Category: Community

Community, information, knowledge, Mental- Health

Life In Canada Under COVID Protection Measures

dianangelika0607

16/10/20

This year 2020 is a period with an amount of challenges and proof for all of us. The word of the year is COVID.

I never thought that this period of pandemic time would be so long. In March when everything started, I believed that it was temporary and now, after 7 months and with the statistics changing and growing, it’s really frustrating that everything is at the same starting point. In fact, the last few days in Canada the number of cases has increased. At the moment we’re in the second wave.

So, I want to share with you two graphics about the statistics of Covid in Canada. The first graphic shows The Number of Total Cases vs Reporting Date. The second one is about the current situation and shows the total of cases (Date: October 15th,2020).

Both data were taken from the Government page: Canada.ca

Source: https://www.canada.ca

According Ontario.ca, Ontario have reopened in three stages. Through all stages, public health and safety remained the number one priority, while balancing the needs of people and the economy. 

Stage 1: Opening businesses that can immediately meet or modify operations to meet public health advice and workplace safety measures, and are considered lower risk settings for transmission of COVID-19.

Stage 2: Taking a regional approach to opening more businesses and services, as well as community, recreational and outdoor spaces, while emphasizing public health advice and personal responsibility.

Stage 3: Taking a regional approach to opening most businesses and services and all public spaces, with health and safety measures in place, and continuing to emphasize personal responsibility.

Source: https://www.ontario.ca

After summer the number of cases in most provinces have increased due to people didn’t took the self-care measures. I watched on TV a lot of people on the beaches, bars and restaurants without masks and “living la vida loca” like if nothing was happening and now the statistics show the consequences. Many cases are young people that are the reflection of those “fun gatherings”.

“Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, as of September 8, 2020, Ontario is pausing any further loosening of public health measures or reopening additional businesses, facilities and organizations”. (https://www.ontario.ca)

Obviously, the government needs that the number of cases decrease again and mostly because schools and universities started their activities in September and kids can be more exposed to the risk.  

At present, the use of the face mask is obligatory but there are people who don’t wear it. In fact, I’ve watched on the news people protesting and against measures of self-care. There are still people who don’t believe in the virus and its consequences and those wayward people are a problem.

I know that we have to learn to live with the virus but we have to be careful. For 6 months the Canadian Government helped people with a subsidy of $2000 but nowadays it’s complicated that the Government continues with this policy due to finances being unsustainable.

Sometimes with my husband we go out on the street and try to take in new air and change the environment. It’s Fall and we like to see the landscapes of this season or walking at parks and enjoying nature. At times we go to the supermarket to buy groceries but we prefer to order at home and avoiding the crowds. We believe taking care of ourselves just depends on each other.  

I know that this year has been harsh and frustrating. Stress, despair and impotence can be some emotions that people have felt sometimes. At the same time, it has been a huge hurdle for all of us and I’m sure that some of us have developed skills or we’ve found hobbies and different interests because the pandemic time teaches us to be resourceful, creative and resilient.

In summary this 2020 has been a year of challenges but at the same time with learnings and lessons, when people have learnt to find a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual balance.

Finally, I want to invite you to read another of my posts about the capacity to reinvent yourself in these times: https://dianix.news.blog

DARR.

Community, Mental- Health, Personal Development, Self-Help, self-improvement, Wellness

Its Cool To Be Kind

dianangelika0607

13/08/2020

This week I listened to a podcast which heading was “Its cool to be kind”. The essence of that podcast is there are people who enjoy to help others without receiving anything in return.

In this world where there are a lot of social differences and those generate poverty and needs in some communities and social groups and at the same time foundations, organizations or merely persons who want to help that vulnerable population.

When I lived in Colombia I worked at University where the slogan is “Education available to everyone”. That means to offer education to all people no matter race, gender, age, ethnic group or beliefs, the most important thing is to have good quality education for a low price. It’s important to clarify that Colombian education isn´t free as in other countries.

My experience there was really gratifying because it was to help ­­­people, with my profession and at the same time I learned with them. Students taught me about goodness and humility.

Doing humanitarian labor feeds the spirit and the reward is to see happy people. Here in Canada I’m done volunteering and it’s fulfilling too. In Colombia there is the following proverb: Today for you tomorrow for me. That means if you help someone sometime, it’s possible that at the time you need help you can find a kind person who helps you too. It’s like the movie Pay it Forward where the principal idea is “a charitable program based on the networking of good deeds. The main character calls his plan, which means the recipient of a favor does a favor for three others rather than paying the favor back”.

Definitely they are people with big feelings and with the vocation to help others, that reminds me of the concept of philanthropy which “…is an idea, event, or action that is done to better humanity and usually involves some sacrifice as opposed to being done for a profit motive. Acts of philanthropy include donating money to a charity, volunteering at a local shelter, or raising money to donate to cancer research”.

On the podcast there’s a story about a guy who travels around the world and hopes the generosity of people will keep him going. He says “Giving is better than receiving”. This is a link that shows part of his journeys in his program telling “The kindness Diaries”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN51oWwwbqg.

In summary, I hope you have enjoyed this writing about generosity, fulfilling and kindness. I want to conclude with this quote of Princess Diana “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

DARR.