
Happiness boosts productivity.
Productivity reveals mastery.
And mastery inspires the world.”
~ Robin S. Sharma, Canadian Writer
on leadership, personal growth and life management.
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