I Wonder What Gina will Say?
When Maria puts on her advice cap, she becomes Gina. The name “Gina” derives from Regina, meaning “queen,” though the sovereignty she embodies isn’t the kind that necessarily wears a crown. It’s quiet and personal: knowing your own worth, trusting your voice, and claiming authority in creating and experiencing your precious, unique life.
From that grounded place, creativity flows naturally: we make, we write, we wonder, we risk. And joy follows, not as some far-flung reward for a job well done, but as a companion, the way light fills a room once you open the curtains. These three — sovereignty, creativity, joy — are braided together. When we reclaim one, the others come looking for us.
Our “Dear Gina” is here to listen and respond with patience, heart and friendship served with a virtual cuppa tea.
Dear Gina nurtures Writers in what can be lonely work, and gently unpacks Wonderers’ questions about life in our chaotic yet beautiful world.
Whether it’s advice for writers, advice for creatives, or simple guidance for the kindred spirit, Gina likes to ponder the questions that hide behind small talk, the ones about what’s really going on. She’ll reflect from her heart on life transitions, creative blocks, whatever you’re writing or wondering about. Her wisdom is accompanied by poetry, spirituality, music, photos and clips that inspire joy and beauty. “Dear Gina” is based on the popular “Maria’s Musings and Advice” column, and a natural expression of Maria’s Artist’s Statement.
Read “Dear Gina” posts below, and click the button to ask a confidential question.
Writer Confidence: Staying Inspired when Your Ideas Get Shot Down
In this letter, Gina discusses a familiar sting: when someone dismisses your creative work and maybe even doubts your ability to…
Living with In-Laws: How to Dial Down the Tension
A reader writes to Gina about the quiet tensions of living with in-laws during a major life transition: the unspoken rules,…
Finding Everyday Creativity and Joy, for People Who Don't Feel Creative
In this letter, Gina responds to a heartfelt question about belonging and the quiet creativity that lives in everyday moments. Everyday…
Advice for the Mother of the Bride: How to Stay Close During Wedding Planning
Dear Gina, My 27-year-old daughter is getting married in three months and all the decisions and preparations for the wedding seem to be…
What are you Wondering?
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