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Why the world needs Janet Mort

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Growth Opportunities, Uncategorized

My friend Janet is a badass.

She’s also passionate, fiery, and completely committed to helping change the world, one child at a time.

Retiring after a 35-year career as a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools on Vancouver Island, Janet went back to school to earn her PhD in Early Literacy.  

Janet and her husband Michael at their home in Victoria, B.C.

Understanding the very real, very high cost of illiteracy, Janet was determined to address the unmet needs of struggling students learning to read.

I met Janet last March while hosting a retreat in Mexico.  She wasn’t a participant, but she looked interesting so I went over to introduce myself to her and her husband, Michael.

I’m glad I trusted my intuition because Janet and I were supposed to meet. 

We didn’t understand why then, but we do now. The universe provides, even when your shrimp cocktail is getting soggy.  (If you haven’t read my prior blog about Janet and our synchronicity, please do it now).

JANET is a problem solver.

Play Video

One of the things I love about Janet is her ability to get things done. 

When her husbands physician retired and they were unable to find consistent care through her health plan, Janet rallied as Michael’s advocate.

She ran an ad in her local paper, the Victoria Times Colonist, seeking a new doctor for Michael.

The response was overwhelming; not only did Janet find a doctor (over twenty responded to her plea), she succeeded in bringing national attention to a problem many others were facing in her home province,  British Columbia, Canada.

Nearly one million British Columbians were also without a family physician, according to BC Family Doctors.

Janet and Michael were interviewed for television and national news programs. 

(Press play on the graphic above for the whole story.)

Her willingness to take their private battle public reflects the same stubborn tenacity Janet brings to her professional pursuits.

After earning her PhD, Janet founded  Joyful Literacy, an evidence based program that helps children who are most vulnerable learn to read.

JANET IS A REVOLUTIONARY.

Janet returned to school because she wanted to know why over 35% of struggling children do not succeed in school.

Within seven years she had completed her analysis of the most compelling literacy research, designed the Joyful Literacy Framework, and implemented it in over a hundred primary pilot classrooms where data was collected by external examiners for the first four years of Joyful Literacy implementation.

The results exceeded expectations.

  • In Kindergarten, success rates rose from 40% to 80% over three years when the standard program changed to the Joyful Literacy Framework.
  • In Grade One, success rates rose from 54% to 89% over three years when the standard program changed to the Joyful Literacy Framework.
  • In Grade Two, success rates rose from 26% to 92% over three years when the standard program changed to the Joyful Literacy Framework.

Eight other superintendents chose to participate in the pilot out of frustration that only 49.8% of their grade four students were achieving grade-level expectations.

The Joyful Literacy Framework was implemented with students entering Kindergarten in 2013.

Implementation was continued through to the year they entered grade four where, after five years of the Joyful Literacy Framework, the students’ success rate had risen to 85%.

Source: Fountas and Pennel Data

the high cost of illiteracy.

This is why Janet is on a mission to transform early childhood literacy in Canada, the United States, and the world!

  • 67% of students are not proficient in reading by the end of 3rd grade.

  • Students who are not proficient by the end of 4th grade are 66% more likely to wind up on welfare or in prison.

  • Students who don’t read proficiently by the 3rd grade are 4 times likelier to drop out of school.
  • Students who are retained to repeat a grade will cost a District an average of $10,000 each.
  • The US illiteracy rate hasn’t changed in over 10 years.
  • 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.

Source: National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL)

And it all starts with the quality
of our early childhood education.

janet has a plan.

Building on seven years of research and data collection, Janet created a literacy program she named Joyful Literacy.

This school-based program combines a clever use of technology with an evidence-based literacy approach that enables teachers to assess their students, track progress, and boost literacy success.

Using her proven Circle Chart methodology to assess, teach, and track all eight literacy foundation skills, this framework is broadly applicable. 

Janet’s goal is for the Joyful Literacy program to be used internationally in Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms across the world, a goal that will be met by offering in other languages.

In addition to this robust curriculum, Janet has written several books that weave together the essential assessment, teaching, and tracking components of Joyful Literacy with practical and effective classroom strategies for optimal teacher- student learning activities.

And because Janet understands that reading begins before school, her books also help parents who want to support and foster their child’s reading skills at home.

Along with her associate, Chelsea  Mytko, Janet provides online help for parents via their Born to Read YouTube channel. 

All videos include free and accessible lessons for parents to teach their child to read at home from the womb to kindergarten.

This winning combination is further supported by the Joyful Literacy Teachers App, which Janet created to help teachers easily track and support students who need extra help and attention in their classrooms.

Teachers! Click here to access a free trial!

Joyful literacy in the u.s.

When Janet told me about her plans to expand Joyful Literacy in the United States, I immediately asked, “How can I help?”

