Gratitude makes the journey better and so does kindness

Category: Health Page 2 of 17

Weekly column: Teachers deserve to be listened to for the sake of us all

Originally published as a column on Monday, February 22, 2021 on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News.

You may have peeked at the news of the new variants appearing in some schools in the Lower Mainland. As I started writing, two more schools have been added to the exposure list for the U.K. variant, bringing the total number to five.

We are told there are ways to reduce the risk and generally improve our state of health. Eating healthy and getting daily exercise, washing hands and airing out properly so fresh air can reduce the number of disease-causing particles.

Weekly column: Becoming old does does mean that we become disposable

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on February 8, 2021.

Some of my dearest early childhood memories have to do with my maternal grandparents who lived in a separate suite in the home I grew up in. My grandmother passed away when I was six and my grandfather three years later. I missed them terribly since.  

There were other multigenerational families living in the neighbourhood, and some of the older residents were empty-nesters, but in my mind, they are all ‘grandparents’ and an integral part of the proverbial village raising the children.

Weekly column: With cases growing, we need to change our strategy

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor news on February 1, 2021.

If you have kids, you’ve likely been through a case or two of ‘are we there yet?’ and like all parents who are presented with the question, you probably answered ‘almost there…’ knowing that it’ll be a while yet.

Somehow it feels that way with the ongoing pandemic. Last week alone we saw multiple cases show up in our schools and we have the hospital outbreak. As of Sunday, there were 28 patients and 51 staff who tested positive at RIH (update: there are now 91 people affected, staff and patients.)

Weekly column: Politics and integrity should overlap – always

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on January 4, 2021.

I saw a funny tweet a couple of days ago. It went something like this, ‘Canadians are urged not to travel overseas during the pandemic. They’d risk running into some of their elected officials…’ Except it was funny only for a bit.

There is a 2020 Christmas holiday wall of shame related to the tweet and it is reserved almost entirely for various MPs and MLAs across Canada. Many traveled as if there is no pandemic and while one or two of them claimed it was to attend a funeral or see an ailing relative, majority simply went on vacation.

Weekly Column: Be the better and safer human this holiday season

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday, December 21, 2020.

During the first two weekends of December, the Kamloops RCMP took 17 impaired drivers off the road. That’s 17 potential disasters waiting to happen which were averted. It’d be silly to think they were the only ones; these were the ones that got caught.

At the same time, it’s impossible not to shudder when you read stories of people whose lives have been forever changed due to someone else’s drunk driving. Those who are still around to tell the story, that is. According to ICBC stats, 67 people are killed on average in British Columbia due to impaired driving. Across Canada, four people are killed daily because someone chooses to drink or use drugs and then drive.

Weekly column: In times of trouble, helping goes a long way and in more than one way

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday, December 14, 2020.

No matter where you turn you get reminded that it’s almost Christmas. Of course, that’s great and exciting for many. And then, even in a normal year, Christmas is a trying time for so many others. This year especially though, it’s tougher to face the holidays knowing how many are struggling with it.

This year our family has donated more than ever to various causes because the times we live in are just that way. If you are among those who can help, please do. Kindness is never to be measured in the amount you give but in the fact that you cared.

Weekly column: Things to consider instead of protesting masks and COVID-19 restrictions

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday, December 7, 2020.

Sunday morning came with slices of blue sky spiked by bright sunshine. It was almost 11am by the time we got home from our long morning hike.

I noticed a neighbour peeking under parked cars. I assumed she was trying to locate a runaway cat. Instead, she asked if what she was seeing was a ferret. The small, long-bodied creature was all white with a black-tipped tail and moving very swiftly.

Page 2 of 17

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén