Today we’d like to introduce you to Keahi Williams-Butler.
Hi Keahi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story starts with my mother.
She was my earliest inspiration for many of the things I’ve done.
When I was a child, I first knew her as a writer. I’d watch from over her shoulder as she wrote and revised chapters for her book projects.
I’d come to join her in time – we’d write bedtime stories together until I fell asleep – but I also began thinking up stories for everything else I did: playing with action figures, washing dishes – you name it.
As I got older, I found it harder to access that state of play despite being surrounded by creatives. My family had grown to include my stepfather, a dancer and MC; my stepbrother, a graphic design and illustrator; and my little sister, an artist of all trades. There was a sense of duty conferred to me as the newly-eldest sibling that was not present when I was an only child.
It was through being asked to write a poem for a former friend that I rediscovered my love for writing. Poetry, rather than leading me somewhere new, became the key that opened the lock to my creativity – it allowed me to unearth and transform my relationship to memory.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think that’d depend upon what you define as “smooth”.
I often boast that I had the best introduction to poetry that anyone could have ever had on account of the conditions surrounding my first “performance”. I read my first piece – a love poem – for the friend that originally asked me for one…as well as their soon-to-be partner, a former friend of mine.
Talk about a crash course in vulnerability!
That’s how much of my work has been written: in the throes of tenderness.
It’s taken some time for me to detach from the belief that my skill comes from channeling any one emotion; surrendering myself to honesty has shown me far more colors of the rainbow than if I just went around painting them over the clouds.
In that way, I think I can say that my biggest “struggle” has been letting life inform my art without judgement. If it can be written, it can be accepted.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary writer.
I can write the grant that opens a cafe, the marketing campaign that brings people into it, and wrap up the night with an open mic performance.
I’m most proud of my ability to see the artistry in each form of writing I’ve pursued. Communication, itself, is an art.
I’m fascinated by all its potential uses in regards to work, play, and growth.
What sets me apart is my willingness to see those pathways as interconnected rather than separate. What we do for others may appear distinct, but our bodies and minds don’t know the difference.
Rest isn’t something you have to earn when you recognize just how much it takes to do what you do; the alchemy it requires to create your unique brand of creativity.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I don’t know if it’s all *that* surprising, but: I’m an introvert.
I love a good adventure, conversation, or productive workday, but I need lots of time to myself in order to recharge.
I often find myself looking for more ways to introduce friction into my life where things begin to feel too streamlined.
For example: I stopped taking the bus to and from work once I started to realize how much more stressful the day felt the quicker it began and/or ended. Instead, I opt for a fourty-minute walk there and back. It’s almost meditative. As meditative as a walk can be in the city, of course.
I think it might be surprising to those who haven’t known me for a long time because I’ve gained a reputation for being a prominent figure in certain parts of the community. It’s easier to build those connections when I remember to stay rooted within myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://strayarrows.substack.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x_kwb_x
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keahi-williams-butler-413475192?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android&fbclid=PAb21jcATz6RNwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABp_54X-P2g8-1np3_gnL9XpZmukTMBf-uZ-pBUIZGSoCKtBJYh2oppPY6xDOj_aem_eL7bpNVLJPRQZN_83io8_Q
- Other: https://keahiwb.caard.co
