We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shelbi Klein. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shelbi below.
Shelbi, 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?
Growing up, our family embraced generosity as a core value, thanks to my quiet yet incredibly giving father and the unwavering support and strength of my mother. Even now, people share stories of the impactful deeds my parents, especially my father, performed for others in times of need. Throughout my childhood, my parents, devoted Christians, worked diligently to make ends meet. My earliest memories revolve around my parents being group home parents, while my father worked construction and also decided to go back to college. His role as a construction worker and student meant long hours, often picking up extra shifts to support our growing family. Despite the challenges, one thing remained constant – the importance of people. My parents invested in the lives of those around them- whether that was through opening their home to others or my father using his mechanic and construction skills to lend a hand. As a girl, I thought my dad could do anything. I watched him work multiple jobs and still care for his four children and others. My mother’s constant presence and strength permeated our home. My father could do anything because he had her. Together they were a team- each complimenting the other. Those early years I saw so much of how generosity is often displayed through time given and sacrifice. My parents would tell me that their heart for others and their generosity was because of their faith. They had become Christians as young adults, and Jesus had transformed their lives. Generosity was a product of what the Lord had given to them. How could they not give of themselves, their resources, and time- when they had been given so much?
Even during leaner times, my father freely gave to those in need, particularly single mothers, emphasizing that people mattered more than financial circumstances. Once, when I was a young adult, I was struggling about whether to pay the money and make a trip to a dear friend’s wedding. I did not have much, and I dd not know if it was wise to make the trip. I will never forget my father telling me that “Money comes and goes, but people are what matter. Make the trip.”
My father completed his master’s degree in social work with three kids in tow and one to soon be on the way. His journey into social work eventually led him into hospice care, and then into starting his own hospice company. His choice to create his own hospice company showcased his unwavering commitment to caring for others. Every encounter with a family and patient was viewed as an honor, an ethos that fueled the success of the company.
As Living Waters Hospice grew, so did my parents’ ability to give back. Always ever generous to their community and family, I watched them prosper and aspire to give more. Alongside their hospice, my parents established a foundation and initiated well-building projects worldwide. My father’s vision for Living Waters Hospice had been to bring compassion to the dying and their families, and now through his foundation he could do more. He proclaimed that his goal was to build 10,000 wells before he died so he could bring families “living water”. The foundation, the hospice, and how my parents have lived their lives has always been a testament to hard work and generosity.
My husband now runs our family hospice company, and our mission remains the same- to care for our patients and their families, as well as our employees. We have established within our own family a culture of giving with our four children. Our home is always open and a safe place for anyone that needs it. And as I set out to become a writer and see where that path takes me, my goals are flavored by the childhood my parents gave me. I want to help others. I want provide hope, compassion, understanding, and maybe bring some laughter to a world that sorely needs it. I never want to hold onto success or money so tight that I forget what is most important. Because truly- “Money comes and goes. People are what matter.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have always loved to write. I have not always been very good at expressing myself verbally, but I found that if I wrote things down, I could capture the emotion and thoughts that I wanted to tell people. I graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in Political Science- International Relations and English Literature. My plan was to go to law school, but life had other plans, and in the last eleven years I have had four children and helped my husband build our family company. In the early years of motherhood, I would write. I would tell all the funny stories of my days. I would try to use self-deprecating humor to make others feel better about anything in motherhood that they maybe were struggling with. I figured if I was honest about all my imperfections and eccentricities maybe it could help another mom feel better about herself. But what I did not realize was that in writing to help other women smile or feel seen, I found that I was helping myself find joy in my life. And sometimes I think writing even helped me cope with some hard things- like postpartum depression and anxiety. Writing gave me an outlet when things were hard, and because I was always trying to end on a positive note, writing kept my eye counting my blessings. But then with my third baby, I had a miscarriage and life was painful and my writing did not feel so encouraging and happy anymore. So, I stopped writing. I had two more babies and life kind of flew by, until one day I knew I was ready to write again. This time I am writing letters to myself- past, present, and future. My hope is to bring some joy and insight into people’s lives. I still want to be a place where people can be heard and seen, but I don’t necessarily feel like I will be exclusively talking about motherhood anymore. I have plans of maybe loosely talking about one of my great loves- government and politics. But I have yet to decide how that would fit in with a blog that brings joy and insight! I am trying out writing on Substack at Hey Shelbi. I am just starting up again and the writing world feels like a new and scary place to me, but I am excited to learn.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
-Love of knowledge and learning. Even if I felt stagnant, I kept reading and keep learning. I believe this leads to organic growth in your personal life and then flows into every area of your life. -Education helped me to learn how to think critically and see both sides of any issue. It allows me to be well rounded. Highr education gets a bad rap these days, but I think that an education that teaches you to think critically and look into both sides of an issue is valuable. You cannot truly know what you believe, unless you understand the opposing belief.
-Being in service roles changed my life. Whether that was working with AmeriCorp at nineteen years old helping people without lawyers file their paperwork at the San Diego courthouse or waitressing or being a nanny or running a women’s ministry- serving others and having a purpose outside of myself has taught me so much. It taught me the importance of a good attitude, how to deal with others (especially people who are hard to deal with), how to follow direction, how to give direction, and how to stand confident in my decisions. It also felt good to accomplish things for myself while also helping others.
I would say that no matter where you are in life- Never stop being curious, never stop looking into topics that interest you, and always count your blessings. Each day is a new day with new opportunity. You can always start again. You can always grow. Keeping a good perspective on life will allow ideas and passions to flow more seamlessly and effortlessly.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Currently my challenge is not knowing how to market online and build a website that runs the way I want it too. I know I can write and that people like to read my writing but getting it out there to the world and to also make the aesthetic of my blog look nice is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I get really caught up in the technical aspects and tiny details and it can really drag me down. Since I have four kids to still take care of, the time I have to deal with all these issues is minimal. Sometimes it feels like learning a new language!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heyshelbi.substack.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbiklein/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/shelbiklein/
Image Credits
Angie Klein at Reels of Joy Photography
