In Focus | Lesley-Anne Evans, Poet

Warning: Reading this In Focus may make you want to contemplate your life. Lesley-Anne Evans has a way with words that is both profound and challenging. That's probably why she chose to work with words as part of her daily life. Lesley-Anne is a poet who does poetry installations, performances and interactive Pop-Up-Poetry. She takes the time to be quiet and listen, finding inspiration and then releasing the creativity in herself and others. Lesley-Anne is particularly passionate about young people, desiring to help them find their purpose and see how important and lovely they are. She will be performing her poetry at the Mission Branch of the library on Oct 17th at 6:45 PM. Today Lesley-Anne Evans is In Focus.

What do you always find yourself saying?
Just look at that!

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Hilary Clinton

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
I have never thought of that before. I don't know.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?
Henri Noewen; contemplative soul and dirt under the nails kind of guy.

Who inspires you?
Fiesty, intelligent and creative women. I'm equally inspired by strong, grounded, empathetic people who give their lives to causes.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
I don't really have a bucket list, but some things that appeal to me are;

To take a train across Canada, coast to coast.

Dog sledding.

A pilgrimage, possibly the Camino de Santiago.

Please tell us about a defining moment in your life
A time of solitude at Seton House in Kelowna. I spent several hours alone, listening, paying attention to, and felt a new understanding of my life purpose emerge. It was the beginning of a writing life, and the continuation of seeking a spiritual life.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Just breathe

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
An ordinary yet extraordinary day where I can tangibly see my purpose and the lives I've touched… like It's A Wonderful Life experience.

What are you passionate about?
Words and people, people and words. Expressing and speaking my own words/voice. Helping others, especially young people, find their sweet spot where they catch a glimpse of why they were born, how lovely and creative and important they are. To see others come alive.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
It's impossible to choose one. The common ground for these times is their simplicity: good conversation, Okanagan wine, a long evening with those I love, connecting, the physical feeling of the space being welcoming and full of beauty, and being able to give of myself and whatever I've prepared in advance for others. Creating a way for deep connecting, laughter, memories, is what I most love. The reason for these times isn't as important as the way I was able to interact with others.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Adopting somewhat damaged SPCA rescue dogs, and persevering through re-training, and with a lot of love seeing them blossom into beloved family pets. Our most recent adoption was a complicated challenge and therefore an even greater accomplishment for me.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
Bouchons Bistro

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna?
Night time skating at the new ice rink at Stuart Park.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Lesley-Anne Evans, Poet/Pop-Up-Poetry

What does your business/organization do?
Poetry, Performance Poetry, Installation Poetry, Interactive Poetry

Where can people find you or your business online?
http://laevans.ca/

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
ca.linkedin.com/in/lesleyanneevans/

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lesley-Anne-Evans-Poet/126110616311

What is your Twitter account?
Lesley-Anne Evans @BuddyBreathing

What is your mission?
To live with and inspire creative purpose.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To impact the next generation, help them find their creative voice, give them something to hope for.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in 5 years?
I find myself responding to what is put in my path, growing by moving into new opportunities within what I love to do. I'm OK with whatever that means in 5 years time.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Luci Shaw ~ Poet, Brennan Manning ~ Author/Speaker

What 3 qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
creativity

passion

hope

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
I have amazing family and friends who love and support me in what I do. They are gifts in my life.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
I create art and beauty and bring it to the streets. I hope for ripples.

What makes you successful? Tell us about it.
I think of it more like am I following my heart, have I found my sweet spot where I come alive, and I think the answer is yes to both of those things. I'm only as "successful" as my relationships, and what my closest and dearest ones feel about me is what matters most. Am I a loving wife, a kind and supportive mother, a welcoming friend? If my relationships aren't alive and growing, it really doesn't matter what I accomplish in way of writing poems or impacting strangers with my words.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
To help youth find their voice, to facilitate them expressing their creative passion, that is my seed idea. I don't know yet what it would look like, but I see the potential of improving mental heath, reducing suicide, freeing all sorts of creative power and positive social change in our world. Who best to say what expertise they require most… probably a group of kids.

If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:
I want to impact the culture of busyness mixed with unfriendliness that ebbs and flows here. Kelowna can be warm and inclusive, if we all take the time to be that.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Accessibility to culture, further education, and nature. I often have to remind myself that I GET to live HERE. There is no better city in Canada. If my extended family lived here too, that would be perfect.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Virginia Hallonquist, retired Career Counselor at Kelowna Christian School

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Spend time discovering who you really are. Dig in. Unearth what makes you uniquely you. Don't listen to the naysayers. Ask wise counsel from those you trust and admire.

WATCH. LISTEN. SURRENDER. Repeat. Give thanks for each small step in what you are fairly certain is the way. Be willing to hit dead ends and change direction. Do not be devastated by imperfection or blunders. You will make mistakes. Say sorry. Learn and move on. You will never be finished learning. Each day is a new opportunity to press the restart button and find the grace to try again.

SLOW DOWN. You will see the beautiful detail of life only when you slow down and look. God is in the details.

All of this is so much easier to write than it is to live.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!