Welcome to my blog series “Cheers to You, Oh Wonderful You”, where we celebrate the ordinary yet extraordinary individuals around us. This series will be used as a space to connect, celebrate, and showcase the incredible people in our lives who ground us, teach us, and inspire us everyday.
This interview I was joined by none other than my dear friend, Lana Strathearn.
Lana’s describes her current area of influence as her people on the streets. She’s been working with an outreach team for the last year and a half where they go on the streets and talk with people, connect them to resources, and hand out supplies. For awhile she was also in case management so she was helping people get housed with housing voutures, going from sleeping outside to eventually housed in an apartment, their own place with a vouture that’s going to pay for their housing.
Now she’s supervising a library engagement team where they specifically work out of the Downtown Salt Lake City Library, and other libraries in Salt Lake City, working with the homeless population that hang around there, because there’s a lot of people who spend time in the library during the day and so they’re work on connecting them to the right resources and filling out applications.
Helping them with big things, small things, also basic needs supplies, stuff like that. That’s Lana’s world right now.
Lana has her undergrad in photography and is starting her masters program in social work right now. She’s doing that part-time, just getting her foot in the door, and is super excited about it! Lana wants to get her LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Licensing. With that she could do so many different things, and there are a lot of different areas within social work that interest her.
Wherever this path takes her, Lana really feels like she’s found her niche. She’s found a work that she’s naturally really good at and enjoys, as it utilizes her strengths. Lana’s biggest strength is her heart, she’s good with people, and especially underdogs. She’s always been like that. Finding a career path that really fits with those strengths and is really enjoyable for Lana is so exciting for her!
Lana still does her own photography projects and she’d love to one day combine the two worlds, whether that’s as personal projects or with work.
Three fun, random facts about Lana are that she’s really good at balancing things on her head, she’s really good at riding her bike without her hands, and she’s obsessed with soft things.
Lana’s current favorite tv show is “A Handmaid’s Tale” which she finished recently. She really doesn’t watch much tv or movies, but this is the first tv series that she’s watched all the way through and completed, and she really liked it!
The following is my interview with Lana Strathearn, which was an absolute joy to take part in and I hope you will enjoy and learn from it as I did.
What has been one failure in your life that later became a win for you?
I think this question is hard for me because the way I view failures right now is that we just learn as we go. We make mistakes because we’re human. For me the idea of failure is when mistakes are really dwelt on. But you figure it out, you change it, and move forward.
I’m sure at some point I could’ve given you a list of all of my failures. I mean I sucked at high school and a lot of college, but then I was diagnosed with ADHD my last semester and it made sense why school was hard for me. I got on medication and I could pay attention in school and learn like a normal person and it was great.
So for a long time I thought I was a failure in school, I wasn’t smart, but now I feel plenty smart. Everyone has their own kind of smart though.
You said before that in prior times you would’ve been able to list a whole bunch of different failures, things that didn’t work out, or that didn’t go in the direction you thought it should’ve, but then those things ultimately served you in a different way. Do you feel that there was something that shifted that mindset from failures to opportunities towards progression? Was there a time of life where that shifted or was that something gained over time?
I think it’s been pretty gradual over time. Learning to love myself over time, learning to accept weaknesses in others and in myself, I think they’re intertwined. I think loving others and accepting others in their weaknesses helps me to accept myself and my own weaknesses, and vice versa. The more I’m patient and kind to myself the more I am with others as well.
I feel like I’ve been working in a field for years now where there has been a space for that kind of growth to happen. In wilderness therapy, working with kids who are in a lot of pain, and in my job now with those who lash out and can be really mean at times, making it hard to work with, realizing it’s not about me.
But I think that my work environment has been conducive to me learning a lot of self love and self patience.
If you could talk to yourself back when you were graduating high school, what would be something that you would tell yourself?
I would tell myself that you’re not right! You’re not right, your parents aren’t right, the people you look up to aren’t always right. Be open and listen to people and stop thinking you know everything.
Lana & her siblings enjoying each other’s company.
Photo Credit: Strathearn Family
Who is at least one person that you can count on to be in your corner that you’re grateful for, and why?
My siblings, they’re all wonderful and we’re all really close. But especially us older three, we’ve always called ourselves since we were little “the big kids”, me, Olivia, and Adam.
Those two are always good at listening, giving advice when I ask for it, and being ok with not giving advice when I don’t want it, cause that’s a thing too. There are times where I don’t want advice and I just want to be heard and loved through the process, and they’ve been really good at that. They’ve been there for me, supported me through all of that, and we have different views on things, and they really support me where I’m at.
