My Story
Karen Burke
Welcome to Heart On My Sleeve Greetings and thank you for visiting. If you popped by to buy a card or a gift, or just to read the verses then Thank You. Whatever the reason for your visit, I’m glad you are here. Because this is more than a brand. This is a way to connect. A place to find comfort. A conversation you might need to have but can’t find the words to express.
I suppose the story behind Heart On My Sleeve is a simple one really. I started it because I recognised that people struggle and kind words can be the lifeline that someone needs. I‘ve suffered with anxiety and depression since I was 12 years old. 30 odd years ago there was very little support for this sort of thing and conversations were non existent. I was lucky that I had a mother who was so in tune with me and straight away she put anything in place she could to help me. I had counselling in school weekly and I learned to accept the way I felt as part of who I was and to live around that. I learned from that young age the power of connection, of kind words, of support. I learned that kind words can take you from the depths of sadness and gently lift you to a place where you can see the good and the bright and find that piece of hope that can change everything.
My mam always wrote, she loved poetry and music and passed that love on to me. When I was a child and we were given homework to write a story or a poem it never phased me, as Mam would always remind me how to find the magic in the words and create a story. She was always asked by family and friends to write poems for special occasions, give her a few bits of information about the person and what she came up with was amazing! Seeing that power of words in work I suppose inspired me. When we ran our gift shop we saw first hand what people were looking for. They wanted the sentiments for occasions in life where words somewhat failed. There are so many times in life that we just want to reach out to someone but its hard to find the words and a lot of the time we say nothing for fear of saying the wrong thing. But the words are needed so badly by so many people. So I now create verses that I hope connect. I hope that the words given to someone who needs them can help them, whether its to help them through a sad or difficult time or to remind them how amazing they are.
Life is full of challenges for most and many are reluctant to show their vulnerable side so we tend to hold the sad bits and tears close to our chests, afraid to be weak or a burden. But human emotion isnt ugly or weak or a sign we are broken. It’s the heartstrings that join us all, a common thread. We understand love and sadness, joy and fear. We crave the feeling that somebody gets us ! And that’s what we are all about. Connecting through words. Spreading love and hope.