Welcome to Living Kindness
Where nature meets community, and well-being takes root.
Living Kindness is where people come to feel like themselves again.
This is a place to breathe, belong, and reconnect with joy — through nature, creativity, mindfulness, and authentic conversation. We gather in person, in circles, and online, because connection is what makes us whole.
Many of our members carry the weight of loving someone through a difficult mental health journey, including substance use disorder. But you won’t be defined by that here. You are so much more than the hardest thing happening in your life.
Whatever brings you here, you are welcome. Completely.
OUR VISION:
A world where every person — and every family — feels seen, supported, and free to flourish. Where compassion and connection replace isolation, and joy is not just possible but expected.
OUR MISSION:
Living Kindness brings people together through nature, creativity, mindfulness, and authentic community. We are here for anyone longing for deeper well-being and belonging — including those loving someone through a difficult mental health journey. We gather so that hope returns, joy is restored, and no one walks alone.
Ways to Experience Living Kindness
FAMILY COACHING CIRCLES
Living Kindness give families practical tools to rebuild trust, set healthier boundaries, and support their loved one’s recovery while tending to their own healing. Grounded in presence, compassion, generosity, and shared humanity—we offer a structured, relationship‑centered layer of care that strengthens recovery outcomes for every family. They create a supportive environment where families learn to communicate with greater clarity, respond with steadiness, and cultivate resilience.
GRIEF GROUP
Our five‑week grief group offers a compassionate space to move through loss with steadiness and support. Inspired by “When Mourning Dawns—Living Your Way Fully Through the Seasons of Your Grief” by James E. Miller, this gathering blends gentle guidance, shared understanding, and community connection. In partnership with St. John’s Lutheran Church, we provide a nurturing environment where you can explore your grief at your own pace, reconnect with hope, and feel less alone in the process. The book is provided, and free‑will offerings are welcomed.
ROOTED KINDNESS:
HEALING GARDEN
Rooted Kindness Healing Garden is a gently cultivated space for mindfulness, reflection, and connection with the natural world. Inspired by the principles of Living Kindness, the garden offers a peaceful setting for workshops, quiet contemplation, and restorative time outdoors. It’s a place where people can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves and one another through presence, compassion, and nature‑based practices. Join us for botanical workshops, parent–child creative time, and yoga in the garden.
THE LIVING KINDNESS RETREAT
Our retreat experiences are intentionally small and intimate, with group sizes not exceeding
fifteen people. Together, we’ll navigate this journey, and you’ll never have to feel alone.
Nestled in the serene woods just outside Madison, WI, the Living Kindness Retreat offers a warm and inviting home-like environment where you can connect with others who share similar experiences. Our retreat provides a tranquil escape from the demands of daily life.
Operated by Christine Quinn, a seasoned facilitator with extensive experience in leadership and coaching, Living Kindness brings together a diverse team of practitioners to offer a wide range of healing and wellness services.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Connection
Forge meaningful connections with individuals who understand your challenges.
Wellness
Discover inner peace through activities like artistic expression, energy medicine, nutritious cooking, and yoga.• Nature: Reconnect with the healing power of nature.
Support
Access ongoing support and coping skills to reduce stress and increase resilience. Our retreat experiences are intentionally small and intimate, with group sizes not exceeding fifteen people. Together, we’ll navigate this journey, and you’ll never have to feel alone.
Join Us at Living Kindness operated by Christine Quinn, a seasoned facilitator with extensive experience in workshop leadership and coaching, Living Kindness brings together a diverse team of practitioners to offer a wide range of healing and wellness services.
building community together
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- Supportive Community: Connect with others who understand your journey, offering mutual support and encouragement.
- Authentic Dialogue: Promoting open, honest dialogue and genuine relationships among community members, creating a safe space for shared experiences.
- Personal Growth: Discover joy and gratitude amidst challenges, and learn to trust your inner wisdom.
- Holistic Wellness: Explore diverse self-care practices integrating mind, body, and spirit for overall well-being.
- Positive Impact: As you heal, empower others facing similar challenges, creating a cycle of support.
Join us to find strength, hope, and holistic growth as you navigate this path. Together, we’ll nurture your well-being and uncover moments of joy.
OUR CORE VALUES
Kindness: Extending genuine care to oneself, others, and the environment.
Community: Creating a supportive and authentic community.
Compassion: Practicing empathy, understanding, and acceptance through honest, open dialogue.
Hope: Inspiring optimism and belief in the possibility of recovery and healing.