Since returning from Mexico I have met with Janet and Chelsea to learn more about how the program and app work within the classroom for proven results. 

They’ve also been busy meeting with other developers, marketers, and educators to help expand the Joyful Literacy program to the U.S. and beyond. And it’s working. They’re developing an expansive plan to introduce the system and app to educators across the country.

According to the  National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), low levels of literacy cost the U.S. up to 2.2 trillion per year. In fact…

  • 79% of U.S. adults nationwide are literate
  • 54% of adults have literacy skills below a 6th-grade level and 
  • 20%  below a 5th-grade level.

But the real cost for illiterate people is far greater. 

Imagine being unable to get a job, provide for your children, decipher street signs or the label on your prescription bottle because you can’t read.  This is a huge disadvantage and one that we can correct with Joyful Literacy.

You can help spread the word by sharing this post with your neighbors, teachers, and local educators.  There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain!

I want to see Janet’s story on 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday morning.  Can you help me network?  Send me your resources and contacts!

We can change the world- one reader at a time because we now know how.

Dr. Janet Mort has been a featured keynote speaker at 28 summits in B.C., Alberta, and Washington state, as well as being chosen to represent British Columbia as a literary expert at the World Congress of Education in Melbourne, Australia.

She was awarded Canada’s Queen’s Jubilee Medal 2005 for her service to children and leadership in educational change and was recognized by The Order of British Columbia in 2020.

The Order represents the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens.

But to me, Janet is just my inspirational friend, a woman on a mission to change the world for good.

If you’d like more information on Joyful Literacy, please reply to me or reach out to Janet via email.

Because everyone deserves the opportunity to learn to read and live a full life.

Janet and Healing in Mexico

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Uncategorized

I noticed Janet and Micheal immediately as they walked into the restaurant in Troncones Beach, Mexico. 

I was hosting a retreat, they were on vacation, returning to a favorite spot for dinner. I thought they looked like an interesting couple so I walked up to their table and introduced myself.

“Hi, I’m Tina. You two look like a fun couple and I wanted to get to meet you.”

A bit taken back, they graciously offered their names.”Hi Tina, I’m Janet and this is my husband, Michael.” 

I learned they were from Canada and had been coming to Troncones for the past seven years. 

The restaurant at Present Moment Retreat Center was one of the best in the area and their personal favorite. 

 

I told them about my retreat and how much I was enjoying this area of Mexico. I returned to my table to tell Herb how cute I thought they were.

A few minutes later I traipsed back over and asked to take their picture. They were just so interesting looking…

They acquiesced and I took a beautiful picture of the two of them at their favorite table.

Later, Janet would describe it a little differently, “This woman comes walking up to introduce herself and of course Michael is hard of hearing, so after you left he just said, ‘What was that all about?’ 

Then you come back and ask to take our picture! It was so random, and if you look at the picture, you can see our food sitting there in the background!”

(I’d interrupted their dinner of course.)

 

Michael, who wore a stylish straw hat and large black glasses, possessed a benevolent face that looked mildly, chronically amused. He was thin and a bit frail.

Janet, who also wore glasses, was striking in her resort wear and matching headband. I learned they were retired, educators who had first met at a conference.

Janet, who was coming out of an abusive relationship, sensed Michael’s kindness and thought he was the kind of man she’d wanted all along.  He felt the connection, too, and asked her out.  They were married for fifty-five years. 

I learned later that Michael had not been feeling well. 

“When I told Michael I was concerned about his traveling to Mexico in his condition,” Janet explained, ” he said, ‘Well I can die in Mexico as easily as at home,’ and so we came.”

I took Janet’s email address and promised to send the pictures. Janet later told me she used those pictures at Michael’s funeral.  He passed away last Summer.

When Herb and I arrived in Troncones last Saturday, sitting at the very spot where we met them,  we were thinking of Janet and Michael.

I sent Janet a text of the view, saying we were thinking of her. I received a text back, thanking me and saying she was in Troncones herself.

The cell service in this area is spotty at best and I didn’t get the message until Herb and I went down for lunch on Sunday.

Just as I was showing Herb the text, Janet walked into the restaurant.

I saw her and immediately shrieked, ”JANET!”

Her face was confused and then amazed as I walked over to her to give her a big hug! 

It was a wonderful chance reunion of friends who barely know one another but feel close nonetheless. In this instance, it was nothing short of a miracle because the timing was just right, good medicine. 

We laughed at our text exchange- she not connecting the dots to know we were here, and our just discovering her reply as she walked in. I immediately asked her to join us for lunch.

“I just came here, to our favorite place, to have lunch alone,” Janet said, “to feel what that feels like.”

I replied, “Well you still can, if you want to,” not wanting to intrude on her time alone.

“Oh no! I’d love to!” she replied. 

