Seed to sprout
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
McKenzie is a doula and supports families through childbirth. When her infant son died, it accentuated what she had always believed in, helping people through their trials.
She is passionate about helping others feel like they are not alone. They can have support and someone that cares and wants to hear their story, good, bad, horrible, or anywhere in-between. McKenzie helps families through Creative Ways to Grieve.
Branding
Website
Video
Question 1
Tell us a little bit about you.
Where are you from?
I am a grief guide.
I am from Holladay Utah; born and raised. When I was married, we moved into a cute old farmhouse two streets away from my parent's house, I love it here. The mountains, large trees, community, and feeling of home make Holladay so inviting. I have 3 kids, Porter (6), Theodore (forever 6 months), and Gideon (1). Theo is my angel baby. He was six months old when he died of congenital heart disease (PA, TOF, MAPCA’s). We are surrounded by family and friends who are so supportive and loving. To me community is everything, I hope to bring the feeling of community to everyone.
I am from Holladay Utah; born and raised. When I was married, we moved into a cute old farmhouse two streets away from my parent's house, I love it here. The mountains, large trees, community, and feeling of home make Holladay so inviting. I have 3 kids, Porter (6), Theodore (forever 6 months), and Gideon (1). Theo is my angel baby. He was six months old when he died of congenital heart disease (PA, TOF, MAPCA’s). We are surrounded by family and friends who are so supportive and loving. To me community is everything, I hope to bring the feeling of community to everyone.
Tell us a little bit about you.
Where are you from?
I am a grief guide.
I am from Holladay Utah; born and raised. When I was married, we moved into a cute old farmhouse two streets away from my parent's house, I love it here. The mountains, large trees, community, and feeling of home make Holladay so inviting. I have 3 kids, Porter (6), Theodore (forever 6 months), and Gideon (1). Theo is my angel baby. He was six months old when he died of congenital heart disease (PA, TOF, MAPCA’s). We are surrounded by family and friends who are so supportive and loving. To me community is everything, I hope to bring the feeling of community to everyone.
I am from Holladay Utah; born and raised. When I was married, we moved into a cute old farmhouse two streets away from my parent's house, I love it here. The mountains, large trees, community, and feeling of home make Holladay so inviting. I have 3 kids, Porter (6), Theodore (forever 6 months), and Gideon (1). Theo is my angel baby. He was six months old when he died of congenital heart disease (PA, TOF, MAPCA’s). We are surrounded by family and friends who are so supportive and loving. To me community is everything, I hope to bring the feeling of community to everyone.
Question 2
Why do you do what you do?
What motivates you? Where did your passion come from?
I am a rainbow doula and grief guide and I love supporting families. I started this shortly after my son died in 2019. I realized that there is so much support available, but the true heartfelt support we need is not being met.
I wanted to make something where parents feel loved and supported throughout their whole entire experience. They can come whenever they want whether they can afford it or not and be seen, heard, and understood. There are so many bereaved parents out there. I don’t want them to feel alone. We are in this together.
I felt alone for quite a few months after my son died… until I made this actually. Until I put it out there, “Does anyone want to meet because I'm not getting the support I need?” and suddenly there were people that were interested and I was like “Okay well then let's do this!”
I wanted to make something where parents feel loved and supported throughout their whole entire experience. They can come whenever they want whether they can afford it or not and be seen, heard, and understood. There are so many bereaved parents out there. I don’t want them to feel alone. We are in this together.
I felt alone for quite a few months after my son died… until I made this actually. Until I put it out there, “Does anyone want to meet because I'm not getting the support I need?” and suddenly there were people that were interested and I was like “Okay well then let's do this!”
Why do you do what you do?
What motivates you? Where did your passion come from?
I am a rainbow doula and grief guide and I love supporting families. I started this shortly after my son died in 2019. I realized that there is so much support available, but the true heartfelt support we need is not being met.
