Owls, Foxes, and Fika - my latest book
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
10M ago
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog post. It’s not, however, because I stopped writing. My time, creativity and energy has been spent on writing my latest novel, Owls, Foxes, and Fika.* In 2019, I had a kid. The ‘getting to the kid part’ and the first year of parenting really shook my mental health. My OCD reared it’s head, which wasn’t surprising given my history. None the less, it made bath time, sleep time, feeding time and living on the 12th floor with a balcony extremely difficult. My OCD would shout at me that my baby was at risk… because of me. Around the same time, my two friend ..read more
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Brrr! It’s Getting Cold Outside: Preparing for Winter with COVID
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
3y ago
As people living in Canada, it’s commonplace to talk about the weather. “It’s a cold one out there, eh,” “This weather really gets into your bones,” and “It’s so hot you can fry an egg out there” are to be expected when riding on an elevator or making chit chat while standing in line as you wait to order a coffee. Approaching this winter season, I hear similar comments. What’s different though, is an accompanying sense of dread linked to the restrictions put in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Understandably. Here are a few suggestions that might help navigate the next few months.&nb ..read more
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Coping with COVID-19 
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
4y ago
It’s the weekend. I look outside my window and there aren’t any cars on the street. There should be cars on this street. Lots of them. A lot has happened in the last two weeks that has greatly impacted how we live our lives. From how we shop to if and where we go to work. Then, there’s the mandatory quarantines for travellers and social distancing regulations. There isn’t much else on the news other than information regarding COVID-19. It’s been a lot to digest on all levels. Here are a few reminders to help cope during this time.   #1 Give Space for Emotions It’s okay to feel what you feel r ..read more
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I Gotta Get This Post Up - Taking Time to Rest
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
4y ago
I’m currently sitting in a café. I’m a few paragraphs in on a piece about the importance of critical thinking and learning to find one’s voice when my thoughts start wandering. If I’m honest, they’ve been wandering for awhile. I notice annoyance emerge as well as anxiety about the possibility that I might not have anything to post by my self-imposed deadline. I welcome any distraction that comes my way - a text, social media, drinking my coffee, people watching, the falling snow, writing on another project. I should be productive during this time. It’s my time to use however I want, and I want ..read more
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Loving Kindness
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
4y ago
I’ve had a lot going on in my life recently. My thoughts are scattered and my attention is pulled in countless directions. I’m not as mindful or in the moment as I’d like to be and have to deliberately bring myself back into the moment from endless “to do” items. Amidst the aforementioned thoughts that occupy my mind, I’m also curious about human nature; why I do what I don’t want to do and why I don’t do what I want to do. I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness lately. I’ve struggled at various times with both giving as well as receiving it. It doesn’t always come easily to me and ca ..read more
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Mine, Your's and God's Business
Karen McGratten, M. Div.
by Karen McGratten
4y ago
I recently learned a concept that has helped with understanding and implementing assertiveness and boundaries, as well as decreasing anxiety and frustration around attempting to change things we have no control over. It’s called, “The Three Types of Business”, by Byron Katie.  Essentially, there are three types of business: God’s, your’s (other’s) and mine. If you don’t believe in God, think of it as something bigger than or outside of humanity. God’s business includes things humanity does not have control over, such as, your height, physicality, what era and family you were born into, the w ..read more
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