We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karen Kaiser. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karen below.
Karen, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
I come from a long line of generous people. I watched both sets of grandparents, as well as my parents, give endlessly of their time, talents, and financial resources. Growing up, generosity was just a way of life for me. I was taught that whatever resources (whether plentiful or scarce) I had, I was always expected to share with others.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an author who writes poetry with themes of radical love, acceptance, grace, inclusion, belonging, faith, grief, and any other topics that happen to stir my heart. Coming from a counseling background, I am attuned to the complexities of our emotions and am able to capture the depth of the human experience and turn it into easy-to-read poems that invite the reader to engage with his or her heart, soul, and mind in a meaningful way. I share my work on social media and have an active group of followers who engage with the new poems I post every few days. It is a wonderful community where people feel valued, included, seen, and heard.
I also published my first book of poetry, Homecoming: Poetic Reflections of Grace upon Grace, in early 2023 and my second collection will be available for purchase this fall.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important skills for me on my journey have been passion, flexibility, and humility. For those who are just starting out, it is important to make sure what you are doing is something that is important to you, otherwise you will grow tired of it very quickly. I stumbled into this writing thing and it quickly became something that set my soul on fire and is something I look forward to doing every single day. I love what I do and it is so important to care deeply about what you are investing your time and energy into.
As a busy mom of two, I have had to learn to be flexible with my schedule and with my own agenda. It is important to learn to be flexible when you are starting a new project, as sometimes things don’t always work out as you originally envisioned them – but that doesn’t mean the end result won’t be wonderful anyway!
Finally, I think it is important to remain humble. If you don’t know something, admit it! You don’t have to be great at everything to be successful. I can write a powerful poem but know nothing about graphic design, so I seek assistance when creating my book covers. Ask for help when you need it and surround yourself with people who are willing to provide that help.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I’ve always loved Anne Lamott, and her book “Bird by Bird” has encouraged me immensely as a writer. This is one of my favorite passages from her book.
“‘So why does our writing matter, again?’ they ask.
Because of the spirit, I say. Because of the heart. Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/karenkaiserpoetry
- Instagram: Karenkaiserpoetry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkaiserpoetry
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Kaiser/author/B0BWVC9TKN?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Image Credits
Jessica Vick, Tracy Bailey
