The Olive Pages: A Place to Be Seen, Heard, and Whole

If you’re here reading this, I want you to know something important right from the start: You are not alone.

You may be feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, even a little lost. You may be carrying burdens—professional pressures, personal doubts, fears about the future of this sector we hold so dear. You may wonder if you’re enough, if your work truly matters, or if the ideals that inspired you in the first place have been lost in the day-to-day grind.

I get it. I see you. Because I’ve been there, too.

Why The Olive Pages?

The Olive Pages wasn’t born from a strategy session or a marketing plan. It grew quietly, slowly — from my own need for a safe space to wrestle with the complexities of humanitarian work and the toll it takes on those who give so much. It’s a place for honest conversations about what it really means to stay whole when the world we serve is so often broken.

The Power and Symbolism of the Olive

You might wonder: why olives? Olives have always been a symbol of peace, resilience, and nourishment. They grow in the toughest places — rocky soil, scorching sun — yet persist, season after season, offering sustenance and healing. For me, the olive is a metaphor for us: humanitarian workers who endure hardship, face unimaginable challenges, yet keep going with hope and care at the heart of what we do.

My Journey — And Yours

The Realities Behind Humanitarian Idealism

I started this blog because I needed to bear witness — to the struggles, the wounds, the questions that many of us carry but seldom speak aloud.

Like many of you, I entered this field full of hope and idealism. I wanted to make a difference. But over time, I faced the harsh realities — burnout, systemic failure, painful moments of doubt and grief. I made mistakes. I hurt, and I was hurt. I had to unlearn old ways, advocate for better care, and rebuild myself from the inside out.

This work has changed me, profoundly. And through it all, one thing remains clear:

Our well-being matters — deeply — because it’s the foundation of our capacity to care for others.

What You’ll Find Here

The Olive Pages is my way of holding space for us — the caregivers, the leaders, the helpers who give their best every day. Here, you’ll find reflections, resources, and raw stories that speak to the heart of humanitarian work and the humanity inside it.

Creating a Safe Space for Healing and Growth

It’s a place where your fears — about your mental health, your career, the future of the people we serve — are met with empathy and real talk. It’s a place to reclaim your sense of purpose and possibility, to find strength in vulnerability, and to reconnect with the values that brought you here.

A Shared Commitment

Moving Forward Together

This is not about perfection or polished solutions. It’s about showing up — imperfect, searching, healing — together.

I am here because I care deeply about you, about your current and future well-being, about your ability to live a whole, full life beyond the chaos and the pain. I’m here to witness your journey, to share mine, and to walk alongside you as we navigate this humanitarian world that is as complex as it is vital.

Because at the end of the day, our work is not just a job. It’s a calling. And that calling deserves a foundation of care — for ourselves and for each other.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for your courage, your heart, and your commitment to this difficult, beautiful work.

Holding space with care and solidarity — here’s to staying whole, together,

~ Kate

Thanks for reading The Olive Pages: Fieldnotes on care, clarity, and staying whole

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KRC provides coaching, psychosocial support, and organizational consulting to humanitarian professionals and mission-driven organizations worldwide. Based in lived experience and trauma-aware care, our work helps clients navigate burnout, moral injury, organizational change, and career transitions — while staying human in the process.