Story & Lesson Highlights with Lauryn Kai of Europe

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lauryn Kai. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Lauryn, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, integrity is the most important. With a strong moral compass, honesty, and genuineness, intelligence and energy can flow more naturally. Integrity is a value I carry throughout life, because without it, one cannot truly show up authentically in any facet of life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lauryn Kai, and these days I identify as a multidisciplinary artist working across visual arts, including collage, filmmaking, photography, directing, and curation. My “brand” is really an extension of myself—I strive to merge all my passions into a single creative identity that represents who I am and all that I love. On my Instagram and Substack, I go by the alias TravelingEasel, which captures who I am as an artist and as a person in this present moment.

Currently, I am living a nomadic lifestyle, carrying my creativity with me wherever I go. It serves as both practice and anchor, a means of connection, a way of life, and a tool for maintaining balance in the chaotic times we live in. What makes me unique? That’s a difficult question to answer, because I hope that my way of life, art, and “brand” speak for themselves.

My latest project took me to Puglia, Italy, where I completed a three-month artistic residency, immersing myself in Pugliese culture. This experience inspired a body of work reflecting the local culture, titled Filo Del Tempo (Thread of Time), which is now on display in the Clock Tower of Cisternino, Puglia. Italy has long inspired me, particularly the south, which I feel a strong gravitational pull toward.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I have many moments in my life that have reminded me of my power, but I can’t say that I ever felt truly powerful in the earlier years of my life. I often think that understanding the capacity of my power fluctuates depending on life’s circumstances. However, the earliest memory that comes to mind is a time when I was intentionally going outside in the pouring rain—standing in it, crying in it, letting it wash over me, running around in it—doing whatever brought me a sense of life force. I vividly remember one moment during a downpour: as I started to run, the loudest thunder rolled across the sky. In that instant, it felt like a deeply profound, powerful, and special connection with the nature around me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Always remember to be yourself; that is your greatest strength.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I think a lot of people believe that “going along just to get along” is what helps you get far in life. I’ve been a doormat and a people-pleaser, and while I may have had more friends and perhaps thrived in my career during that time, it ultimately comes back to integrity. Integrity isn’t just about others—it’s also about honoring oneself, preserving one’s peace, self-respect, and moral code. I can no longer conform to what I am not just to be more easily accepted. In doing so, I would lose myself and who I am at my core.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will share stories of my light, my passion, and how I made them laugh through my sheer authenticity—stories of how I made them feel something.

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