Daniela Ginta, Freelance Writer

Gratitude makes the journey better. Kindness, too.

Category: Kamloops Page 12 of 45

Day x + 1 of physical distancing: How to find balance

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On March 24, 2020

In Kamloops, Learning, Life Stories, Social issues

So… speaking of balance, do you check the news often? More now than before? In my case, yes and yes (and then I wonder why balance went missing.) I get my topic for my columns through perusing news, more now than I used to three weeks ago (it feels like we’ve been stuck in this pandemic craziness for way longer, right?).

But… this morning my eyes fell on a headline that just about made me run the other way as fast as possible, which is fine I guess as long as I keep my distance. The headline contained the dreaded word we are now seeing everywhere (yes, I mean coronavirus,) but included scarier yet words which collectively read ‘second wave of.’

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Weekly column: No, we are not making too much of it

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On March 24, 2020

In Coronavirus, Environment, 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 23, 2020.

The verbs du jour alternate between ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolating’, but in order to remove the negative connotations of the first, we are advised to call it ‘physical distancing’. Because we are, in many ways, closer than ever. Whatever you call it, please make sure you abide. Which brings me to the question that pops up a lot in social media circles: are we making too much of it?

Short answer: no.

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Some of the things I used to take for granted

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On March 23, 2020

In Kamloops

We grow in times of crisis, and I do not mean just this type of crisis which has been mostly a chapter in history books for most of us until now. You get a bit winded when life tries you hard enough. But then you also find yourself thinking more about the ripples that you notice showing up on your soul around the spot where life threw that big rock in when you weren’t looking.

In times of crisis people show their best and worst, and it’s a choice to do so. OK, fear can make you do ugly things, but now it’s the time we cut out the invisible scape goat and show up as we are: vulnerable and scared but willing to do good things for the greater good. Physically removed but soulfully present.

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Weekly column: Everyone must do their part to help flatten the curve

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On March 19, 2020

In 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 16, 2020.

It happened two days ago in a local store: the person in front of me bought $300 worth of hand sanitizer.

Here we are, increasingly engulfed by the reality that is the COVID-19 pandemic. It is happening and it’s getting closer. Some store shelves are empty – the mysterious case of toilet paper stockpiling is still ongoing, and the shortage of sanitizing products is troubling.

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In troubling times, choose what to focus on

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On March 19, 2020

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

Life as we know it is changing every day. New routines and measures are popping up every day and it takes some solid pep talk to not succumb to panic. We will see better days, just not yet. Not for a while. There will be bad ones, possibly many, before things get better. There are graphs and simulations and news coming from all directions. Some will provide good information and others will also make your hair stand on end, factual as they may be (try this link for a reliable bird’s eye view.) Still, the worst is not knowing. And yet, putting all your energy into hunting down more information than available in the media (which is by everyone’s standards, A LOT,) might not take you to the place where you are settled enough to do your work, or connect with your loved ones, or just be with yourself without panic.

So, about that.  

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Weekly column: Personal responsibility can help prevent future tragedies

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On March 10, 2020

In Armchair Mayor Column, 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 9, 2020.

On a fateful day in 2012, somewhere on Salt Spring Island, a set of bad decisions ended up changing many people’s lives for the worst and ending one. Calder McCormick and Ryan Plambeck, then 17 and 18 years old respectively, left a house party in an advanced state of intoxication due to alcohol and marijuana, got in a car that was not theirs and crashed shortly after.

McCormick survived but suffered brain trauma which left him unable to pursue further education or even ride a bicycle, while Ryan Plambeck died at the scene of the crash. He was behind the wheel but did not have a valid driver’s license. Heartbreaking and yet preventable.

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Weekly Column: Prevention is great, panic is not

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On March 8, 2020

In Kamloops

Published as a column in CFJC Today Kamloops and Armchair Mayor News on Monday March 1, 2020.

It is nearly impossible to avoid the news about the coronavirus or COVID-19 nowadays. A couple of days ago a red and yellow photo depicting the virus caught my eye. Dramatic indeed. There is a reason why street signs are in yellow or red, to catch your eyes and alert you to something you should pay attention to. The photo did the same.

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