Author: Vivian Gietz

Vivian Gietz is a 25-year-old bisexual woman, writer, feminist, and activist. A communications and administrative professional, she graduated from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. Vivian explores queer and feminist perspectives on mental health and spirituality through her writing, work, and everyday life. Her passions are notably demonstrated in her work at Charlford House, a women's addictions treatment home. Among other accomplishments, she has successfully secured over $27,000 of grant funding for Charlford House and had several articles published in the Burnaby Now newspaper. Vivian's creative perspective allows her to navigate both personal and professional situations with an emphasis on diversity, inspiration, and spirituality. Her other interests include fashion, coffee, and Taylor Swift. She currently resides in Vancouver, BC with her beloved cats, Baby and Theodosia.

Liminal

November 21, 2021.Reading time 13 minutes.

In the summer, the graves of indigenous children were discovered at residential schools all over Canada. I felt angry, shaken, small, and helpless. I leaned into the fragile slowness of living through the pandemic, allowing myself grace. I hugged the friends I hadn’t seen in months. I cried in my car on the way home […]

Perspective

October 2, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

As the pandemic restrictions lift I find myself spending long, beautiful Saturdays with loved ones, connecting through elbows bumps and cautious hugs. Through conversations with friends, I’m reminded that I’m defined by my closeness to God who lives within me. My love for myself is my spirituality and connection to Her. My ability to seek […]

Energy

May 7, 2020.Reading time 7 minutes.

As it does every year, the recently passed winter weighed me down, and the immediate shift into the pandemic tested my strength more than I ever expected. Many winter days, I found it difficult to keep myself strong and optimistic. I longed daily for the joy Vancouver summers bring, until the potential for that summer […]

Sustainability

November 26, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

This fall, it’s been hard to stop habits I know are bad for me, even after telling myself I will. I buy flowers and light scented candles for my kitchen, put on new clothes, but the mistakes I make and doubts I have repeat themselves. I’m looping the same anxieties in my head as last […]

Subtleties

August 3, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Despite the moments lived and spent, the need to write always returns to my mind with time. The weekends this summer are booked full, evenings between filled with dinners with friends and errands, weekdays of good work at the soft, steady new job. As of a few months ago, I work where women’s vulnerability, healing, […]

Generous Space Guest Post: Queering Biblical Womanhood

May 1, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Hi friends! I’m proud to announce I’ve published a guest blog post for Generous Space, an LGBTQ+ Christian organization. I’ve had the privilege of attending their small group meetings since I moved to Vancouver about a year and a half ago. I’m very grateful to Beth Carlson-Malena for this opportunity and to everyone at Generous […]

Navigation

March 13, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

This winter, living has felt heavy and lonely. The rain strikes me as it did a year ago, when I was unemployed, the feelings even more open than they were then. The year passed has not been quite so forgiving in recent months. The world is very large, the world is above my pay grade, […]

Familiar

November 1, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

Hello, friends! I hope life is treating you well. It has been almost exactly a year since I first moved to Vancouver. I’ve been kept busy the last few months by the less poetic parts of mental health, struggling, and stress, including difficulties with banking and work and other less fun things. I have found […]

Spirit Pride 2018

August 22, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Hey! Long time no talk. Many things have been keeping me busy, some more exciting than others. Perhaps the most exciting thing to recently happen to me, I was sponsored to attend Spirit Pride: An LGBT Spirituality Conference here in Vancouver from July 27-29 and write an article about the event. You can read the article […]