We sat down to lunch, amazed at the synchronicity of our reunion. It felt like it was meant to be because it was. 

And for the rest of the week the three of us and Ron White , our traveling companion, were inseparable. 

We got to know each other around the pool, margaritas and molcajete, martinis and sunsets, and one memorable evening at our favorite restaurant, Tentaciones. 

Perched high above Playa Ropa, we shared the sunset, a lovely meal, and a magnificent celebration of new friendships and old souls.

“I want to make a toast to you three. And I want to do it now before I get too teary-eyed,” said Janet.

 “Being with you this week has been a miracle because it’s helped me realize that I can have fun again, that I can live again. 

I know now I have a whole new chapter in front of me because I am having fun and enjoying life again. 

This week has been a miracle; a rebirth, and I just can’t thank you enough.”

Touched by her words we were all teary-eyed. 

“I’m just so glad I was that rude woman who interrupted your dinner last March,” I said.  

“There had to be a reason I was so insistent on meeting you and Micheal and now we know why. Because of this! It truly is a miracle- it was meant to be!” 

And we raise our glasses to toast to our good luck.

Ron said later that our foursome felt so easy that Janet never felt like a new friend, but someone he’d known all his life.

On our last night together we all hugged and promised to meet again in April in Victoria, BC where Janet lives. We can’t wait to meet her dog Chipotle as well as her human friends and family.

The next day I received a text from Janet. 
“So magical. We belong together.” 

I replied, “And we are together- no matter the physical distance.”

To borrow (generously) from a song by Barbra Streisand,

“There are moments you remember all your life.
There are moments you wait for and dream of all your life.
This is one of those moments …”

There is much I have not told you about Janet, about her life’s work and her passion to help the most vulnerable.

She has developed a revolutionary program that is successfully doing so in Canada and I am committed to helping her expand that help to the United States.

In a phone call to one of her best friends and co-workers back home in Canada, Janet repeated something I’d said to her upon learning of her life’s work.

“She said that I was a ‘BADASS.’ I’m not sure, but I think this is a U.S. term for a  compliment.”

It was and it is.

I can’t wait to share more about Janet and her mission with you because she has also given me a new lease on life. It’s not every day you meet a woman in such possession of her vision, path, and her process to change the world.

She is my mentor and my muse- an example of growing older agelessly, committed to improving and transforming the lives of others in the most real and tangible way.

But that is for the next blog. I can’t wait for you to read it. 

Stay tuned, because this is BIG! 

Breathwork Resources

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Growth Opportunities

Thank you for saying yes!

Thank you for your interest in improving your health, vitality, and mood via learning to breath more effectively and efficiently.  

The resources below will help you build a solid breathwork practice and reap the many rewards regular practice reveals.

video tutorials

I created these three videos to help review the breathwork practices we covered together. 

Please use them to develop your own practice!

Books

Click on book cover to order via Amazon. 

apps & websites

podcasts

Thanks again for investing in your health by taking time to stop, breathe, and listen to your body.

If you have additional resources to share with our group, please email me and I will be happy to add!  

My mission in life is to learn and share.  Thank you so much for allowing me to share the power of breathwork with you!

Honoring our Teachers

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Uncategorized

There’s a big holiday coming up next week, and it’s not just the fourth of July.

July 3rd, the day we will  celebrate Independence Day is also a day of celebration called Guru Purnima.

So what is Guru Purnima? 

 

In Hindu culture, Guru Purnima is a day to honor our teachers, past and present, for all they have contributed to our lives. 

It is a day to remember and give thanks.

 

I learned about Guru Purnima from my hot yoga teacher Ricky. 

His casual reference stuck with me because I’ve been blessed with so many wonderful teachers in my life.

Teachers like Ricky who’s helping me open my hips, regain my balance, and surrender my pride.

 

With reverence and gratitude, I write this blog to offer thanks to all the amazing teachers and mentors I’ve encountered through the years. This list is not complete, but it is a start..

Hale Cook Elementary School
  • Stella Jacobi– My fourth-grade teacher at Hale Cook Elementary changed my life when she encouraged me to explore the limitless world of books and reading.  The stories she read to us each day ignited a deep respect and hunger for the written word.

  • Loraine Sheehan Gordon

The high school English teacher who drove me to tears when she gave me a big fat D on my Caesar Chavez term paper.

Loraine didn’t suffer fools or accept less than your best.  She pushed me to take myself and writing seriously. We also share an awkward story when I ran away from home, but that’s another blog.

