Kelsie lives in Utah with her husband Matt and their four awesome kids. She graduated summa cum laude from BYU-I with a bachelors degree in Marriage & Family studies, emphasizing in Human Services. She is an alumna of the Institute of Healing Arts where she learned about assisting others with trauma processing. She's a licensed massage therapist, a graduate of the Utah College of Massage Therapy. She's a contributing author in the books Sacred Silver Linings and Warrioress Rising and hopes to eventually write her own book pertaining to the journey one takes to healing, self-discovery & recovery. Kelsie is passionate about helping others to feel seen, heard and valued. She loves being out in nature and is always up for any adventures that involves hiking, cycling, or paddleboarding.
Ever since learning of Kintsugi during my own therapy journey, I've felt connected with the symbolism it embodies. Due to my own personal experiences and educational pursuits, I'm passionate about advocating for others who are on their own path to recovery. Kintsugi can teach us about learning to let go of perfectionism, find the beauty within the broken pieces, as well as embracing one's own unique journey in life.
I'm aware that life can often come with a plethora of challenges. I'm familiar with how it feels when it seems as though the world as you know it is crumbling beneath your feet.
My own journey has taken me through dealing with years of childhood sexual abuse and the scars that leaves behind. The weight of chronic mental health challenges such as depression and PTSD. Wading through teen dating violence & losing a loved one to suicide during that volatile time. Pouring my heart and soul into a marriage which was heavy with the weight of ongoing betrayal trauma. Navigating divorce, and learning to do life as a single parent to three young kids.
However, with these challenges I have also come to recognize many “silver linings” along my own journey. The genuine connections that have been formed with those who have crossed my path, the growth developed, the miracles witnessed. The deeper relationship and testimony of a God who never abandons us.
It’s encouraged me to continue the ongoing deeper work required to face those darker parts of exploring the pain and grief. Aiming to offer my kids the healthiest version of myself that I am able. Imperfectly learning to “get comfortable” with the uncomfortable. The sweet byproduct of slowly discovering my own identity and abilities after years of being buried under the weight of trauma. Doing the self-work that allowed me to be open to choosing to be with a partner again. Being willing to mesh my life with someone again after finding the peace, independence and security that doing life solely with my kids offered. Being willing to face the many old relational scars. The work that comes with addressing old wounds as they resurface in new partnerships. Learning to navigate the challenges that come with a blended family. Learning to use the tools in a different capacity, within a relationship which offers safety and security. Practicing patience over the years as my nervous system slowly learns groundedness. Recognizing that recovery is not linear. Aiming to offer grace to myself and my partner through the many missteps and rough patches along the way.
I've learned that there is post-traumatic growth that one can reap from their challenges. My hope is for others struggling to be able to find that small shimmer of light & hope that allows them the ability to take another step and keep going. As I'm fully aware that when big challenges come, sometimes all we can do is focus on doing the next right thing, taking things one day and one moment at a time.
I believe that the symbolism in Kintsugi is a beautiful metaphor for life's journey. We may not be able to control what breakages we suffer, however, we can choose to be part of the mending process. And we can learn to recognize that we are worthy of mending.
I promise, little by little, the pieces will find their place. Similar to Kintsugi, with patience and care we can begin mending our shattered parts (allowing ourselves to use whatever form of professional help needed for our recovery). This doesn't mean it will be simple or that things will come back together perfectly, as trauma often changes us. However, when we choose to lean into the discomfort that recovery may bring, embrace change, and begin seeing the beauty within our scars, we just might start recognizing what an irreplaceable masterpiece we truly are.
By illuminating the breakages instead of minimizing or hiding them in shame, a new level of acceptance begins. A new level of appreciation and compassion for one's unique journey is born. We can more fully recognize the resilience and growth that we are cultivating. We can become more aware of the fact that our value is innate and that no amount of breakage we suffer has the power to change that. We can love ourselves through the process of becoming, jagged pieces and all. For it's the combination of all those tiny pieces which creates the full picture. Those sharp pieces are part of our journey, just as much as the shiny unscathed ones are.
By more fully embracing our journey and all of our parts, the more we can begin recognizing just how beautiful our perfectly imperfect life can be. Recovery is an ongoing process, not a destination to be reached. With time, patience, and a lot of self-love and compassion, we can begin to open ourselves up to discovering and receiving the good that can be found underneath all the rubble.
Kelsie's Kintsugi Workspace
A brief tour of Kelsie's kintsugi desk