Kaaren Burk, RN, BSN, NC-BC

Board Certified Nurse & Coach

Hi I’m Kaaren. Have we met?

I would love to get to know you

I’m here to introduce myself, or re-introduce myself, as so much has shifted over the years.

This is me, at the beach instead of my home where dirty dishes, messes everywhere, kids on screens, and unwashed windows await me, patiently.

I spent some of my weekend chasing a storm and a full moon, staying up too late taking a steam bath by candlelight.

My hair is unwashed and messy but I don't dare take it out for fear of the tangled mess.

It’s wildly curly from the salty sea air, when I ditched all responsibilities to go find the big winds on the beach for a king tide, where the rising waters crept into my boots.

The cords from the generator are still piled by the door from where we decided to go crazy and plug the wifi in for a family movie night instead of the fridge and lights.

My boots are covered in mud from a walk through the woods this morning, and I’m wearing my coat indoors knowing I’ll just be back outside after some more hot coffee.

I’ve not made dinner in days; We’ve had take-out pizza and canned soup more than I’d like.

And here is the deal.

I don't care. I don’t care in a GOOD way.

I’ve let go of stories that I’m not very well put together.

I am finding my way back to where excitement for life is my everyday normal.

This is me.

There are no true problems, only possibilities.

I’m living a very real (island) life over here.

I consider it a good day if there’s sand in the bed or in our hair no matter our attempts to shake it off.

Where the wind blows and our fun is betting on which old trees can hold up against another storm.

The power goes out and it’s no big deal, just another day;

I find myself having coffee with a friend ‘downtown’, where another friend happens to have her restaurant on a generator…

and because we got there before everyone else filters in for food and warmth, there’s still hot coffee in the pot and some seats in the bar

When my haircut wasn’t cancelled and despite a headlamp being the only light, I went ahead and decided to go big or go home with bangs…

Because- why not?

Small town living really is a beautiful thing at times.

Island life is spectacular.

Authentically living life is even better.

Life used to be so serious.

I was a CCU nurse.

Life was filled with trauma, fear, pain and suffering- both inside the hospital, and out.

What we focus on the most, is what we find most

My life was not living at all.

Somewhere in a mess of so many messes, stress, and despair, I quit.

“This can’t be my life” had been my motto that I quite literally spoke aloud each day.

Once all efforts were exhausted, change came easier.

It was time.

I wanted to actually live my one life.

And so my journey began.

Today, that’s what I do.

I aim to simply live life no matter what come, and hold space for others wanting the same.

I love to feel the cold.

The warm.

The water and wind.

See stars, northern lights, and sunrises that turn the skies pink and wake me through the open curtains so I won’t miss it.

I love to be out in the storms, and then find the cozy in my messy home.

I love to fall asleep with the window cracked on a cold night as we near the solstice, letting the moonlight cover me as it shines its light inside.

I want to bake bread and build forts in the living room.

To chat with people in line at the store and jump in puddles.

If you ever can’t find me I might be out in the woods sitting on a log with my bare feet on the dirt and moss.

Even in a setting of things like depression, anxiety, buried trauma with the lasting effects of this still present….

I’ve decided to show up everyday with a want to live life full of purpose and meaning.

Some days I resist this.

Some days I don’t have it in me to eat “right”.

Some days I don’t want to move.

But when there are storms to experience, a moon to chase and stars to gaze at, I am reminded of what ignites life inside of me and brings me back.

I may not be at the bedside in the CCU anymore, but this doesn’t mean I have any less purpose or meaning in life.

I now hold space for others craving a life that brings peace and joy, led by that inner light we all have.

Because life is meant to be lived.

Like I said, I’d love to get to know you.

What lights you up.

What you get excited about.

What life you dream of living.

If you are reading this and have a nudge that you’d like to explore this…

Take me up on this offer-

I can hold space for you to get REALLY real with yourself and make change; reach out.

AND if you’d like to get to know more about all of this living life stuff I’m working through,

get on my email list here.

Begin your own epic journey.

Reignite the life inside of you.

It’s time to simply LIVE your life.

No more hesitating.

“The seed holds a very great secret… It never gets old.

It is the eternal YES to life.”

-Anat Vaughan-Lee