Who has played a vital role as a mentor in your life?
I was actually thinking about this more recently, and I don’t think I have a clear answer for that, because I have a lot of people who have been mentors in small, or seemingly small, but influential ways. I don’t have one person that I go to for advice about everything, or that I respect all of their opinions, and that I feel that they know what I should do with my life, or having all the answers.
I think mentors for me have been so many people in little ways. People who teach me things along the way, whether they’re teaching me or not, or usually people who share and trust me with their heart, who open up to me about their story, about their struggles, about their fears, and lessons they’re learning, whatever that might be. When people trust me in those kinds of ways, I feel those have been impactful more than any one mentor.
On person that comes to mind is my friend Victoria, who is a trans-woman, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I’ve known her for years. I met her when she was just coming out as trans and she was presenting in public as Victoria for the first time. I met her at a convention. She’s been like a mentor in ways, like her love, she’s so loving and is so good. Her way of being has been very impactful to me.
Also there have been certain youth, I started working in a youth shelter when I started in homeless services, I still sometimes pick up shifts there. I’ve had certain youth who have become like mentors to me as they’ve shared their stories and their hearts as they’ve trusted me, and I have so much respect for them and who they are at their core and what they’ve been through.
Friends, co-workers, companions on my mission like you, every companion was a mentor in different ways teaching me different things in being themselves and being a friend. There have been a lot of people who have mentored me in different ways.
This continues to showcase what an open, teachable, compassionate person you are, that you are so willing to see what other people can teach you. That’s not an easy trait or even way of being for a lot of people, but to have those eyes to see that and be willing to take that in is amazing! Life’s interactions have been your mentors and that’s incredible! 
Lana (on the right) with co-worker Braden (on the left) from the Homeless Street Outreach.
When things aren’t going in the direction you were hoping, what have you found has usually been the right next step for you?
For me it’s always been talking with people that I’m close with. I’m one that needs to communicate. So talking it out with someone I trust helps me process the situation. I can then think more clearly and get advice, if I want advice. Sometimes it’s something I need to figure out by myself.
I also try not to make a rash decision, taking my time to make a decision. I think I’m naturally spontaneous in a positive light, but in a negative light I’m impulsive. I make decisions really fast and just go with things. But I feel like I’ve been learning to slow down, and if I do need to make a decision right away I just make a decision, and if it’s not working for me then I just change course.
It doesn’t feel final?
No, every decision isn’t going to be the end of the world. You just take a step forward and move rather than being stagnant, unless it’s good to be still at times.
What are three skills you have developed that you are proud of yourself for?
Good at talking to homeless people and knowing how to actually be of help, at least in my city cause I know the resources available. I’ve always kind of liked talking to homeless people. I haven’t been as confident as I am now, since I do it as part of my job now. Just talking to people on the street in crisis is a skill I’ve developed with my work which I really love having that confidence in going up to an encampment and talking with them, finding out what their needs are, and doing it in a way that they feel safe.
I can do this in a way that I can gage whether I’m wanted, whether I’m overstepping anything, or getting too much in their space. I’m able to do it in a way that they can trust me and let me in.
I have developed the skill of being brave and good at being in uncomfortable situations. I learned this while working wilderness therapy cause it is very hard and very uncomfortable: emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is very difficult and uncomfortable. But I’ve worked that uncomfortable muscle many times working in wilderness therapy. I mean my current job can be very uncomfortable, but at least I get to go home at the end and it’s only 8 hours a day.
Whenever I go back, I’ve worked there on and off since 2016 at wilderness therapy, which is the ANASAZI Foundation in Arizona, and I no longer work there right now but I still consider myself a trail-walker, which is my title there. Once a trail-walker always a trail-walker. I could go back there at any point, even if I just walked a week if I wanted. It’s still very uncomfortable every time I go back, I’m not a pro. I don’t think it’ll ever not be uncomfortable. I don’t know how to put that skill into a word or sentence except being brave and being non-judgemental. Again my work has really taught me a lot about people. There’s a lot of things that I used to be judgemental about, but I am not anymore.
I’m good at being a big sister. I love my siblings so much! We’ve cultivated a really beautiful relationship between all seven of us, of openness and transparency. I like to take credit for all of that, just kidding, not all of it but honestly a good bunch as the eldest and because I’m very open and honest with them. I think because of that then my siblings know that they can be very open and honest and confide in me about things that they wouldn’t feel safe in confiding in other people about. 
Lana as a trail-walker for the ANASAZI Foundation.
What is something you do that you enjoy that helps you to calm and slow you down?