  • Elaine Fischer– The fitness director at Hilltop Racquet Club who managed to keep a straight face when I auditioned with a dance to “Ride Like the Wind” by Christopher Cross. Instead of laughing, this diminutive ball of fire asked me to take her class the next Sunday, handing me my ass along with a job offer. Thank you, Elaine, for taking a chance on me. This was the beginning.
  • Phil Freeland– Phil, my boss for the twelve years I worked at Woodside Tennis and Health Club was the shadow teacher of all shadow teachers. His brutality and toxic management style forced me to confront my fear, self-worth, and integrity.  The best gift he ever gave me was firing me. The next best gift was my therapist.
  • Shelley Stelmach– I started seeing  Shelley during my years at Woodside. She helped me stop agreeing to bad bosses, toxic boyfriends, and rampant self-sabotage. She put me back in my body and resuscitated my hope. The courage we mined together allowed me to leave an abusive boss and start over in business.
  • Rosita Arvigo–  My spiritual teacher in Belize, Rosita reminded me that faith is not a feeling but a practice.

    She taught me the power of plants, prayer, and ritual in spiritual healing, as well as the joy of community and celebration. 

    Thank you, Dr. Rosita, and your teacher Don Elijio Panti for showing us the immense healing power of plant medicine.

     

  • Sabin Bailey– Sabin is an amazing mystic, numerologist, and reader who guided me to Rosita and that life-changing experience in Belize.

    She’s been a constant source of revelation and a trusted counselor for many years.

    If you’d like Sabin’s contact information, I’ll be happy to connect you.

     

  • Scott Schwenk – I’ve never actually met Scott in person but his impact on my life has been huge. I found him through an online search for breathwork and meditation programs. He is authentic, gentle, and kind, easing the way for expanded consciousness.

    Scott’s like the best friend, brother, and childhood pal you’ve never met but feel you know. 

    You can learn more about Scott, via his website: www.scottschwenk.com

  • Ehret Oscar Ramey – My father was my first teacher and the greatest single influence in my life. How lucky I was to get him as my Dad.

    Thank you for seeing me, loving me, and believing in me. The lessons you shared are still teaching me today.

    I love you and I miss you. 

Who are the teachers that have touched your life?

Who would you like to honor for Guru Purnima? You don’t even have to wait until July 3rd! 

Post below or shoot me a private message!  I’d love to hear! 

With love, Tina

Why Celebrate the Summer Solstice

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Reflections

During the Summer solstice, the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky and gives us our longest day of the year.

As we know, our planet both revolves around the Sun and rotates around its own axis — an imaginary straight line through the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.

This axis is not perpendicular to the Earth’s orbital plane but is tilted at about 23.5°. This is why throughout the year, the North and South poles lean towards the Sun at different angles.

So the moment when one of the Earth’s hemispheres reaches its maximum tilt toward the Sun is called the summer solstice in that hemisphere.  For those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, that day is June 21st.

This first day of Summer reminds us to celebrate the nourishing light of the Sun. It’s also a moment to cultivate the light that radiates outward from within each of us.

“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” — Van Morrison

The word solstice comes from the Latin words “sol,” meaning sun, and “stitium” or “sistere,” meaning still or stopped. In ancient times, our ancestors likely used this day as a marker to decide when to plant crops, noticing that the sun switched from a southward to a northward trajectory in the sky.

But more importantly, the solstice was a time of celebration and a break from the norm.

Many cultures believed that magic took place on the night of the summer solstice, with fairies showing themselves to humans, while evil spirits were dispelled from their lives.

The solstices were an impetus in the construction of Stonehenge. 

On the night of the summer solstice, the sunset will align with the heel stone of the monument, and continue to shine through the others. 

Gatherings at Stonehenge took place between 3,000 and 2,000 BC.

These celebratory ceremonies brought people together as a show of communal strength and gratitude. People came on these pilgrimages to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

“I am summer, come to lure you away from your computer… come dance on my fresh grass, dig your toes into my beaches.” — Oriana Green

The Summer Solstice is also a moment for us to take stock.

The journey of the Sun represents the cycles of our lives. Just as we can align with the Moon’s journey every month, we align with the Sun’s journey throughout the year.

Spiritually, the Solstice is an extraordinarily magical day.

It is thought that the veil between this and other worlds is at its thinnest.

 You can bask in the light and magic and engage FULLY with this auspicious moment.

Some ideas to celebrate:

  • Plant a tree, bush, or gather flowers.
  • Spend time alone in nature. Walk, play, sit, put your feet on the earth.
  • Meditate. (Try this Solstice Meditation from Spirituality & Health)
  • Spend five minutes in silence, focusing on your breath, extending the exhale to 8 counts.
  • Celebrate creativity: write, draw, sing, dance! 
  • Capture the fire of this season- have a bonfire with friends!
  • Above all, let your inner light shine radiantly!

Perform a cleansing

The Solstice is also a great time to do a cleansing of yourself and your space to reset the energy within and around you.