HOW TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION
Together, we embrace wellness and empower one another.
THE TEAM BEHIND LIVING KINDNESS
CHRISTINE J. QUINN
Christine Quinn, Ph. D is a visionary leader in higher education, a certified coach, and an energy healer driven by a profound commitment to meaningful and compassionate endeavors. Her journey began in a nurturing, empathetic family that instilled in her a deep sense of service from a tender age.
But it was her personal experience, supporting a loved one through the trials of substance misuse, that ignited an unyielding determination within her. Christine’s mission goes beyond her own lifetime; it’s a movement designed to thrive through the unwavering dedication of healing professionals and volunteers who will carry its torch forward. Her story is one of transformation and an unwavering belief in the power of compassion to change lives.
LORI FRISON, MS, LPC
Lori Frison is a Psychotherapist and Certified Relationship Coach. She is passionate about helping women experience greater love in their relationships, both with others and with themselves. Lori believes that self-love creates the foundation for all other relationships. This led her to develop the Redefining Love coaching program which guides women to stay centered, speak their truth, and set healthy limits with others all from a place of kindness and respect. She enjoys meditation, spirituality, and all things nature. She is an ongoing student of love in her marriage of 30 years and with her three grown children, who she adores.
HEATHER LOWE
Heather Lowe is the founder of Ditched the Drink, a global platform that empowers high-achieving women to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and embrace an empowered, alcohol-free lifestyle. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), a Yale University certificate in the science of well-being, and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. She is a Certified Professional Life and Recovery Coach, SHE RECOVERS® Coach, Certified Addiction Awareness Facilitator, and Certified Yoga Nidra Facilitator. Drawing on years of corporate leadership experience, Heather has guided 300+ women through coaching and impacted thousands through digital courses, live events, and her award-winning Insider membership community. A sought-after speaker and host of the award-winning Peripeteia Podcast, she has been recognized by Coach Foundation, Life Coach Magazine, Sans Bar, After Magazine, and Authority Magazine. Heather champions the well-being of women and their families through purpose-driven leadership.
ROGER FRINGS
Roger Frings is a Certified Recovery Coach with 29 years in personal recovery and more than a decade of professional experience supporting individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. He most recently served as Program Supervisor for Tellurian Behavioral Health’s 19‑bed Residential Treatment Program, overseeing daily operations, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and a multidisciplinary team of nearly 20 staff. Previously, Roger spent over twenty years with the State of Wisconsin, advising leaders on behavioral health policy, chairing the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, and contributing to statewide opioid‑response initiatives. Currently pursuing his SAC‑IT certification, Roger brings a blend of lived experience, clinical training, and policy expertise to Living Kindness, helping strengthen compassionate, recovery‑centered community support.
MAUREEN LIEN
Maureen Lein is an abstract artist, retired reading teacher, and lifelong farmer-shepherdess. Her journey is one of constant exploration and connection. Through her art, she paints emotions and dreams; as an educator, she has shaped young minds, and on her farm, she has nurtured life. But beyond the tangible, Maureen’s spiritual journey spans decades as she seeks inner peace and harmony through various practices, all while embracing the abundant spirit of Mother Earth.
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LINDSAY KILLILEA
Lindsay Killilea is the creator behind SoulFlowerIntentions, an Etsy shop rooted in mindful, nature‑inspired design. Blending her artistic eye with a love for intentional living, she crafts handmade pieces that bring warmth, grounding, and everyday beauty into the spaces people cherish. A yoga instructor and energy practitioner, Lindsay brings a holistic approach to her work, infusing each creation with presence and intention. In addition to her creative and wellness work, she is a partner in Rooted Kindness Healing Gardens, part of Living Kindness in Evansville, WI, where she helps cultivate community, connection, and restorative outdoor experiences.
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BRANDE CRANDALL
Brande Crandall is a creative director, community organizer, and compassion-centered operations leader whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, belonging, and intentional care. With more than 30 years of experience in design, communication, and event production, she transforms ideas into clear systems, meaningful messaging, and experiences that help people feel seen and supported. Rooted in lived experience with substance use disorder within her own family, Brande brings a rare blend of professional skill, empathy, and steady presence to every space she serves. She is dedicated to building communities where people feel understood, connected, and never alone — the heart of the mission that guides her life and work.
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JOIN US AT LIVING KINDNESS
Where kindness, compassion, and community come together
to create a brighter journey ahead.
Together, we embrace wellness and empower one another.
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