Clean my room. Every night before I go to bed I clean my room, because I have a really small room, so I have to be very strategic about my placement of things and clothes and any items because it can be chaos very quickly. Then after I clean my room, I light my candles, turn on my little salt lamp, and then my other little lamp, and my diffuser that lights up, I just get the ambiance going. That really helps! A clean room and good ambiance helps me relax and feel good.
Also getting enough sleep, I am a huge advocate of sleep! Us Americans have issues, we just work, work, work, but don’t value sleep. Sleep is so important. Getting enough sleep helps my mental health and if I’m having a hard time.
It also depends on what mood I’m in or what I need. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to clean and it’s not what I need sometimes. Sometimes it’s making sure I’m being social and calling up some friends and planning things with friends. Sometimes it’s going on a run. Sometimes, like right now, my boyfriend and I of three years broke up and how I’ve been handling that has been signing up for dance classes. And I love dancing but I’ve never taken any classes. So making sure I’m doing things that I’m passionate about.
For me the different sectors are, what am I doing that’s keeping me physically active that I enjoy? Like going for a ride on my bike, taking dance classes, going on a run if I want, or going out into the mountains. Actually doing things that I like.
Then it’s what am I doing creatively? Like making sure that I take my camera around, taking more photos, organizing my photos, that all fulfills my creative needs.
Also food, how am I eating? Making time to actually cook meals so that I’m eating well, instead of thinking I have nothing to eat and eating cereal or skipping a meal and then feeling awful.
All in all, making sure I’m giving myself time. Not over-booking myself, but also not doing nothing. Staying passionate!
Even during my last relationship, there would be certain ups and downs, and during certain downs I’d feel more needy and unsatisfied with things. Those were the times where I realized that I wasn’t doing things that I was passionate about and that’s why my life was revolving around my boyfriend and I’d be putting all of this pressure on him.
So whenever that would happen I’d have to step back and think what could I be including in my life that I’m passionate about? Then when I incorporated those things that made me happy then I would get into a much better headspace.
What are some key elements in your environment, whether that’s in your home, creative space, or work space, that encourages and inspires you?
Probably back to the cleanliness thing and decorating my room in a way that my room is a good place to be. Also again with the ambiance thing with the candles and such is really helpful for me. But I don’t have an object or anything like that that inspires me. Just a clean, cozy space that I feel good about.
Oh and my cat inspires me! Seriously, I love my cat. My mental health has gone up since getting my cat. Just having a little furry friend that loves me and I love him.
Lana cuddling with her cat, Keanu.
What are three reasons that you have had to celebrate lately?
I’ve been celebrating my dance classes! I’m taking salsa, pachata, west coast swing, Argentine tango, and country swing. So Monday through Thursday I have one or two classes. I’m celebrating that because I just love dancing!
I’m also celebrating starting grad school. It’s been kind of a stressful decision on what school to go to, the application process is super long and rigorous for all these different schools, then it’s all the debt I’ll be going into, and social workers don’t make very much money, and all of those things to take into consideration. I’ve chosen to do it online, so I can work while I’m doing it, but that’s also really scary. Just a lot of decisions and I finally just decided to start something and I’m definitely celebrating starting!
I’ve been celebrating the good weather. I’ve been really happy with the weather and trying to get outside and enjoy it, just to celebrate nature. 
Lana happily taking in the good weather riding her bike, with no hands.
What is one piece of advice that you find yourself thinking back on and striving to implement the most often?
I’ve learned this at different points but I’m constantly having to remind myself of this concept, that when I feel hurt by someone, whether someone is lashing out or being angry or being difficult to work with, at work but also all areas of my life, not to take it personally cause it’s not about me it’s about them and their pain.
I have to keep in mind that they’re hurting and it helps me to come at hard situations with people from a compassionate space, rather than a defensive, offended space. This is something I learned in wilderness therapy and continue to learn. I have to continue to remind myself of this.
I deal with some pretty difficult situations in my job, with people who can get very escalated. They’re not having their basic needs met, so it makes sense cause they’re in survival mode, and they often have a lot of trauma and there’s often mental illness from before the streets or from being on the streets. They’re trying to navigate a very difficult situation in a system where there’s a lot of holes and not enough help for the amount of need. For me, remembering that when they are lashing out, whether it’s directed at me or not, remembering that they’re hurting and they need love and to be heard and listened to.
Another one piece of advice that goes along with that is stop talking and listen. That’s a big thing that I remind myself of all the time. Ask questions and listen. Instead of correcting people or when someone is doing something I disagree with or I want to give someone advice, instead of telling someone how they should live their life and trying to help, remembering that that is not usually helpful.
