The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Soul

This was the post I was planning for a week ago last Saturday, before being side tracked by the 'ick'. 

Throughout the holidays we talk about food.  We eat too much, we want to try a recipe, someone brought cookies again, we giggle at Aunt Mable's annual fruit cake and we are thrilled with chocolate delights.  In fact, as most of our butts and thighs can attest, we are awash in a sea of fat and carbs from November to the New Year.  While these meals and treats feed our stomachs, we miss the most important thing - nourishing our souls.

We rush through life, especially the holidays - shopping and working and parties and cards - hoping all the while, we will have it done on time.  Sometimes losing our minds a little in the process and mostly missing the point of the season.  It doesn't matter your religion - the end of the year is about reflection, appreciation and grace.

Without a doubt you reflect on where you came from - your family, a favorite Christmas, your first game of dreidel or when you first celebrated Kwanzaa.  Perhaps you take the time to bake cookies for the teacher or mail carrier to express appreciation.  But do you embrace grace?

Grace has many forms, as you can see in this link.  

Grace is the one that matters most, it is becoming the embodiment of the goodness you seek in the world.  We all crave favor, kindness, friendship and forgiveness.  Yet, can we expect this to befall us if we aren't willing to endow these things just as freely?  The short answer of course is 'no'.

The full response takes years to unfold and embody.  It's a personal journey toward letting go and being willing to grow.  However, all of the pains we take are washed away as little lessons are learned and it quietly gives sustenance to our soul.  And that's what I want to impart this holiday season.

I am not perfect, in fact it's a daily struggle with my imperfections. (Hence the blog.) Still, I try to keep my eyes open and be trained by the universe to soak up what I need to improve in any way I can.  I know what you are thinking, "Okay all knowing one, how is this 'feeding of the soul' done?"

I'm but an apprentice, but I do have a few ideas: 

• Send an unexpected card or make that call you have been putting off.  Imagine the relief from years of pressure brought on by the unknown.
• Reach out to someone you don't even know.  A random act of kindness gives the feeling of accomplishment all day.
• Go overboard on a gift for that friend who has had a rotten year and be sure the note with it promises you're going to be there whether it gets better or not.
• Read to someone.  It can be a child, an ill friend or a senior at the local care center.  A warm voice can move anyone from despair.
• Give to a charity that touches your heart.  And if you can, give your time too.  Even $5 makes a difference and hours are worth more than money.
• Say 'please', 'thank you' and 'I love you'.  Simple words that will be shared in an endless chain.

I know you have many other ideas for becoming more graceful.  Put them in words, pass them on, but mostly do them.  And then see just how nourished your soul can really be. 

Yours in Health,

Kate

Charity Can Feed the Soul

I spend a lot of time obsessing about food.  What should I eat?  How much should I eat?  Ooh, is that a brownie?  But I know in my heart there are many more important things that sustain a person than just crunchy snacks and creamy dishes.  That's why I volunteer on a regular basis.  Today was a day of volunteering for events that our radio group was sponsoring.

This morning I got an emergency call at 6:20, one of our talents was passing a kidney stone and could I fill in for her at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  Of course.  It meant rearranging my day, but it was important to make sure LITE 104.1 followed through on our commitment.  Besides, I had never had a chance to go to the event, so it was a perfect excuse.

It was sunny, windy and pink.  Everyone was in fine spirits despite being blown around.  As I emceed I was able to hear women tell about their fight against breast cancer.  I met people in remission and those still on the battle field.  I met family members who were walking for those that had lost.  And one woman that was walking simply because it could be her someday.  It warmed me to see all of the passion and love.

Then I was on the the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center.  It was their Grand Opening to promote the fact that they are now under the same roof.  I worked the registration table and it was a great opportunity to feel unity.  Many people walked in that were just as overweight as I am, many who were even more so.  It made me very happy - believe me, just walking in that door for a tour is a big step.  I hope that they all decide to try their version of what I am doing, getting healthy.

Then I snuck in a 45 minute workout. :)  Showered and it was off to event three...

The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter Derby Duck Race.  This event is always so much fun.  YESS is all about trying to keep family's together, so they have a family festival as they sell the final ducks and then dump them into the lake.  Thousands of kids ran under the watchful eye of their unique family.  Some with their biological parents.  Some in single parent families.  Some adopted or in foster care.  Some with aunts or uncles, others with grandparents.  And some with all of the above.  It was a wonderful reminder that family is who you love, not just the people you were born to.

I emceed with Dan Winters from TV-13, he's great.  Like me, he is able to roll through the punches, which is important with an event this size.  In the end, everything went off without a hitch.  The biggest highlight?  The guy whose duck crossed the finish line first and won $10,000, donated the money back to YESS - another heartwarming, goose bump inducing moment for my day.

It was a great day and I was so busy, that after I quickly ate a small omelet while the walkers were on the path for Making Strides, I wasn't hungry again until late afternoon.  Which proves, charity can feed the soul.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Hearts for Homes

I have had a busier than usual couple of weeks, but it's all for a good cause.

If you live in Des Moines you have probably heard that the women of the YWCA are being displaced because the building is being closed and sold.  When my general manager Del heard he sleeplessly lay wondering what we could do to help.  The next morning he brought the minds of KIOA and DMRG promotions together to see if there were options.  Then the mantle was given to me to find the plan.

Well, very long story short, we are now doing Hearts for Homes.  The fundraising drive will raise money to refurbish a building on the south-side of Des Moines where the women can continue their road to self-sustaining productivity.  In the end the building will be a lasting legacy for those who give, allowing other low-income women to have fresh starts and get back on their feet.

On Friday we are also doing a day-long broadcast and phone bank at Prairie Meadows. 

If you have a few extra dollars, please consider giving to help local people with a local problem.  Prairie Meadows and Polk County will match money raised dollar for dollar.

Yours in community health, Kate