We recently connected with Kristen Heath and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I really love this question, because part of my social and emotional learning program is discussing multiple ways we can practice kindness in our daily lives. One thing I always say to the students is that it’s inevitable as humans, we are going to hurt people. Your main goal is to move through life as genuinely as possible. That may be the one thing I’ve figured out in my 35 years on earth. I have to stay true to who I am and move with genuine intentions in life, love, and business in order for things to fall into place. While I realize your question is probably asking for an instance where someone displayed a specific act of kindness, I’m going to say it’s much broader than that for me. The kindest thing anyone has done or could do for me is to give me the room to be who I really am, and to love and accept me even when I fall short or goals or expectations.
For example, I constantly run about 10 mins late due to ADHD (yay for time blindness!) and I am fully aware how frustrating that is for a lot of people. It’s looked at as a sign that I don’t respect you enough to show up on time. I’ve gotten a lot better adjusting for it as I’ve gotten older, especially in professional settings. But often with friends and family, it still happens. But those friends and family are aware of this trait and understand the reasons behind it and don’t get upset or feel disrespected. To me, that feels like a whole love language in itself.
Ultimately, if someone gives me the opportunity to feel comfortable around them the they are a safe space for me. I know if something is really funny, I can laugh out loud and don’t need to hold it in. I can cry in front of them when I’m upset, already knowing I’ll be supported. If I feel disrespected, I can speak up without the fear of being ostracized, mocked or judged for being sensitive. My people know me and accept me for all those weird little quirks, without shaming me for it. It might seem like a basic idea, but it’s so deep for me. Allowing me the unconditional love to be myself and make mistakes, is really the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s allowed me to really find the people who were meant to stay. It’s allowed me the space to grow and change and develop into this woman that five years ago, wouldn’t have known this level of love of comfort. Who wouldn’t have had the confidence to take a giant leap of faith and pursue a creative career full-time.
Kristen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I published my first book, We’re All Weird! A Children’s Book on Inclusivity in January of 2020. At that time, I had been working in the medical field for the past nine years. I was currently working long hours for a boss who was less than thrilled about my new creative venture. Regardless, I knew my place in life wasn’t meant to be working for someone else in a sterile, serious environment. I’ve always been a creative person, but never had the best surroundings as an adult to nurture and express that creativity. I was excited to finally put myself and my work out there and promote my book. Unfortunately, my excitement was cut short a few months later when the pandemic hit, closing many schools and businesses. It wasn’t until a year later that I was permitted to return to schools for author readings, following strict regulations on facemasks and social distancing from students and staff. Immediately upon my return, I noticed a stark difference in students’ reading comprehension, as well as a decline in their emotional regulation and increased behavioral issues. Over the next year I worked on developing a social and emotional learning curriculum that goes alongside my book.
The curriculum works by giving real-world examples of relatable, uncomfortable social situations such as dealing with rejection, gossiping, or bullies. I use my own personal experiences from childhood and throughout life to help students understand and relate to the issues. We also discuss why we want to befriend and accept others despite differences in appearance or beliefs. I developed worksheets for all elementary school grades that dive into ways they can express their big emotions, navigate unfavorable friendships, and help create a culture of acceptance and kindness.
In January of 2022, I had the opportunity to pursue my book and school curriculum full-time. Within a few months, I was making more than I was working ten-hour days for someone else. But more importantly, I was genuinely happy waking up and pursuing my passion every day. I love getting to meet the kids, hear their stories, tell them mine, and truly see the difference I’m making in their lives.
I have also had the opportunity to team up with some amazing nonprofits, such as Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City and Lead to Read KC. This past March, Patrick Mahomes and his nonprofit, 15 and Mahomies invited 18 local schools to participate in a Reading Rally held at the T-Mobile Center. I had the incredible opportunity to sit on stage next to Mahomes and read my book together in front of 3,500 people. A lot of the kids had previously met me at author readings and already had a copy of my book at home, so hearing them cheer for me and say every word to my book they have memorized was such a proud, surreal moment for me.
I’ve now been self-employed for a year and a half and have made massive strides in my success since pursuing my creative passion full-time. I’m being sold at Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, and other huge retailers. My book has sold and shipped to 12 other countries and is becoming popular in the United Kingdom and Australia. I have already accomplished so much that I never thought possible when I first began pursuing a creative career. Of course, success didn’t come without a lot of struggles, financial setbacks and many, many life lessons. It took years of hard work, building my brand, a lot of rejection and harsh criticism, but I have a lot of people in my corner supporting me. In the end, any setbacks and failures ultimately were teachable moments for me to gain insight into the new creative career I’m trying to build.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think the first thing we need to look at is the fact that all humans are meant to still create and play, even as adults. The support from society to create, play, and enjoy life should still be given to everyone regardless of whether they pursue a career. I think one of the saddest things about adulthood is that we are taught that we are meant to spend our adult lives generating capital, recovering from it, and doing it all again. Play is one of the most creative and grounding things a human can do, and it’s not meant to stop when we get big. But our country and capitalism say that the freedom to play is for children, and adults are meant to produce. But everyone is meant to play, and I really think society would be much less depressing and tiring if everyone understood this. What is exceptionally frustrating as a creative, is when society will only allow play (including anything creative) as a form of capital-generating work. Do you like to sing and dance? Well you better be good enough to make it professionally. Do you write or draw in your free time? Then you need to master your art, otherwise it’s pointless and childish. Do you play sports? You better turn yourself into an actual athlete otherwise you’re just wasting time and being immature. To me, this mindset is so incredibly toxic. The only reason or goal you need to express your creativity, is that it makes you happy. I honestly think if society would accept that fact, many more people would be willing to put themselves out there without the fear or ridicule or judgement for not making a living from it.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
When I first began this journey, I was totally unaware what a massive network of artists and creatives live in Kansas City. Starting out, I really struggled creating and devloping it all on my own. One day, I went to a local collaborative workspace in Crossroads and I was amazed to see so many people, all pursuing different creative ventures, working together and bouncing ideas of one another. It was incredible to see people from all backgrounds with one common mission- to create. It didn’t matter if someone was designing a new salon storefront or if they were plotting their next street art mural, they all sat down, sipped coffee, and worked on their individual projects- together. I had never seen that sense of community from a group of adults before. Rather than hiding and gatekeeping their next big idea, they were openly discussing it with a group of strangers who not only listened, but gave valuable input and offered resources for them to use. It was remarkable to not see any sense of competition in that room, but rather the greatest networking and support system I had come across. From that group, I met the illustrator of my first book, Nick Burke. I also met another local musician who now has developed a passion to write his own children’s book. It’s amazing to see what can happen when you surround yourself with people who have the same passion for art and creativity. I have now had the great fortune to meet and work with some of the most talented and kind humans, and all I had to do was put myself out there. This city is full of creative, like-minded people who want nothing more than to see others creative visions come to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wereallweird.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Weirdkidsbook/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-heath-060184133/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHX4L50Nso
Image Credits
photo of Mahomes reading We’re All Weird! credit to Lead to Read KC