I wanted to make something where parents feel loved and supported throughout their whole entire experience. They can come whenever they want whether they can afford it or not and be seen, heard, and understood. There are so many bereaved parents out there. I don’t want them to feel alone. We are in this together.
I felt alone for quite a few months after my son died… until I made this actually. Until I put it out there, “Does anyone want to meet because I'm not getting the support I need?” and suddenly there were people that were interested and I was like “Okay well then let's do this!”
I wanted to make something where parents feel loved and supported throughout their whole entire experience. They can come whenever they want whether they can afford it or not and be seen, heard, and understood. There are so many bereaved parents out there. I don’t want them to feel alone. We are in this together.
I felt alone for quite a few months after my son died… until I made this actually. Until I put it out there, “Does anyone want to meet because I'm not getting the support I need?” and suddenly there were people that were interested and I was like “Okay well then let's do this!”
Question 3
What did you build in Soul Seed Academy?
In Soul Seed Academy I got a lot of confidence honestly. I built a website. I solidified my story. I built Instagram and Facebook pages and I built a YouTube channel. I also started building an online course. For now the in-person zoom meetings are working. I built a community. Soul Seed academy prepared me to be able to guide other parents.
What did you build in Soul Seed Academy?
In Soul Seed Academy I got a lot of confidence honestly. I built a website. I solidified my story. I built Instagram and Facebook pages and I built a YouTube channel. I also started building an online course. For now the in-person zoom meetings are working. I built a community. Soul Seed academy prepared me to be able to guide other parents.
Question 4
Tell us about your business.
How does it work?
People can visit https://creativewaystogrieve.com/ to sign up for our free grief group or give a gift of support to a grieving family. This is publicly funded service – Donations are Welcome
I hold a weekly grief group on Wednesday nights at 6 pm MST. This is a 1-hour guided group with themed topics of discussion and dedicated time to share your individual story.
Family and Friends Group coming soon. Learn how to help your loved ones in their grief. For more information reach out at creativewaystogrieve@gmail.com
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates and information about grief.
Tell us about your business.
How does it work?
People can visit https://creativewaystogrieve.com/ to sign up for our free grief group or give a gift of support to a grieving family. This is publicly funded service – Donations are Welcome
I hold a weekly grief group on Wednesday nights at 6 pm MST. This is a 1-hour guided group with themed topics of discussion and dedicated time to share your individual story.
Family and Friends Group coming soon. Learn how to help your loved ones in their grief. For more information reach out at creativewaystogrieve@gmail.com
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates and information about grief.
Question 6
What has been the hardest part of your journey so far?
So far the hardest thing about my journey has been burnout. I am learning how to have a work-life balance. I have struggled with wanting to be an ambitious women and also wanting to be there for my kids. I am constantly fighting the belief that if I want to work for my businesses then I am cheating my kids. Overcoming that has been hard but also a wonderful journey. I have had some really traumatic births recently and it's hard to learn how to take care of yourself and your emotions. Learning how to rest and slow down is a challenge. Also, I'm learning how to charge what I am worth. Boundaries are beautiful. They make a space for reciprocation. When you start a service business, you think that this is just me giving and the reciprocation is only money. However, I am learning that I need reciprocation in both energy and money. A good balance where there is enough returning as I am giving.
What has been the hardest part of your journey so far?
So far the hardest thing about my journey has been burnout. I am learning how to have a work-life balance. I have struggled with wanting to be an ambitious women and also wanting to be there for my kids. I am constantly fighting the belief that if I want to work for my businesses then I am cheating my kids. Overcoming that has been hard but also a wonderful journey. I have had some really traumatic births recently and it's hard to learn how to take care of yourself and your emotions. Learning how to rest and slow down is a challenge. Also, I'm learning how to charge what I am worth. Boundaries are beautiful. They make a space for reciprocation. When you start a service business, you think that this is just me giving and the reciprocation is only money. However, I am learning that I need reciprocation in both energy and money. A good balance where there is enough returning as I am giving.
Question 7
What does healing the world look like to you?