Start by quieting your mind, and journal to delve into a bit of a reflection.

If there are things in your life that are no longer serving you, now is the time to let these energies go.

Write a letter to yourself about where you are, and what may be keeping you stuck, listing all the thoughts, unconscious choices, and people that no longer support your greatest good.

Burn the letter, meditate, and cleanse yourself with sage, incense, or essential oil.

Cleansing your home is another ritual you can do at the Solstice or any season to push out the old and bring in the new.

Don’t be afraid to open up all the curtains and windows in your space to allow the fresh air of this powerful practice to rejuvenate and bless your home. Using a smudge stick or essential oil cleansing spray works well, too. 

Whatever you do, now is the perfect time to let go of old energies and breathe in the fresh new opportunities of summer.

Cleansing yourself and your space is a sacred act of self-care. Consider doing this ritual each new season or anytime you feel stuck or stagnant.

Need support to get back on balance?  Consider joining me for my October Mind Body Breath Retreat at Timber Creek Retreat House, located just one hour south of Kansas City.

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Let me help you turn down the noise!

When our minds are stretched across 20 conversations, 10 apps, our worries, to-do lists, and too little time – it’s like having a million tabs open and no way to organize and focus.

Breathing is a great way to hit the reset button for your mental state.

That’s because simple breathing techniques can help balance the hemispheres of your brain, soothe the nervous system, and clear brain fog.

Breathing is a simple yet powerful tool for transformation!

Join me at Timber Creek Retreat House, October 20-22, 2023.

Immerse yourself in nature, embrace calm, and leave with mindfulness practices to change your mind and body from the inside out.

All you have to do is say YES.

Learn More

In Praise of the Grandmothers

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Family Ties

As some of you know, I recently became a Grandmother. George is two months and twenty days today, but who’s counting.

Becoming a Gigi has transformed me in ways I never expected. My heart, now three sizes too big for my body, alternately celebrates his birth and aches for the challenges I know he must face in this life.

We can’t protect our children from this world, but we can make sure they know how much they are loved.

My grandmothers were my grounding compass. They were strong, faithful, and humble. Like other women of their generation, they were the grounding center of their families, working like Trojans, yet rarely acknowledged for it.

Both were widowed and spent much of their lives alone. Clara Mae Sturdivant, my maternal grandmother lived in Nashville, so I don’t have as many memories of her.

What I do recall is her kindness, home cooking, and expert needlework. I loved her mustache, ornate pearl spectacles, and playing with her underarm flab.

A devout Southern Baptist, Clara recited scripture like a preacher. She was pious yet I never judged or loved conditionally. 

The love she showered on me felt different than my Mother’s love. I now understand that mothers don’t have the same luxuries that Grandmothers do.

Since she lived nearby, I had more time with my paternal grandmother. Rose Nell Ramey was the oldest of seven siblings. Her mother other died when she was just thirteen years old.

Being the oldest, her father looked to Rose Nell to run the household, care for her younger siblings, and oversee the daily chores on their rural Illinois farm.

It was a huge responsibility for someone so young, but if she felt regret or resentment, she never voiced it.

That was just the way it was; you did what you had to do even if it meant dropping out of school in the sixth grade. She worked as a lunch lady at Boone Elementary School after my Grandfather died.

Grandma Ramey tried to teach me to take a humble approach to life. “Live simply,” she told me, “Be kind, take life as it comes, and remember it’s not personal.”

A compulsive planner, this lesson was lost on me. By carefully weighing the risk/reward of every choice and chance encounter, I’d be able to avoid the mistakes of my elders. I had an agenda, and it certainly didn’t include becoming a cafeteria lady.

On the lucky weekends I got to sleep over, Grandma taught me to make homemade jam from the cherry tree in her backyard, sew, and study the Bible. I liked the way she read the Bible, casually, like it was the evening paper. When I asked questions, Grandma asked questions too, helping me find the answers for myself.

At night before we went to sleep, she’d listened patiently as I outlined my plans for my wonderful life.

“I’ll take voice lessons and play Mary Magdalene in the Christmas pageant. I’ll sing at weddings and funerals too, but only wedding songs because funeral songs are sad….

I’m going to marry Doug, (the preacher’s son.) We’ll have a boy and a girl and live in the basement of his parents house. After a year or two we’ll move to Australia to do mission work because I want to learn to surf, scuba dive, and eat crab.”

“That’s nice,” Grandma said as she rubbed my back.

“When my kids go to school, I’ll have time to write a spy novel. They’ll turn into a movie starring Mary Tyler Moore and the Man from Uncle. We’ll have to move back to the United States, to California, where we’ll live in a house with big redwoods in the backyard. Our kids will play in a huge tree house.”

And when I told Rose I was moving to England soon to study English at Oxford, my Grandmother said simply, “I’ll miss you.”

