My Life is a Map of the World

This past weekend I found myself with a lot of solo time on my hands. Times like these are vital to my mental health and balance in life. And more times then none, they lead me to deep thoughts and discovered inner joy.

During a moment of reflection where I was bundled up in a cozy sweater, perfect for fall, and watching the leaves fall from the tree in our backyard, it dawned on me. It dawned on me that I am a small reflection of the world and that so much of what I do is inspired by the world. Let me dig a little deeper.

My birth certificate and current zip code prove my U. S. Citizenship but my ancestors give me the history of England, Scotland, Poland, Lithuania and Native America.

The man I love most is someone who descends from Africa and Europe.

My religion originated in the Middle East.

I own a dog whose breed was made popular by Germany

I like to carry out my skincare routine like the Koreans.

I like to drink coffee like the Italians.

I’m inspired by the natural aesthetic and use of make-up and hair care like the French.

I like to eat like the Japanese.

I dress myself and fill my home with furnishings that you’d find easily in Scandinavia.

These are all just a few of the things I value, love, am drawn to and want to know more about. And it’s in all of those curiosities that I find, that we find, how truly connected we are to the past, the present and the future. It’s in those things where we find connection to others no matter how near or far.

Who or what are you connected to?

-Kriss

Tea & Getting to Know Kriss

My name is Kristen Marie Cutter. I currently live in Central Indiana. My days tend to be filled with some of my most favorite things like my fiancé Jacob, our fur babies Tyson (dog) and Phoenix (cat), some of the best friends and family a girl could ask for, a camera, a pair of travelers legs and a heart that is full of joy. I truly feel like I am living the best life.

A lot of my days are also spent either at work or at school. I work as an assistant at my local library while I am going to school full-time. My areas of study are in both psychology and fine art. Next spring I will be graduating with a major in Psychology with two minors, one in fine art and the other in counseling. After graduating I plan on continuing into grad school to become an Art Therapist.

This path has been my goal for a couple of years now. Before that, I had taken 3-4 years off between High School and College so that I could really find myself while traveling my country and a little outside of it. That time was everything I needed to then focus in on the future and the life that I truly wanted and that fit who God created me to be.

My relationship with Jesus Christ is at the epicenter of everything I do, it’s what makes it worthwhile for me. Some could claim that He doesn’t exist, but whenever you do come (metaphorically) face to face with Him- there is nothing else that makes more sense than that moment. And it’s that moment and those daily moments with Him that drives me. To publish an “about me” without that truth would be like saying the earth doesn’t need oxygen.

Whenever I’m not at work or school, you can always count on me taking pictures. I can’t help but see things and want to capture them, to hold onto them forever. I think I first started doing this because I felt as though my memory isn’t like other people’s or that really I’m plain forgetful. I feel like major moments in life slip out of my memory but moments like 3 years ago at a cafe in Berlin, Germany, stay with me forever. I remember sitting there and feeling the warmth of my cup in my hand and the sweetness of hazelnut spread on a piece of crusty toast but somehow forget going to Disney for the first time when I was a child. Life is funny like that, isn’t it? Some things stay with us forever while the rest just turns into personal history.

So this blog will be forever a place for all past things to exist for forever, for beautiful and simple moments to be highlighted and for honesty to ring true. This blog is from me to you and for all of the moments frozen in time.

XOKRISS