Woman of Influence | Krystal Festerly

There is so much to say about this beautiful human. Krystal is a nurturer, optimist, poet, mother, entrepreneur and artist. Her spirit of embracing challenges with resilience and transparency has garnered her a loyal following. She is deeply rooted in her relationship with God... even when the ground is hollow under her feet.

On gratitude and challenges…

Yes, life has sure presented itself with its fair share of challenges, from the loss of our fourth child to my husbands' illness which resulted in an aneurysm in 2019 and a painfully long journey ahead— they taught me one of the most important lessons of my life, which is to seek joy and to not wait for it to fall in your lap. I went from not wanting to wake up every morning, to waking up early just to watch the sunrise, and snag a bit of peace for myself before a full day of work, caretaking, homeschooling, and parenting begins. I’ve learned to prioritize slowness, it’s then I notice all of the little things that bring me joy, which in turn shifts my entire mindset towards gratitude. It’s hard, and it’s work, but it’s allowed me to find joy even in the hardest seasons life presents. 

I don’t know where to begin so I will try to give you a small sliver of this woman. She’s a classical, concert pianist living in California. Krystal raises Monarch butterflies. She surrounds herself with beauty and creates timeless, coveted, pieces inspired from her garden. 

Here’s how it began…

Oh, my garden, I still chuckle because not four years ago I couldn't keep a houseplant alive, and now I’m surrounded by plants. For me gardening is a form of meditation or even therapy, it eases my anxiety and teaches me lesson after lesson. I began pressing my flowers as a way to preserve them almost a year before I started Krystal Festerly— in the end, it came down to necessity. After my husband got out of the hospital I became the sole provider and caretaker, I needed to provide as well as take care of my family, which meant I had to stay home. I began by framing my quotes on joy and life into frames surrounded by the pressed flowers from my garden and it slowly grew from there. My garden not only saved me from a deep depression, but it also provides my family the monetary means to live and for that, I’ll forever be grateful.

She has created a community called Gather the Village. 

This is her why?

When I became a mother I had no friends with kids, I quickly realized that I needed a Village of  “been there done that”, and in the trenches mamas by my side. After the magazine got started I realized that I wasn’t the only one looking for community, and so I began gathering women from all over the world for dinners where we could sit and talk, without judgment which in turn made us all feel not so alone. 

She has embraced us all, sharing the triumphs, the despair, the relentless love, and the formidable gratitude. She shares photos, poems, blogs and more than anything, hope.

 Choosing to turn to rather than away…

I share our journey because I want to normalize life, the good and the hard, I want people to see that you can choose joy even when you are deep in the thick of it. I think sometimes social media becomes a place that makes us feel bad about where we are in life, whether that be financial, career-wise, etc — I want people to know that choosing joy isn't easy, but it is a choice we can make every day no matter our circumstance. The world opens up when you seek it, and you end up finding more joy than you ever thought possible. If by sharing our journey I can help one person to not feel so alone in their struggle and choose joy, then my work is done

I asked her what is the one word you want people to grasp when they think of you?

Simply human. 

You can find out more about Krystal  and all of her extraordinary collections: 

Personal IG- @KrystalmFesterly

My Art- @KrystalFesterly

WWW.- KrystalFesterly.com

written by Leane Durand

Blogger for Women of Influence, The Well Co.