She was there to witness my all plans go agonizing awry. When Doug the preacher’s son dumped me to date Melodie Bash; Grandma made me a new dress to ease the sting.

When I failed my audition for the Bingham Junior High School talent show with my dazzling rendition of Barbara Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Grandma said, “Never stop singing Tina. If it pleases you, then it is pleasing.”

And when I my short story was rejected Highlights Magazine, Grandma instructed me to go to the library and check out five new books. When I showed them  to her she said, “Good. Now read them. Immerse yourself in something besides yourself.”

Unlike other adults, Grandma saw my circuitous route and disappointments for the folly it was. She neither judged nor falsely championed me. Instead, she offered support for the person and not the plan.

When I was leaving for college, I was overcome with a sudden, intense bout of separation anxiety.

“I don’t want to go Grandma,” I said, hugging her. “I’m scared and I’m so embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?” she said softly in my ear, “Don’t be. Life is crooked and unpredictable and painful. You’re just finding that out.”

I looked into her eyes, surprised.

“But it’s also brilliant and beautiful and utterly surprising. I hope you’ll avoid the awful mistake of punishing or rewarding yourself for either. Worry takes all the fun out of it.”

Later that year, she suffered a stroke. I went to visit her in the nursing home. She was sleeping, jaw slack, lips moving, breath labored. 

I stood at her bed, crying because I couldn’t stand to see her this way.

“Why are you crying dear?” She garbled, eyes closed. That startled me. How did she even know I was there?

“I’m just sad Grandma,’ reaching for her hand. “I’m just sad.”

“Well don’t be sad,” she sighed, “I’m not sad. I’m here and you’re here and we’re doing okay, aren’t we?”

“Yes, Grandma, we are,” tears escaping.

“Well then. That’s enough. That’s enough, now. Let’s not be sad.”

Grandma Rose never recovered fully from her stroke but I never saw her feel sorry for herself. She met life where it led her, even when it led her to difficult places. She wasn’t one to waste time wondering why or why me?

When she died I was devastated. Oh how I wanted to bury my head into her one more time to tell her how much I loved her.

I heard her say. “Tina, why are you crying, dear? After all, I’m the one who died.”

I am grateful for the time I had with these two amazing women. Their legacy is one of kindness, faith, quiet strength, and utter resilience.

It’s my prayer and intention to do the same for George.    I am a Grandmother.

Magical Mexico Retreat Resources

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Growth Opportunities

Thank you for saying yes!

Thank you to all who said yes to reclaiming your mojo in magical Mexico with me, Mach 11-18, 2023.  I hope you had as amazing a time as I did.  Here are some follow-up resources to help you keep grounded, open, and clear.

Books

Just click on graphics of any resource to learn more.

meditation apps

podcasts

GUIDES

Enjoy this curated collection of helpful ebooks and guides for support on your physical and mental health from a variety of health and wellness professionals.  

Click on links below to download these helpful guides.

27 Anxiety busting strategies by Health Means

Personalized Nutrition for Mental Health by Julie Matthews

The top 7 Brain Foods by the 
Science of Prevention – Alzheimer’s 

13-step program for balancing brain chemistry by Modern Holistic Health

Controlling sugar cravings with neurotransmitters by Trudy Scott

The Truth about Alcohol and Liver Detox by Tina Sprinkle and Jen Whitmire

Thanks again for investing in your health by taking much needed rest and reflection in Mexico. 

If you have additional resources to share with the group, just email me and I will add!  Love you!

Resolution

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Growth Opportunities

Resolution
(noun)

1.  the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.

2.  a decision or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose

3. the act or process of resolving or separating something into constituent or elementary parts.

 

Being in the line of work I am, resolutions are nothing new. 

Usually feeling less than stellar after the holidays, in years past I have diligently crafted a list of DO’s and DON’Ts for the upcoming year, dedicating myself to all kinds of goals, from eating less sugar, being kinder to others, to climbing a new, scary, mountain.

But this year, I could really care less.

I’m not sure what the Universe is trying to tell me: as I’m also feeling stuck, and anxious due to the holding pattern Herb and I are in waiting for his new hip.  Or maybe it’s something else altogether: a result of my newfound “maturity,” making attachments of any kind less attractive and compelling.

It could also just be, I am in a good place.

As someone who’s always looking ahead, being in “a good place,” feels a bit annoying.

And yet, isn’t that the very goal I’ve sought each year for myself and my clients?

I’m continually amazed by the power of the mind to hang on to shit thoughts and outdated, repetitive patterns. It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.

So this year, my resolution is to simply be present and open to my good health and to celebrate how good I can feel each day.

The last two years studying nutrition have helped deepen my appreciation for the power of food, and the very real costs of over-indulging in alcohol, which I am prone to do.

