Meet Kylee J. Marshall

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kylee J. Marshall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kylee J., really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Finding my purpose has been a journey of more than forty years. And the journey walked through very long seasons of perfectionism and of people-pleasing. Many years of saying yes when I wanted to say no. And even more years of not saying anything at all. Growing up, purpose was synonymous with useful. And being useful meant being the hardest worker in the room and doing my share and more and saying yes to all of the things and going with the masses. After 20 years in education, I knew I was walking a fine line between my calling and my obligations to do what was expected of me. Finding my purpose looked a lot like walking into a hurricane. I wanted nothing more than to walk out on the other side with myself and my children. I sold my house, escaped an abusive relationship, quit my classroom teaching job, and more or less stepped away from the eyes of others. I needed time to heal and to quiet the world in order to hear my own soul. And that time allowed me to start creating again while also refining my vision of what “teaching” had to look like. It allowed me the grace to grow into my purpose: writing my story to inspire others, coaching others in their writing journeys, and opening my creative space to give people a safe and welcoming space to be vulnerable and authentic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Of Dirt & Wildflowers is both a book and a creative space that I opened in the fall of 2023 in Western Colorado. My memoir, Of Dirt & Wildflowers: A Memoir on Growing the Courage to Bloom, was released in the early summer of 2023 and has experienced great success including numerous awards and five-star reviews. A great accomplishment to wrap up this last year was winning the NYC Big Book Award and being invited to New York City to see my book on a billboard in Times Square. It was surreal and a dream come true. My memoir is a testament about digging into the dirt of our lives and finding the beauty. Finding those small hidden seeds that can help us to grow and to bloom. In addition to my book being available in paperback and e-book, I also recorded it myself; and it can be found on iTunes and Audible. My passion resides in education and in inspiring others to choose their life and write their stories. It has opened up many opportunities for me to share my story but to also guide audiences through interactive presentations to dig into their own life experiences. I have enjoyed a number of speaking opportunities around the country. Once my book had entered the world, I began searching for a way to impact more people through joy and gratitude which led me to opening my small business, Of Dirt & Wildflowers: A Creative Space to Grow and Bloom. The creative space is home to eight local female creators who all bring their gifts of painting, sketching, jewelry, etc. It is here that I host journaling workshops, personal development workshops, and writing courses for people interested in writing their own story.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back on my own journey, I believe the three qualities that have served me well are gratitude, grace, and growth. Living a life in gratitude has completely shifted my perspective and allowed me to be present and joyful in the life I am living now while also allowing me to pursue my passions and purpose. Grace is a beautiful form of self-love that allows us to rest, to forgive ourselves, and move gently through life without getting caught up in the demands and the rushing and the obligations. And growth is the understanding that every season and every moment offers an opportunity to learn which ultimately makes us stronger, braver, and more courageous. Knowing that growth can happen, even in the hard, is a powerful tool.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle or challenge I am currently facing is the ability to slow down and to step back from all of the obligations and being available to everyone in my life. The previous year was filled with so many milestones: my book being published and released, speaking engagements, workshops, book events, book awards, opening my creative space, and coaching other authors. It was one firework after another. And I celebrated them all while also raising teenagers and working a full-time office job for a busy real estate team. And so the challenge is me and my ability to step back from the party and find the quiet. Because it is in the quiet where calm and peace reside. It is in the calm and peace where I am creative and can hear my calling and my purpose again. So I am learning to say no. Choosing my yes more intentionally. Finding a slower pace. Practicing the pause.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Lacey Borba Victoria Wolf Joshua Scott

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