Kelli Jo Bebermeyer
Where were you raised? Has the landscape of that place influenced your work in any way?
I was raised in the countryside near Wichita, KS. There were no stoplights in our town and my bus driver knew me by my first name. I am forever a Kansas girl. Memories of my childhood remind me of peace, community, and love - memories of our front lawn, watching the sun sit below the horizon, listening to the crickets sing at night, my sisters and I screaming at the top of our lungs, just because we could. There was stillness to the countryside. We had a big front lawn where trees lined the driveway. You could watch the beautiful sunsets from our front porch and gaze at the stars while laying on our trampoline. My childhood home gave me the opportunity to explore nature. My parents gave me the freedom to roam the countryside by 4-wheeler. Nothing like the wind in your hair and thought of adventure ahead. These experiences taught me many things, but mostly the beauty of exploration, stillness, and finding home within myself.
The spirit of exploration carries into my job today. I”m always looking for new and different methods to improve and refine my process. Growing up around nature was my first exposure to stillness and I strive to find that stillness within myself daily. Mediating before work is a must since I work with people. It gives me the inner attention to remind myself to pause. The land I grew up on taught me a lot, but most of all it taught me that I can always come home within myself. I don’t have to be in a perfect place to go within. The way I was raised, the community I had, and the nature that surrounded me laid out that path.
Do you collect anything?
I’ll often collect a small object or picture found in nature while traveling.
What was the last thing that you fell in love with?
Barely using my phone on Sundays.
What do you love most about yourself?
I love my dedication to growing. I love that I search for the deeper meaning behind the simple things and the greater things. I love seeking a deeper understanding of myself which I know from there pours outwards. If I'm rooted inward and give to myself first, I have more love and energy to give others, my family, my home, my job.
Can you claim one gift that has come out of the Covid 19 pandemic?
The stillness of quarantine opened me back up to what I want most out of life I got realigned with the feeling of recognizing when I'm giving too much of myself. I learned to be intentional about what I put my energy towards. Life for me is not about being busy, or having the latest and greatest. Those were just distractions. I learned that what I want most out of life is already in front of me usually in the simple things.
Is there a place or activity that helps you to access magic/ love/ god/ spirit/ the universe/ mother nature/ higher self/ the divine/ a power greater than yourself?
I mean walks in nature, right? Like it’s no secret, nature is one of life best gifts. I remember during the beginning of the pandemic. I was trying so hard to connect with my magic/ love/ god/ spirit/ the universe by going out in nature and asking myself- what am I supposed to be doing with this time? I asked the question three times and kept getting nothing. It was when I stopped asking; nature was just like, it’s this. It’s sitting here and being. I was placing expectations on myself to be spiritual and to access this higher power but it's truly so innate. We make it all so complicated, but nature reminds me that its simple. That’s why I love nature/spirit/magic, it truly asks nothing of me but to be my unique self.
What book are you reading?
The Cherokee Full Circle: A Practical Guide to Sacred Ceremonies by J.T. Garrett
Radical Acceptance- Tara Brach
InnerWork: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth - Robert A. Johnson
What object do you hold most dear?
My grandmother’s dairy. She’s one of my spirit guides and getting to read her thoughts makes me feel even more connected to her.
If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be? Is there an individual or an organization doing work in this area that you want us to know about?
I’ve always had a heart for children that are hungry. When I was in fifth grade I had the privilege of going on a trip to a children’s orphanage in Reynosa, Mexico. That week long trip changed how I viewed my reality. My eyes saw for the first time a true struggle towards providing. Most of these kids actually had parents, they just couldn’t afford to feed them so they would send them off for a better life at the orphanage. I saw how the children, though suffering, always seemed to find the joy in the littlest of things. From a hot meal, to learning english, or creating a craft. They were constantly just giggling and smiling. There wasn’t much but it was enough. You could see in their eyes they found joy in the little things amongst all they had been through.
An organization I admire that partners with financially struggling parents is called Unbound. You can sponsor a child each month which provides them assured food, clothing, and shelter. But especially the opportunity to get to live with their family. I’ve been sponsoring a boy named Anderson. It’s delightful to see him grow over the years, he loves to draw and sends me pictures often.
If I was not afraid, I would…
Either get rid of social media or not be afraid to be myself more on it. I believe that realm is one of the greatest challenges of our time. How do we use it with boundaries? Why are some so ‘afraid’ to use it? Why can’t some get off it? Seems we have a lot to learn. I always try to remind myself- a picture, post, story, or even blog entry is just the tiniest glimpse into someone else’s life. We will never be able to understand the whole picture of who a person truly is with just tiny glimpses. I took some time off recently and it was so freeing. I was noticing I would get on it when I was avoiding coming inward for direction or answers. This left me feeling shame and guilt especially in seeing where others ‘are at.’ Now, I feel more attuned with my boundaries and can sense when I’m using it to numb myself. I’m not perfect at it, but I’m learning to cherish my path and the way I get to experience it. Not compare it to where others are. Social media has its charm. It inspires me, and keeps me up to date with my friends. But it can also lead me to compare and crave for more than what I truly need. So, I’ve been asking myself, how do I adapt and create boundaries? How do I keep coming back to myself? It seems a part of it is found in reminding myself of the things I love.