Try to understand their point of view and not jump to give advice. Not giving advice has been a huge thing that I’ve been learning and that God has been teaching me over the last five years. Stop giving advice cause I don’t know what I’m talking about and just listen.
I had some experiences where I realized that all the things that I’ve been very sure about my whole life aren’t what I thought and I’ve given advice that’s been harmful. Realizing that I really don’t know and the most helpful thing is to listen. Everyone needs to figure things out for themselves.
Sometimes something clicks that someone says, but respecting other people’s journeys has become a very important theme in my life, and not trying to push people into whatever kind of journey that I think they should be on or that I think is best for them. For me, trying not to give advice unless it’s asked for. This has been a huge lesson for me.
When people know that you care, that you are really there for them, and that you’re feeling through with them, that’s what people need. To know that they are heard and loved.
What do you feel have been key factors in shaping who you are today?
One is my journey with the LGBTQ+ community, specifically for me being within the LDS Church. That was a journey that lasted me about five years, I don’t feel like I’m on that journey anymore. For me it was a very spiritual and very life-changing, and even life-shattering, life growing experience that tested everything that I thought I knew. I went on a journey to understand queer members of the church. Why I went on that journey? It’s not like there was a family member or friend, it was a spiritual, God thing.
I just felt very strongly about learning and understanding. That led me to questioning all of my beliefs and that experience opened up my heart more than anything else that I have ever experienced. I wish I could talk about it in a way that would give it justice, cause it’s a very long story. But it helped me love people and see people from a clearer lens, a more God-like lens. It helped me to understand God better, the nature of God, and God’s love. It humbled me.
It taught me that I don’t have it all figured out and I don’t know everything. There’s always a story behind every person, every kind of person that I want to put a box around or judge or that doesn’t fit what my mind wants to make sense of the world. It taught me a lot about other people and the way that I experience other people and a lot about myself.
So I’m a big advocate for LGBTQ+ people and especially for people who are in the church because they have it pretty bad. There isn’t space for them, which I guess can be argued by some straight, cis-gendered people because I know that there are ways that the church has been trying to make space, make changes, and do certain things, but there isn’t space for them.
Life isn’t black and white, it’s really grey. It used to be black and white for me, it was so much easier that way and it seemed like it all made sense and fit into a box and it was great. But that started my journey of seeing things more grey and seeing more nuance in life and complexities of life. That has been very impactful for me. 
Lana (in the middle) at a Trans FHE in Salt Lake City with some of her friends in 2016.
What do you feel have been some key habits in shaping who you are today?
Get enough sleep. I love getting enough sleep! I’m a big fan! I gotta get my sleep.
Go to work. Call my family. Take care of my cat. Hang out with friends. It would be nice to say that I meditate for 30 minutes everyday or something, but those are key, important ones for me.
What are three things you have been particularly grateful for this past week or month?
I’ve been grateful that I have been handling my breakup really well. I feel like I’ve been in a very emotionally, mentally healthy place in my life. Even our relationship was healthy and I’m grateful for our relationship and for him, and all that we’ve learned together. Breakups can be really awful sometimes. We’ve done things in a really healthy way so I’ve been feeling grateful that I feel like I’m in a healthy place and that I’m ok and that it’s going to be ok.
I felt grateful for my home with my roommates and fresh vegetables, we have a farm in the back of our house and we get a ton of fresh vegetables. Also getting to cook with my roommates, I’ve been very grateful for that.
I’m also grateful for my bike and getting to bike to work makes me so happy. I also love my clients at work, my team, I love my people at work and on the streets. So many cool things have happened with people getting housing and working towards different things, getting stable. I feel very, very lucky to have the job that I have.
Thank you for taking part in and reading my interview for my blog series, “Cheers to You, Oh Wonderful You” with Lana Strathearn.
What is one thing that you have been grateful for this past week?
Please comment below and share this blog post if it has been of value to you or could be to someone else.
Also, if you have someone in mind that you think I should interview for this blog series, please let me know by contacting me either through my work email:
stephanietracy26@gmail.com or my work Facebook page: Stephanie Tracy Writes.
About the Author
Hi there! I’m Stephanie Tracy, a freelance writer, blogger, and copy-editor for hire. I specialize in physical and mental health, parenting, and self-development. I create engaging, inspiring, and useful content to help businesses progress in making their viewers into customers. When I’m not writing, you can find me happily playing with my toddler, walking in the park with my family, or indulging in a movie marathon with my husband.