Mostly my studies afford me a new level of health that comes from understanding that “willpower” is a function of biochemistry and not a measure of character.

Our bodies keep the score. 

They reflect our thoughts, choices, and daily practices. Because our body systems function as a whole, our gut health, hormone balance, brain acuity, and emotional resilience are interdependent on creating a balance between them. 

It’s not very sexy and an even harder sell, but improving our gut health is the first and most important step towards balanced health. 

When you support your gut with  whole, unprocessed foods, (mostly vegetables), life simply gets better.

As a departure this year, I am not offering my regular 3 to 6-week fat loss course, opting instead for a one-day presentation with my Institute for Nutritional Endocrinology partner, Jennifer Taggert Whitmire.

Jen, a self proclaimed nutrition nerd, is a wildly talented chef  

and health coach who offers a variety of excellent online programs ranging from her 5- day seasonal Resets to her intensive 12-week C.R.E.A.T.E program.

The two of us are teaming up on Sunday, January 15th @ 1:00 pm CST for a FREE online Pivot Party, a post-holiday dry January workshop to help you support your better health in 2023.    

Click here to register for this FREE online workshop

Yes, my body and I are in a good place, and although I’m not making resolutions this year, I still need my community.

Because we’re ALWAYS better together. 

Hope to see you soon. 

NOTE: This event is offered via ZOOM.  Get 80 healthy recipes to kick the new year off right when you sign up.

Longevity Resources

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Health and Wellness

These resources will help you begin your own research on aging better to extend your health span as well as your life span.  

This list will grow with every workshop and beyond, so bookmark this page and revisit it often.

If you have a resource you’d like to share please email me or post on our private T School FB group.

wORSHOP #1 : Why we age

Books 
Click on the book cover to learn more or purchasE
PODCASTS
Click on the ICON to listen and explore

This 8-part longevity series with geneticist Dr. David Sinclair builds and updates the topics covered in his Lifespan book. 

Peter Attia is known for taking a very deep dive into the subjects he discusses on his podcast so be prepared for a science lesson!

Dr. Mark Hyman delivers anti-aging and longevity information that is accessible and fun to listen to.  One of my absolute favorite listens!

The Longevity by Design podcast helps you unpack science-backed information to learn what’s on the cutting edge of longevity research.

longevity blogs  & SERVICES
Click on tHE LOGO TO ACCESS WEBSITE

InsideTracker offers blood and DNA tests to help consumer discover and track their health and longevity biomarkers over time.  If you are interested in participating in their services, use the code SPRINKLEPROSPECIAL to receive 25% off any plan.

Life Extension is a health and wellness resource providing supplements, lab testing, and a science-based blog focusing on nutrition & healthy aging tips.

If you want to order healthy aging blood labs, I’ll be happy oto order and review for you.

Self-Hacked is a health and longevity blog sponsored by Self-Decode, a company which provides personalized health recommendations based on a combination of DNA, labs, and environmental factors.

Longevity Advice is an informational website and blog for people who are not scientists but who still want to know what science can tell them about extending their health span and life span together.

WORSHOP #2 : HOW TO SLOW AGING

Books 
Click on the book cover to learn more or purchase.
PODCASTS
Click on the ICON to listen and explore

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is an expert on muscle mass and aging.  She explores a variety of health topics in this excellent podcast.

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman takes complex science and health topics and makes them accessible.  Listen and learn!

Click the graphic above for a great Methylation Foods Infographic.

longevity blogs  & SERVICES
Click on tHE LOGO TO ACCESS WEBSITE

Join Dr. Rahul Kapur and his wife Khyati at Shaman’s Leawood Total Wellness for medical aesthetics, hormone replacement therapy, medical weight loss, PRP therapy, IV therapy, and Ketamine infusion therapy. 

Restore Hyper Wellness Centers offer a variety of longevity services including cryotherapy, red light therapy, infrared sauna, compression, mild hyperbaric O2, IV drip therapy, IM shots, and cryoskin facials.

IV Nutrition in Westport customizes injections based on your personal needs and lifestyle, giving your body just the right combination of high-quality nutrients to help prevent disease and slow aging.

11709 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66211

5029 W 119th Street
Leawood, Ks  66206

1801 Westport Road
Kansas City, Mo 64111

Click here for more information about the science behind NOVOS,

NOVOS Longevity supplements are based on the best available science, created with the world’s top experts in the aging field, using scientifically validated ingredients focusing on ten or more aging mechanisms to leverage synergistic effects.

Novos supplements include ingredients shown to have beneficial effects on aging in humans.

 

The DO NOT AGE test includes a Biological Age Test, Memory Age Test, Hearing Age Test, Eye Age Test, and Inflammation Score.

In addition to the epigenetic results above, they also provide over 100 DNA reports. 

