Image Credit: Contributed / Chevonne Marshall

By Daniela Ginta

The Way I See It

GINTA: Let’s focus on the things we can do and remember what matters

Apr 26, 2021 | 11:22 AM

DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, you’ll hear from some people that they are making the best of their time and days in general, restrictions notwithstanding. Others will explicitly express their frustrations at the new restrictions.

The thing is, the new travel restrictions, in effect until May 25, were expected to be ever so drastic. Instead, we were presented with a map that looks friendly enough — if anything, a bit too friendly, some said.

The three zones are each of considerable size and thus the argument that they are rather travel-friendly at a time when everyone should stay in or as close to their community as possible. Of course, this puts small communities that are known tourist destinations in the middle of a tug-of-war like no other.

They need to keep the hospitality industry in their communities afloat and yet they cannot afford to become disease clusters either. We’ve seen it happen already and there is a risk that it will happen yet again given the nice weather and the generous size of the health zones.

At the same time, it’s only to be expected that some will be flustered with not being able to visit their loved ones within the province while the flights are still bringing in travellers from out of province.

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That is the argument brought forth by SFU researcher Julianne Piper who says the new restrictions are not enough and, as long as inter-provincial travel is still happening and travellers do not need to quarantine, we will keep seeing more of the same as people will use the existing loopholes to get around.

It’s become almost politically incorrect to mention that there is one too many cars from out of province even here in Kamloops. One can hope it’s all essential travelling that could not be postponed though we all know that some people are simply travelling. Yes, it’s a compliment to our province but at a time when visitors are adding more trouble to an already challenging situation.

Ditto for parties that might or might not involve visitors from out of town — based on their license plates — like the one that unfolded Sunday night a few doors down.

Meanwhile, for everyone who feels frustrated by the prolonged restrictions and the ‘cannot do’ items we all miss, yet they are determined to stay put until things get better, here’s a positive thought I’m hanging on to: focus on the things that we can do, rather than on the ones we can’t.

We cannot travel far but we can hike around Kamloops and even camp in its immediate surroundings — with proper fire precautions in place and no other peeps than your family.

There is a film festival unfolding as we speak and you can watch from home or at the drive-in theatre; we have a no-fee library service and tons of great books to choose from — plus many others you can request to be transferred or ordered anew if it’s a worthwhile addition to the collection; we have countless eating places that offer patio dining or take-out, and so many local businesses that need our support.

Remember when the pandemic started and every other post on social media was about bread-making, gardening or home projects? Some watched too much TV, others switched to reading more. It seemed that we were pushed into seeing the simple yet fulfilling things around us from up close; a blessing of sorts.

We were reminded that community matters when a crisis occurs and that being considerate towards others is the way we can make it through.

The pandemic, many have said, has been a time of division and frustration, but also a time to reconsider priorities, the things we take for granted and the things we need to change for a better future.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.