Tina Winterlik: struggle

Showing posts with label struggle. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Love Letter to the Youth: Warrior Up With Art

A Love Letter 💌to the Youth: Warrior Up With Art 🎨🎞️🎹🖌️📷

To my beautiful child, to all the young people navigating this uncertain world,

I want to start by saying I love you❤️. I love you so much that my heart aches for the struggles you’ve already faced and the challenges that lie ahead. I have lived through my share of hardships, but I also had the privilege of witnessing and experiencing moments of true beauty, freedom, and connection—things I fear you may never get the chance to know in the same way.

You have already endured so much. You grew up in the shadow of a pandemic that stole time, connection, and safety. You witnessed fear take over, watched people turn against one another, saw the rise of racism and division. You have known the comforts of technology, the convenience of Uber, Starbucks, and streaming entertainment, but you've also faced the crushing weight of sky-high rents, student debt, and jobs that barely cover the cost of living.

And now, as if that weren’t enough, the world trembles once again. Wars rage on, the climate collapses, and the future feels uncertain. I had hoped that by sharing my love for travel, by showing you the beauty of Mexico, by documenting our journey, I could open a door to understanding—that I could show you a world of kindness, of people who love deeply despite hardships. But the cruelty of the world has only grown louder.

So, my message to you is this: Warrior Up. But not with hate. Not with violence. Warrior Up with Art.🎨🎞️🎹🖌️📷🌍💌🔥✍️🤳

History has shown us that when people unite, when they sing, when they create, they are unstoppable. Look up the Singing Revolution—people who fought oppression with their voices. That is the kind of revolution we need. A revolution of art, of music, of truth.

But first, you must prepare. Clean yourself up if you need to. If you are lost in alcohol, in drugs, in despair, know that we need you awake. We need you strong. Learn how to survive. Know where to find water, how to build a fire, how to take care of one another. Not just for war, but for peace. For resilience.

The Indigenous Nations of this land have been warriors for generations, fighting for their survival, their culture, their truth. Take inspiration from them. Learn from them. Warrior Up like Thomas Builds-the-Fire in Smoke Signals—but do it with art, with stories, with courage.

I may not have much time left—maybe I’ll live to 108, maybe not. But I know that whatever happens, my greatest hope is that you, my child, and all the young people of this land, find a way to rise. Not just to fight back against the darkness, but to build something better in its place.

I love you. ❤️I believe in you. 🤗And I am with you, always.

— Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

Friday, December 7, 2012

Life Goes On & Money is Not the Object!

Blog post by Tina Winterlik © 2012
zipolita@gmail.com
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/zipolita @zipolita
http://gplus.to/zipolita Google+

If money were no object...What would you do with your life? Are you doing it?

Finally I am. When I was young I remember a time, I think I was nearly 14 or so, and I wanted a pair of Lee jeans. My father had passed away when I was 11, and my mom had gone through terribly tough times. She could not afford to get me the jeans I wanted and I had to have a cheaper brand which made me unhappy.

I remember it being dark and cold and wet and we were walking, it was winter. We had moved, my mom had not learned to drive, (yet-she was in her 40's but she would :) ) and we had to go get the groceries, and I was just a grumpy teen with an attitude. I remember saying to myself, "I'm never going to be poor, never!!"

Life went on. I really disliked school, I couldn't wait to finish. All I wanted to do was art, but I was told I could not do that and I better think of something esle. I hated math and science and that made me want out of school even more because I did very poorly in these subjects and it gave me a terrible attitude :(.

Life goes on. I manage to graduate and I take any job I can get. They are labour jobs, on farms and in factories. It's all about the money, I work at horrible jobs and hurt myself with long hours (tendonitis) so that I can bring in the $1000 check every two weeks so that I can buy stuff...but I'm not happy.

Life goes on. I save my money. I have quit my job, I go to Mexico for 3 months and travel. I see the life I think I want but I can't get it because I think I don't have the money and now can't do labour work because my body is broken.

Life goes on. I go to college because everyone says it's the answer. Inspite of canceled programs and delays I graduate from a photography program. I get my dream job on a cruiseship- it was my dream but I quickly realize it has a darkside. Instead, I go to work for a mapping corporation, working ridiculous long hours and graveyards to boot. I'm sick mentally because I don't sleep and all I think about is the money and paying my bills.

Life goes on. I lose my job. Downsizing. I'm devastated. I escape. I travel and do photography. I'm healing. I'm making art. I am happy!

Life goes on. I take web design so I can share my photos and hopefully sell them online. There's a dot.com crash and my program seems useless. My life seems pointless.

Life goes on. I go to Mexico and try to do web design there. There's a fire, my camera burns when my cabana burns in big fire in the town I'm staying. In a strange way it's a cleansing. I meet someone, I'm in love. I have new dreams and hopes where previously I was at the end of my rope. I learn to paint. I paint many many watercolours. I am creating and I am happy!