These reports cover areas such as your vitamin deficiencies, immunity, gut, health, muscle health, mental health, sleep, stress, and more!

While genes play an important role in healthspan, lifestyle is the single biggest factor within our control.

Quantifying and tracking your biological age can help tell you if your wellness routine is helping or harming your healthspan. 

This blog compares and contrasts the best biological age testing kits to help you decide which,  (if any) is right for you.

Read it by clicking the icon above.

WORSHOP #3 : ASK THE SURGEON

COSMETIC SURGERY RESOURCES WITH
DR. REGINA NOUHAN

Dr. Regina Nouhan has over 25 years of clinical experience in all varieties of Plastic Surgery.  After phasing out of active practice, Dr. Nouhan wished to continue to provide service, now in a different capacity. She founded RMN Projects, LLC with the intent of finding new ways to put her insight and experience to good use, focusing on consulting, teaching, and communications.

Plastic Surgery Decoded, a patient education podcast is just one of the ways Dr. Nouhan continues to contribute where she can, both to her community and to the world at large.

The following podcast addresses the topics we discussed in our ASK THE SURGEON workshop.

Additional resources …
for patient questions, specific procedure information, before/after photos, videos, doctor locator, etc.

STAY CONNECTED ...

Regina Nouhan, MD

Thank you for your participation in the Big Rewind program.  I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Kapur and Dr. Nouhan for their help in educating each of us. 

If you would like me to send you a collated file with all presentation slides and video replays, please email me at tina@tinasprinkle.com

THE BIG REWIND 6-WEEK LONGEVITY INTENSIVE

by Tina Sprinkle, posted in Food for Thought, Health and Wellness

Although we’re living longer than any time in history, most of us will spend the last few decades of our lives suffering from preventable and reversible ailments and diseases.

Despite modern medical advances, the average American will spend the last sixteen years in decline- sick, frail, and dependent.

Advances in surgery and medication help many of us live a longer lifespan, but what about our health span?

Lifespan is how long we live. Our health span is how many years we live a healthy, vibrant, and functional life.

Six in ten Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, and four in ten have multiple chronic diseases.

Soon, 83 million Americans will have three or more chronic diseases, diseases that not only diminish quality and length of life but are almost entirely preventable. 

Diabetes, cancer, dementia, depression, osteoporosis, and autoimmune issues are all on the list of preventable chronic diseases.

Because these diseases come on gradually, starting around age 45 or 50, we don’t always recognize the slow, steady decline in our energy, function, and well-being.

After 60, we may see a steeper decline, and by 70 we’re often ready to resign ourselves to poor health, pills, doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes!

WHY WAIT UNTIL YOU see and
FEEL THE DECLINE?

  • Are you ready to take charge of your health, energy, and rate of aging?

  • Are you ready to do something about the fatigue, weight gain, and loss of mojo you’re attributing to getting older?

  • Are you curious to know what your biological age, inflammatory markers, and ideal nutritional anti-aging macronutrient ratios are?

  • Do you want to avoid living the latter part of your life suffering from preventable disease, frailty, and distress?  

if so, you're ready for the big rewind 6-week intensive program

STARTING IS KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE BEGINNING
The BIG REWIND 6-Week Intensive Program includes everything you need to understand your biological age, inflammatory markers, risk for chronic disease, ideal macronutrient ratios, and more.

Your 6-week Rewind Intensive program includes:

Baseline and follow-up Healthy Aging Blood Lab Order, Functional Nutrition Analysis, and Biological age calculation.                     
                                             $528 value

Personalized Longevity Macro Nutrient Template, Exercise RX, Body Composition,                                                                            $149 Value

(6) 30-minute Longevity Lifestyle Coaching Sessions, Recipes & Resources.                   
                                              $420 value

Weekly resources, guides, ongoing support, discounts on training, supplements & wellness retreats.               
                                              $ Priceless

Regularly $1097, this program is available
for a limited time for just $949

REGISTER NOW

Small Group sessions may be arranged for two or more people registering together for this 6-Week Rewind Intensive. 

Please email Tina if you would like to do a small group intensive.

This program is now open for registration for a January 2023 start date. 

Tina Sprinkle is 63 years young with no plans to succumb to the avoidable perils of old age.

An avid hiker, ice climber, pilates pro, and wellness retreat leader. Tina’s passion is helping others live their best lives at any age.

A nutrition nerd by choice, Tina returned to school in 2019 to study functional nutrition at the Institute of Functional Nutrition for Endocrinology.

Tina’s mission is to make optimal health and vitality accessible through the power of nutrition and longevity lifestyle interventions.

Questions?  Email Tina! 

AGING ISN'T OPTIONAL.

BUT HOW WE AGE IS!

REGISTER NOW