Healing the world to me looks like everyone being seen, heard, accepted for who they are and for people to want to hear their stories.
It's really hard as the bereaved parent because so many people ask "how many kids do you have?". I always wonder, Do they really want to know? Should I tell them ... the whole story? We have to figure out who wants to hear it. I feel like everybody should want to hear about it.
Even if it's fast like, “oh my gosh I am so sorry I not been through what you've been through but I would love to hear about your son.”
I just feel like that's just not what happens.
People ask,
"How was your day?"
"Good."
"Good, how are you?"
"Good.
"Okay, see you later."
Life isn't always good like that. It really isn't and never really has been “all good,” I know that's why people are so depressed… We should be willing to share more truth. It's hard because we feel like everybody else is having such a great time and on Facebook, Instagram, tictok and all the media it looks like others have the perfect family and their life is great.
It's really hard as the bereaved parent because so many people ask "how many kids do you have?". I always wonder, Do they really want to know? Should I tell them ... the whole story? We have to figure out who wants to hear it. I feel like everybody should want to hear about it.
Even if it's fast like, “oh my gosh I am so sorry I not been through what you've been through but I would love to hear about your son.”
I just feel like that's just not what happens.
People ask,
"How was your day?"
"Good."
"Good, how are you?"
"Good.
"Okay, see you later."
Life isn't always good like that. It really isn't and never really has been “all good,” I know that's why people are so depressed… We should be willing to share more truth. It's hard because we feel like everybody else is having such a great time and on Facebook, Instagram, tictok and all the media it looks like others have the perfect family and their life is great.
What does healing the world look like to you?
Healing the world to me looks like everyone being seen, heard, accepted for who they are and for people to want to hear their stories.
It's really hard as the bereaved parent because so many people ask "how many kids do you have?". I always wonder, Do they really want to know? Should I tell them ... the whole story? We have to figure out who wants to hear it. I feel like everybody should want to hear about it.
Even if it's fast like, “oh my gosh I am so sorry I not been through what you've been through but I would love to hear about your son.”
I just feel like that's just not what happens.
People ask,
"How was your day?"
"Good."
"Good, how are you?"
"Good.
"Okay, see you later."
Life isn't always good like that. It really isn't and never really has been “all good,” I know that's why people are so depressed… We should be willing to share more truth. It's hard because we feel like everybody else is having such a great time and on Facebook, Instagram, tictok and all the media it looks like others have the perfect family and their life is great.
It's really hard as the bereaved parent because so many people ask "how many kids do you have?". I always wonder, Do they really want to know? Should I tell them ... the whole story? We have to figure out who wants to hear it. I feel like everybody should want to hear about it.
Even if it's fast like, “oh my gosh I am so sorry I not been through what you've been through but I would love to hear about your son.”
I just feel like that's just not what happens.
People ask,
"How was your day?"
"Good."
"Good, how are you?"
"Good.
"Okay, see you later."
Life isn't always good like that. It really isn't and never really has been “all good,” I know that's why people are so depressed… We should be willing to share more truth. It's hard because we feel like everybody else is having such a great time and on Facebook, Instagram, tictok and all the media it looks like others have the perfect family and their life is great.
Question 8
Any last-minute thoughts?
I actually have a few events coming up. On September 10th we are having a workshop for navigating trauma in Sandy UT. Then on October 20-22, we will have our birth business retreat in Provo.
If you'd like more about the retreat, check out this link:
Birth Business Breakthrough Retreat (soulseedacademy.com)
If you'd like more about the retreat, check out this link:
Birth Business Breakthrough Retreat (soulseedacademy.com)
Any last-minute thoughts?
I actually have a few events coming up. On September 10th we are having a workshop for navigating trauma in Sandy UT. Then on October 20-22, we will have our birth business retreat in Provo.
If you'd like more about the retreat, check out this link:
Birth Business Breakthrough Retreat (soulseedacademy.com)
If you'd like more about the retreat, check out this link:
Birth Business Breakthrough Retreat (soulseedacademy.com)
