Tina's Blog

We all have so many blessings in our lives. And yet most of the time we fail to notice them. We don't recognize them properly, forget them, or simply take them for granted.    We lose sight of them, and that's a critical mistake.    In reality, these little things have a huge impact on our lives. That's why we should learn to recognize their value. Appreciating the little things in life means that you focus your attention on what nurtures and sustains you in life. On everything that brings you even the smallest amount of pleasure.   It also means practicing gratitude by noticing these everyday things that you take for granted so easily.     By appreciating small things in life, you won't stop bad stuff from happening. But you'll learn how to stop emphasizing the meaning of bad events to your life.     Consequently, you'll find a valuable source of mental balance. Once you take a moment to appreciate an act of kindness coming from someone you ...

Learning to live without someone definitely has its challenges.  It can leave us depressed if the loss is due to death. This depression comes in waves that can feel crushing but through the depression comes a sense of peace.  It is hard to understand until you experience it.  I guess the best way to explain it is that you feel a calm blanket of love come over you while also feeling like you’re getting a bear hug from the one you lost and you just know they are okay. It brings tears of joy and a warm heart filled with love.  Each day I am reminded of the love my mother had for her husband, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It shines in the smiles and laughter when my grandson points to her picture and says “Great-gramma”.  It is in the memories of her colouring with him and playing hot wheels, in the memories of the time she held her great-granddaughter and fed her, in the silly pictures with my daughters from when they were little or even in t...

It has been awhile since I last posted but the past year has been a bit depressing for us all and I needed to feel it, live it, embrace it.  As I write this I am also filled with loss and grief that I am working through.  I lost my mother in January 22, 2021 after she battled Covid.  She fought to survive but the years of health issues were enough for Covid to win the fight.  I miss her dearly but I know she is still with us all.  I have picked up the phone a few times to call her and check in - I used to do that a lot.  Eventually I will get past that empty hollow feeling as it hits me again that she is gone.  I’ve spent a lot of time meditating and praying since the year started, mainly to find a path to peace for myself but also to keep my faith strong.  I have discovered a few things about grief that no one really tells you about and even if they did you wouldn’t believe them until you experience it yourself.  Grief is a struggle to deal ...

Let's face it we are all lonely, scared and afraid of the world today - even if we don't admit it.  For those of us living alone the current pandemic has made loneliness a much bigger issue than before.  Sometimes the quiet and alone time is appreciated on many levels but these days it can be very depressing because we are all affected by the social distancing requirements in different ways. Social isolation puts individuals at a greater risk for developing anxiety and depression but it can also worsen other pre-existing mental health conditions.  Isolation has the potential to be traumatic especially for those with trauma histories and PTSD.  Isolation is not just physically being alone, it can also be mentally being alone. But there are things you can do to deal with the loneliness and the mental anguish it can cause. Keeping in contact with other human beings is the most important thing you can do to fight loneliness. Another thing that’s great is getting outside...

Social distancing and isolation can have a terrible affect on someone with anxiety and depression issues.  What is worse is when you are totally alone - no one to talk to, cuddle with.  You begin to feel an ache that no one else understands because well all your friends have families or loved ones with them in their isolation.  And to be honest, there is no way you can ever explain it to your friends in a way they would understand.  You see, sometimes people just assume that you are good with being alone because you have been for so long.  Truth is that I enjoy my alone time, I really do, but it has to be on my terms and when I want to go hang out with a friend I just call or text and pop over.  I can't do that right now and it is depressing.  Early in the shutdown one of my best friends stopped by to drop off homemade masks for me, my oldest and another friend.  It was nice to see her (albeit 6 feet away) but I could really have used a hug...

Emotional Intelligence is defined as the ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.   Today more than ever it is important to truly understand Emotional Intelligence within the work environment because, well, it is a scary time we live in.  In some ways, business mirrors biology. As Darwin surmised, those who survive “are not the strongest or the most intelligent, but the most adaptable to change.” It’s the responsibility of leaders to show empathy, unprecedented optimism, and flexibility that will lead business out of this crisis. It may all come down our ability to self-direct and problem-solve on a regular basis.   Keep in mind that this event is impacting everyone, not just you and your business. Reminding yourself that you have no idea what other people are going through will center you and mak...