Tina's Words
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Meaningful and Relational Living
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What is it like to be on the other side of you?
Do you sometimes notice that your experience of yourself and how others experience you are not the same? After spending time with a friend or in a meeting, stop and think about how you experienced it. How did you experience yourself in that moment? How did you think? How did you feel? What was it like internally to be you? Then talk with the person that was with you. And ask what their experience of you was during your shared time together? What was it like to be on the other side of you?...
Do your plan and purpose line up?
In order to get where we want to go in life, there are two key things we need to know, and most of us are stronger at one. The two key things we need to know are our Purpose and our Plan. Purpose shows us where we are going.Plan shows us to how to get there. Lack of clarity about either our plan or our purpose is an obstacle to thriving. When we are stronger in our plan-making skills, but lack the clarity of our purpose, we can be overwhelmed at doing too many things, be discouraged by not...
Calmed and Quieted
My inner world swirls like a dark storm. Yet I have calmed & quieted myself. I am able to calm myself because I was calmed by others first. (my version of Psalm 131:2) We learn or don’t learn this self-soothing skill as our youngest selves when we cry to be heard. We cry to be seen in order to receive both physical needs and emotional needs. When the physical is met and the emotional is left unattended, it is both ineffective and confusing. We move into our adult lives with...
Tina’s Wine Cookies – Almond Biscotti
I grew up calling them Wine Cookies. I didn't know that most of the world called them biscotti until I was an adult. Family lore has it that my great grandfather enjoyed them in his basement with the Priest after Mass. Dipped in Vin Santo ("holy wine"), of course, which is likely why we called them Wine Cookies. The smell of anise in the house meant the holiday was just around the corner. They existed only once a year. And they lived in a glass cookie jar with a noisy lid. My sister and I...
The Power of Group
Do you feel like you are alone? Like you don’t belong or that you are not good enough?Does loneliness overwhelm you even when you are surrounded by people?Our lives look so great on the outside that we even might think, how can I complain? I am the lucky one who has good health, a job, and beautiful friends and family. Even so, deep down, we simply and deeply and secretly....feel lonely. Do you know who some of the most un-alone people are? The many beautiful souls who are in recovery groups...
Tina Cookies
These are tradition. I have been making them for years. Particularly for Halloween neighbors & friends. They call them "Tina Cookies". Enjoy!Combine together in a mixer until fluffy: 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 cubes softened butter teaspoon vanilla 1 eggAdd: 2 cups flour 1/2 cup rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon saltFor one version, add: grated organic coconut pecans chocolate chipsOr....for the other version, add: cranberries white chocolate slivered...