in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 16 ,2 02 0 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. 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Published letters will appear in print and/or online at insidehalton.com OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM The COVID-19 pan- demic continues to keep us guessing and wonder- ing, and this uncertainty can take a toll on our mental health and make coping skills even more key day to day. So, I asked my co-work- ers at the Canadian Men- tal Health Association Halton Region branch what they've been doing to build resilience and manage the ongoing chal- lenges of this situation. Here are some of their ideas: • We can think of our resilience as a gas tank that needs constantly to be replenished. Without gas, the car would halt -- just like our bodies would cave in. Good sleep, hy- giene, a healthy diet and regular activity go a long way. • Remember that this is temporary -- long yes, but temporary. Ponder what positive informa- tion or trait you've learned or remembered about yourself since the beginning of this pan- demic. • Understand that this pandemic is a traumatic event to most of us and we will all deal with it in our own unique way. I may be on the go as a way of coping, but if my partner wants to do noth- ing all day, that is OK too. • Mindfulness has been a cornerstone for me -- being fully aware of the present with kind- ness and nonjudgment. When a feeling arises, don't push it down but rather acknowledge the feeling, such as, "Ah, an-feeling, such as, "Ah, an-f ger is here." You don't have to like itYou don't have to like itY to accept it. • During stressful times, we have less toler- ance and may act without thinking. So, planning, thinking, curiosity and slowing ourselves down through mindfulness and grounding activities can help us regulate our emo- tions, stay within our window of tolerance and build resilience. • Our default inner en- ergy is positive and when we allow that to leak due to conflicts with outside forces, negativity hap-forces, negativity hap-f pens. I intentionally try to find lessons in seem- ingly random occurrenc- es, which helps in avoid- ing inner conflicts and prioritizing my spiritual health. • Be kind to yourself -- it's OK to be a little sensi- tive. Minimize social me- dia contact if it bothers you, and seek support if needed. Melanie McGregor is the communications and advancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Hal- ton Region Branch, which provides mental health/ addiction community support and education. Visit www.halton.cm- ha.ca for more informa- tion and follow @cmha- halton on Twitter. MANAGING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH ONGOING PANDEMIC HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO REPLENISH YOUR WELL-BEING AND STAY RESILIENT AS COVID-19 DRAGS ON, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR Young children will start learning financial planning at school. This is an excellent life skill and, in my opinion, an educa- tional upgrade. One of the foundations an individual carries through life is a strong edu- cation. Reports over the years show a correlation to higher education and high- er earnings. Maintaining a desired standard of living requires earning an income, but it also requires the skill of managing your money. That is the role of financial planning. The Ontario govern- ment announced a new curriculum that starts in September. All elementary grades will have financial literacy. CBC reported students from Grades 1 to 8 will learn about the value of coins, cash, calculations of interest rates, how to use customer loyalty programs and general issues of long- term financial planning. Other aspects of math education will also change. This is based on the in- creasing frustration with the existing Ontario cur- riculum that has not been upgraded in 15 years. Standardized math scores in recent years of Ontario students in Grades 3 and 6 are disappointing. Premier Doug Ford cam- paigned on upgrading the math education. The inclusion of finan- cial literacy will help stu- dents succeed as financial- ly self-sufficient adults, and will also help the gov- ernment. The pressure on govern- ments to provide financial assistance in the form of di- rect payments or services is a tremendous strain on its finances. The more our educational system can as- sist individuals in being stronger financially, the less support they might need from the government. Education is critical. Math is recognized as an important subject that will benefit those with math ability and our country. Ontario has made a good decision that will have positive impacts for decades ahead. Peter Watson is regis- tered with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. (ACPI) to provide investment advice. Investment products are provided by ACPI. ACPI is a member of the Invest- ment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of ACPI. Peter Watson provides wealth management ser- vices through Watson In- vestments. A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO YOUNG STUDENTS WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILL, WRITES PETER WATSON PETER WATSON Column SNAPSHOT A pair of owlets find a nesting place in an Oakville ravine. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. John Oliver photo MELANIE MCGREGOR Column