Restoring Sanity

I admit it, I wish I was in Washington, D.C. right now at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.  I have been watching the stream online and can feel the power of the people.  It is enlivening and gives me hope.  We all need more sanity.

I don't think politicians and the media realize how much their saber rattling and pontificating fray reasonable people's nerves.  Or sadly (and more likely) they do.  It's what gets them support and ratings.  If that's the case, it's sick.  And it's not just one political party or one network, they all pander to our emotions.

We need to take that power back and call for reason.  My friend Maxine Sieleman from PRAISE 940, gave me a great quote for an article I wrote about her, “You can lead me, but you can’t drive me.  I don’t want people telling me what to think, I’m not stupid.  Instead I want to tell people what is happening and let them make their own decisions.” - YES!  


Give me the facts, not your opinion of the facts, not a spin on the facts, the ACTUAL facts, I can take it from there.  Everyone can.  We are intelligent people, common sense tells us to ask questions if we are confused or need more information to form an opinion.  Trying to sway me or scare me will only make me mad and disenfranchised.  I guarantee if you talk down to me like I am three in an attempt to impress upon me your self-perceived intellect, I will balk.  


So, let's bring back reason.  Speak kindly, discuss don't argue.  Smile even when someone says something ugly, it will confuse them. 


And the greatest thing about restoring sanity?  You feel better.  Your stress drops, you eat less and you have time for yourself instead of worry.  


I'm watching the Rally, even as I go to the gym today.  I feel like I can breath a little more each time I see someone embrace reason.  Perhaps by the end of the day my worry lines will have released and I will even look a little younger. :)


Have a sane and sensible day,
Kate

 

Happy Halloween!

I promised earlier today on LITE 104.1 that I would post pictures from our Halloween Potluck.  The first one is me as a cowgirl.  The second is my hugely creative friend Calvin as a sock monkey!  This is the same guy that made a complete replica of Floppy as a costume two years ago.  We want to drag him to bars and win money with him, but he won't let us. ;)  The final shot is all but three of the people who dressed up today, missing are Tom Selleck, another cowgirl and a deviled egg.

You can see I have lost weight too!

Calvin is so cool, I want to be him when I don't grow up.

Most of our motley crew.

Bonus picture: My current Facebook profile picture
featuring my very own Obi-Wan Kenobi.
If you are a fan of LOL Cats, you understand the meaning.

Also, I am still working on finding an example of that killer move from Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  Maybe by tomorrow.

Yours in Health,
Kate

This and That and the Other Thing

The last 48 hours have been a blur.

Work has been crazy, but we put the next edition of Intuition Magazine to bed this afternoon, so that was huge.  Really like this issue, it's fun, very holiday.  The cover is beautiful, which has everything to do with our model Lindsey, great photography by Paige and design by Jolene.

One of my bosses and dear friends is leaving, we had her going away breakfast this morning.  I ate too many eggs AND had hash-browns - I know, I let my emotions eat for me.

Yesterday, I had a strenuous workout with Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center.  Tomorrow I am going to find a video of the torture exercise she likes to have me do, um, it's hard.  Whine. But I also know my abs greatly benefit, so I am torn. ;)  The day before that it was a water workout.  Those are really hard, but I love them.  I have even taken to doing an almost identical one at least once over every weekend.  I am seeing nice results.

Today, no workout, but then Thursday has become my day off.  Tomorrow it's back in the pool or maybe upstairs with weights because I missed Monday.  (No voice.)

I just finished writing a press release for a special concert that will be announced tomorrow morning.  That's all I can tease, but I promise details over the weekend.

Okay, that was enough rambling for three people, so I am going to wrap up and finally go home.  Good night.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Chilly Day Calls for Chili

I am going to regularly post recipes again.  This one is a favorite that is lower calorie and tasty as heck.  With the cooler weather it seemed the time to share this one.

White Chili with Ground Turkey

Yours in Health,
Kate

Laryngitis - I don't think it's fatal

Yesterday I told you I was hoarse from yelling at the Race for the Cure.  Today I woke up and my voice was barely audible.  With the help of much coffee I was able to do my shift on LITE 104.1, but then I had to go home. 

Radio is not a business you can be quiet in and everyone was at my desk.  So, I am finishing out the day at home.  I did not go workout because I am also not feeling that hot.

There are people who think I might stop breathing if I do not talk - you know who you are.  But don't worry, it's not fatal.  I'll be back at work and gym tomorrow, even if I don't have a voice.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Race for the Cure - Des Moines 2010

My voice is gone.  I stood at the finish line of the Race for the Cure yesterday with the ladies from the Mercy Cancer Center.  We were cheering on the 25,000 heroes who were helping raise money and spirits in the fight again breast cancer.  I cheered loudly, used my clapper, gave high fives and was inspired.

Thousands of people streamed past me - women, men, children, dogs - all with one purpose, the eradication of a deadly disease.  A disease that will infect 1 in 8 women and 1 in 100 men and affect hundreds more who love those people.  With early detection it doesn't have to be a killer, but it still has to be battled - a team makes that easier.

And that's what you saw yesterday, team after team - Testes for Breasties, Amanda's Army, Team Fight Like a Girl and many other creative efforts put forth for a little fun in a sea of serious.  People walked and ran for victims who had lost their fight.  Women came in wheel chairs because they were too sick from chemo.  It wasn't a place to extol traditional physical beauty - many were bald from radiation, no make-up, one breast - instead it was beauty of spirit that caused cheers and claps.

I was moved, not only by the vast swath of pink that was moving in unison through downtown Des Moines, but by the power of love.  I was honored to be on the side of the street where survivors walked by in a special chute, just for them.  They smiled, they cried, they cheered, they hugged, they danced in pride - they made us all believe.

Thank you to Mercy Cancer Center for inviting us to be a part of the cheer section that welcomed everyone back to the capitol, it was wonderful, even if I have no voice to say it out loud. ;)

Yours in Health,
Kate

Inspiring Stories of Weight Loss

I wanted to start sharing stories about other people on the path to health again. Today I was on the Mercy Weight Loss and Nutrition Center website and found Dave's story.

I have been to the site many times and seen his face, but never clicked. It's a great story! He set realistic goals, sought help to make it happen and is nearly at his goal. He looks great and feels even better.

Some days are harder than others. Some days you look at your car keys and the gym seems too far away. Sometimes the burger wins. But if you look around, someone has been through it too. Hearing their story can help.

I figured I would start in our own backyard.  So, here is the link to the video of Dave.

Mercy - Center for Weight Reduction

Yours in Health,

Kate