Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Gutierrez.
Christy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been a super creative person. But I’ve also been all over the map. I joke that I have this problem — that God put too many things on my heart to do, and I don’t know how to do them all. I started with writing, and that desire and gift have been there for as long as I can remember. I was writing stories when I was five or six. I have the journals still.
As I grew up, I began to discover and uncover more creative abilities: painting, drawing, music, calligraphy… I still haven’t decided if all those things have been distractions or puzzle pieces to God’s overarching purpose for my life. I guess time will tell. Years ago, I had a prophetic message given to me that said I would write and draw things that would bring people peace and healing. And that I would be involved in healing. At the time, I had zero interest in any kind of “health” or “healing.” But I guess God knows what he’s doing.
Just before I found out I was pregnant, I bought some essential oils. Unbeknownst to me, that buying decision would lead me down a rabbit hole to holistic health. For the past year, I’ve really been on this self-awakening spiritual journey. My heart and my mind are very open, and I am kind of on this mission now to get back to God’s way of living physically, emotionally, spiritually — and inviting others, namely young new moms, on that journey via my blog, The Pax Collective.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I’ve been all over the map and worked a few jobs, none of which seemingly correlate at all: marketing coordinator, high school teacher, wedding calligrapher… now what I like to self-entitled myself as a holistic health and wellness voyager and advocate.
But I don’t really seek “smooth.” I don’t mind the grind. Sometimes it gets hard, and I am grossly understating that — first-time mom, working to monetize her blog and connect with a truly engaged audience — it’s definitely not easy. Just a little window into my life.. at this very moment, I’m trying to type this while my 9-month-old son is using me as a human rock climbing wall. But what’s that saying.. “Anything worthy isn’t ever easy?” I truly believe that.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
The Pax Collective is my business/blog. It used to be focused solely on my design services for weddings and events: calligraphy, chalkboards, invitations.. that sort of thing. While I love doing that (and I still will if someone asks me to), I felt like that wasn’t really tapping into my full potential or doing what I like to call “kingdom work,” something bigger than myself, for a bigger purpose than myself.
I’m still in transition, but my vision is for The Pax Collective to be.. well, a collection of work that brings people peace… referring back to that prophetic word.
My heart is to reach new and young moms, who are either already naturally-minded or have the heart to be and don’t know where to start. I want it to be a blend of our personal stories and how-to guides, so to speak. But I want to cover things like natural remedies, plant-based DIYs, babyled weaning, fitness for mom, breastfed diet for mom, etc. I want to cover all those things. I’m slowly building and transitioning from product/service to personal blog. And I’m happy with that, because like I said.. writing is grassroots for me.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that we are growing, but the growth is very small business minded. The places popping up care about quality over quantity, and that’s integral to the quality of life I’m seeking out, and I think many others are seeking out. People would rather go to the farm to table restaurant over the chain restaurant. They’d rather drink the local craft beer than the national brands. They’d rather shop at natural food stores or farmer’s markets. And those kinds of places are popping up all over the city. It gives me hope for our future to see those kinds of shifts being made.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thepaxcollective.com
- Email: hello@thepaxcollective.com
- Instagram: @christyguti
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepaxco
Image Credit:
Freckled Shenanigans Studios
Chris Gutierrez
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