Daniela Ginta, Freelance Writer

Gratitude makes the journey better. Kindness, too.

Category: Kamloops Page 11 of 45

Weekly column: One step at the time – Reminders of hope and resilience

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On May 12, 2020

In Kamloops

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday May 11, 2020.

When I grow old and wise, and if I ever get to be 101 years old, that is, I want to be like John Hillman. You may have seen the news about this gentleman, but if you haven’t, well, this story will warm your heart in a special way.

Mr. John Hillman is a veteran, British-born and Canadian by marriage, decorated with four World War II Campaign medals, including the Burma Star, and presently a resident of the retirement home Carlton House in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island. You can read about his life and outstanding service here. Mere sentences in that abridged biographical note can easily become entire chapters in a book.

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Weekly column: Wildlife should not pay the ultimate price during the pandemic

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On April 30, 2020

In Armchair Mayor Column, Coronavirus, Environment, Health, Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Social issues

Originally published as a column (and caused a backlash on social media) on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday, April 27, 2020.

Do you remember the first couple of weeks of Covid-19 and the toilet paper shortage? Then came the flour and other dry supplies, followed by yeast. Next came the seed shortage. Suppliers in town could not refill the shelves fast enough, so most grocery stores and points of sales have restrictions on how much a person can buy.

Not to forget, we went through and are still occasionally witnessing a shortage of disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves and masks. Things got better with restrictions, yes, but what a jittery bunch we are.

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Weekly column: Celebrate spring with simple but essential offerings – food, smiles and no judgment

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On April 27, 2020

In Armchair Mayor Column, Coronavirus, Environment, Health, Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Self-improvement, Social issues

Originally published as a column on CFJC Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on April 20th, 2020.

On Saturday, our neighbourhood was speckled with yellow all over: bags of food donations for the Foodbank. To say that the Kamloops community gave generously would be an understatement: 70,000 pounds of food, which should be ensuring the supply for the next six months, according to their Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who did not forget to stuff the yellow bags and big thanks to the volunteers who collected it all!

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Day x+n – We are never truly alone and that’s creepy

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On April 21, 2020

In Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Self-improvement, Social issues

A few months ago, I made temporary peace with Instagram and returned to posting, mostly because the boys are on the platform and it’s good to relate to them that way too. I’ve sent them way too many photos of dogs and otters, and small cabins tucked in fairy-tale forests, but let’s not talk about that. They share whatever makes them tick and so we dance. Also, there are amazing photos, bits of vulnerable life, and a connection through shared images of our crazy beautiful world and its inhabitants, which includes us humans.

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Weekly column: Being kind is always the better option

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On April 16, 2020

In Armchair Mayor Column, Coronavirus, Health, Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Social issues

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday April 13, 2020.

Many years ago, I found this piece of driftwood – a plank just wide enough and long enough to write a short something on,  and that something was one of my favourite quotes by Dalai Lama and a principle I try to live by, ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ We have moved that piece of driftwood from one home to another and during many kids’ squabble I pointed to it as a reminder that kindness can be done, anytime, anywhere. A reminder for all, young and old, that is.

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Webinars, red onions and the basics of fighting bad bugs (or at least having fun while trying)

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On April 3, 2020

In Coronavirus, Health, Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Motherhood, Self-improvement

I have by now received at least 20 invitations to webinars about coronavirus-related topics. Doctors, herbalists, naturopaths, and then more doctors, they are all trying to add to the pool of knowledge and also make the time in ‘captivity’ a bit better. I’ll let you know which made an impact.

Meanwhile, if you want to get an idea about this type of pandemics, here is a talk by Dr. Michael Greger (the brain behind https://nutritionfacts.org and author of How Not to Die and How Not to Diet) which will make say Ha! at least five times, but likely more. Because of how timely the information is though the talk is more than a decade old. (Bonus: it has a transcript too!)

It beats watching the news obsessively and it makes for good conversation with quarantine fellows. The more knowledge, the higher the chance of keeping disease-free. Or?

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Weekly column: People in Kamloops care and that means everything right now

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On March 31, 2020

In Armchair Mayor Column, Coronavirus, Health, Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Self-improvement, Social issues

Originally published as a column on CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday March 30, 2020.

It was almost three weeks ago that I last saw Jessie Simpson, my every Sunday afternoon buddy. We parted with him asking ‘What are we going to do next week when you come?’ and I answered, ‘We’ll find something fun.’

A few days later, just like that, the world that contains him and the other vulnerable people in that long-term care facility closed its doors. Then everything happened faster than anyone could predict and here we are, all hunkered at home and wondering what’s next.

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