Life goes on. I go home, I'm offered a job for a lot of money in the states. I turn it down, I want a baby. I'm nearly 40. The man in Mexico offered to have a baby with me. I go back, 9/11 happens. There's no people or work in the town where I want to live with my partner in Mexico. The relationship ends. But I get God's greatest gifts, I get pregnant. I go home to Canada. I'm super happy. I'm creating but in a whole new way ;) LOL :D

Life goes on. I am poor in money. My mom is happy but unhappy, she knows the struggle I am in for. I am naive. I think it can handle it. It's a good attitude but hard times will take it's toll. But still I am happy.

Life goes on. I struggle. But I have my child and I am happy! We are learning and creating together.

Life goes on. I have a friend that helps be the father figure for Angel but neither he nor her father can help me financially. I am on my own. I am poor in money but rich in health, love and family.

Life goes on. I lose my mom. She always had my back. I am very lost for awhile..a long while.... True friends and family rally around me. My child inspires me and creativity helps me thru. I count my blessings, I am rich in creativity, love and family.


Photos by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2007

Life goes on. I learn that family is the most important. I learn to re-focus. I learn the value of the simple things in life. I want to share these simple things with my child. I realize all the wonderful things I have to be grateful for. Miracles happen and I am blessed when Angel's father helps so I can travel to Mexico for the winter. I take her on a journey to discover her culture, country and language We live by ourselves in a room we rent from our friends and live very simply and are happy!

Life goes on. A small amount of money from my mom's estate allows Angel and I to travel to Mexico again so she can connect with her dad and learn more of the language, culture and country. We spend another winter.

Life goes on. My child is my muse. I take tons of photos and teach myself to make slideshows and videos. I learn to blog and share my thoughts and ideas. I take a few free courses and I learn everything I can on the internet. It's a huge library full of positive energy if you seek it. I learn about Social Media. I learn about so many things, gardens, cob houses, sustainability, education, how the outside world affected my life and why things happened. How people are uniting to change the world. How Social Media is causing and creating that change. How there are many people like me. I watch alot of videos. I learn to make a lot of videos. I am creating, I am blogging, I am sharing. I am happy!

Life goes on. I am 50. I am riding my bike around Stanley Park, enjoying the gorgeous forest and fresh air. I am giving thanks to God and all the positive powers. I am appreciating all my experiences (the good and the bad and giving thanks ) when I meet someone who will teach me to paint oils. I am blessed. Positive feelings and creativity envelope me all while I struggle but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am Rich in creativity and spirit.

Life goes on. I get some web design and social media work. I sell some paintings. We go pack away all our things and go WWOOF'ing. (Work on an Organic Farm in exchange for food and shelters.) We have really interesting experiences. True life experiences. Some really great, some not so great. We learn to accomodate and I demonstrate these skills to my child. We are rich in togetherness, health and knowledge of sustainability. We are rich in community and learning the skills to values others difference and to compromise and get along.

Life goes on. We return to Mexico for the 3rd time, there has been a hurricane, the town has recovered but there are few tourists. There's no one here but we love it, we get to know all the locals. Many remember us. It's like coming home. I help people with videos, websites and social media so they can tell the world all is well and to come and vacation in their paradise. I build and awesome portfolio and pay it forward many times. We are poor in money but we are all poor in money together and yet we are Rich in Spirit!!

Life goes on. I'm happy. I am creating all the time. I am helping others, sharing with others and they are sharing with me and they are happy. I am realizing I am not poor, I am rich. Rich in creativity, in happiness, in health. Things are happening. Things are getting better. Miracles are happening...everyday. I realize I am richer than the richess (money) people.

Life goes on. I realize I want a little cob house, raised bed gardens, a composting system, a pop bottle green house. I pray and project. I am going to make it happen. We are going to have a dog, cat, a few chickens and some rabbits. We live by the ocean and eat fresh fish. This is where I want to live, this is where my child wants to live. We have an adopted family and life is simple and full of love and generousity. I want to share my knowledge with all my family and friends here and everywhere. I want to be self-sustaining and to share this knowledge. I want money to "NOT" be the object.

Life goes on. It's has taken me nearly half my life, 50 years (as I plan to live to 108 ;), to figure out - Money is not the object. We live a very simple life with our friends in Mexico. We are blessed with miracles. My child and I have a new motto "This is the best day ever, and tomorrow will be even better!" We are rich and money is not the object and SHE KNOWS IT! Do your kids know it? Do you?

Life goes on. I am doing what I want!! And money is not the object.

P.s. One thing in this video that caught my eye is it shows Burrard Bridge, I've walked that bridge hundreds of times. Too funny :D
Related links :
Adventurez in Mexico http://adventurezinmexico.blogspot.mx/

Zipolita's Web Design & Social Mediaz http://zipolitazwebdezign.blogspot.mx/

Zipolita'z Paintingz http://zipolitazpaintingz.blogspot.mx/

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Love Letter to the Youth: Warrior Up With Art

Friday, December 7, 2012

Life Goes On & Money is Not the Object!

Sample Letter to an Advocacy Organization

Sample Letter to a Member of Parliament (MP) or Minister