I remember sitting at Tidballs (a reference for you WKU alum) around 2002 talking to some big-wigs from the waste management business about making a difference in the world. I was studying agriculture with the goal of working in the alternative fuel industry one day. I made the vow that I wouldn’t let money drive the work I did, so my endless search for the right job proved to serve the environment and nearly starve me.

Since then, I’ve faced one challenge (or opportunity) after another in my career path. When leaving that first job out of college, I was in my office on my way out telling a friend who thought I was crazy to leave without anything lined up that sometimes one door has to close in order for the right one to open. 

Ignorant, or unknowingly wise, I’ve always followed my heart.

Later, working for a big agriculture company and making a lot of money, I had the fortune of running into Rainbow Blossom’s marketing coordinator at a networking event. When I told her what I did for a living, she scoffed at me and said, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything that wasn’t truly in line with my values”. I remember noticing the size of the diamond on her wedding ring and thinking it must be easy to live that way with an engagement of that measure. 

Judgmental and naive as I was, her words hit hard. Shortly after, I took our middle child for an ear tube consult. The doctor told me that women’s rights were the cause for antibiotic resistance and drove his work. No shit, he said that. I’d spent the last 10 years in agriculture managing products that worked with the gut to reverse antibiotic resistance in livestock and here this guy was telling me I was the cause. While I left seeing red, I gained a greater appreciation for family values and made a commitment to figure out a better way to balance work/life. Sometimes those that move you to extreme discomfort provide you a great service. 

One thing that has remained consistent has been my ability to recognize and act when something isn’t in line with my divine purpose. I am working toward trusting myself sooner so that I can bring more grace to major decisions. 

So in the spirit of spirituality and the upcoming Festival of Faiths, I wanted to share my story about gut/heart based decision making. Last month we featured nutrition, and how it can impact the mind and body, but there is so much of this that is related to our spirit.

In Gut: The Inside Story of our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, Dr. Giulia Enders discusses why these gut feelings might be more than just digestive upset. As our most metabolically active organ, it is comparable to the function of the brain. We carry the book at the Cave if you’re interested.

My favorite subject is when science meets spirituality. Recently, John told me that when science confirms spirituality, faith in God is no longer needed. That really makes me put the brakes on my drive behind justifying my beliefs with science, despite a societal demand for evidence. Maybe faith is sometimes delivered in the form of a wrenched gut or broken heart. 

I pulled this fortune recently and thought it was a fine fit for this month’s blog. I hope you too enjoy the little gifts of each day. 

“Most spend their lives reading the menu instead of enjoying the banquet”

The February Speaker Series on Health + Wellness brought in a lot of great ideas on how to live healthy, happy and free. I captured some thoughts from these events below, but Dawne Gee may have said it best when she stated “Health is your wealth, but you can’t get it back like a dollar bill”. ​

On February 8th, Gretchen Homer discussed nutrition by muscle testing. She helps to identify stressors in the body and provide you with specific nutritional supplements that will help to reverse those stressors.

She used the analogy that one could view their nutritional health as one views their car. If your check engine light comes on, you take it to the mechanic, where they run a diagnostic test to identify a cause. You don’t tape over the light or switch it off, which is what we do in many cases with our own health. Gretchen will help to identify the cause and help your body receive the support it needs to begin self-healing. 

Ginnie Hill discussed the connection between mental health and physical wellness. As a former psychologist turned nutritionist, her insight was much of mind over matter. 

She offered some examples of what may have been the reason behind trying for healthy weight previously without much success. Things like, if it’s not your “why”, if you are making suffering your identity, or if you don’t believe what you’re doing will work, will all negatively contribute to your success in a healthy mind/body relationship.

In what she refers to as the ‘stress bucket’ you can identify all the things in your life that may contribute to stress such as: work-life balance, unhealthy relationships, poor physical health, depression, etc., and if there is one major contributing factor, you must start responding differently to that situation in order to change it.

Sisters Andrea Dill and Natalie Sadeck provided easy solutions to bring more fruits and vegetables into the diet and shared how scientific research backed their anecdotal experiences.

“As part of the healthy living revolution movement, our goal is to come alongside families who want better health, meet them where they are and empower positive changes along the way. We inspire healthy living by offering free resources as well as nutritional support.” Andrea Dill

In addition to our speakers, this Sunday’s Courier Journal had a great article about responsible food consumption and how you can do your part. 

Despite each speaker bringing a different focus to the program, there were consistent messages every time. 

• This is no one size fits all - everyone is different
• Changes take time and effort
• Foundation programs and principles can give you huge results if you give it time

Thank you to those of you that came out for this series, and please check out our wonderful speakers if you have any questions about how to better take charge of your health. 

Stillness. Connection with God. A universal oneness. 

Sitting in Cynthia Bourgeault’s spiritual practice during the 2017 Festival of Faiths allowed me to witness God in and around each and every participant inside a theatre on a Friday morning at 9 a.m. The energy in the room following the session was electric. It’s the only session that ended with everyone exiting after complete silence, with no wrap up or summary. Our connection to one another spoke volumes. 

Dr. Bourgeault said that putting the mind in the heart is the key to compassion, above action to do good, the act of being in the heart, energetically and emotionally, will have the most profound impact on your contribution to society. 

It’s no coincidence that your heart is surrounded by your lungs. Dan Brule says, “The most important journey we need to make is the 15 centimeters from our head to our hearts”.  And we can help make this connection by sitting with ourselves, focusing on our breath. 

Even Japanese Tea Ceremonies have gained popularity for their purpose of listening to oneself. 

Over the past few months, I’ve questioned my ability to listen a lot. Life, right? I can get so consumed with what is going on in my life, that I don’t really hear the needs of others, or myself. I hear that the awareness of this is the starting point though, so I strive to continue to make a point to intently listen. 

We’re going into a time of thanks and celebration. We can help make those moments mean more if we’ve take the time to listen to ourselves prior to engaging in celebration. We can also make our interactions more meaningful if we listen to those closest to us. 

Recently, Jaqcue Saltsman told me that she’s heard the analogy that ‘Prayer is like the question, and Meditation is the answer.' We ask for what we need in prayer, and receive in the stillness.  

I’m leading a Guided Meditation on November 16 about finding your strength. The fun part of this practice is that you're asking yourself for guidance, or maybe the God that is you, or the Holy Spirit, Divine Inspiration, Source where you are connected; whatever you believe, we’re going to go there. And we’re going to pray. Then we’re going to listen. 

Dr. Bourgeault says it is the actual practice of letting go, not the state you get to after meditation, that is your connection to God. This is where the good is discovered.

You don’t need a guide, you are the guide, and that is what excites me the most about this path. Everyone has the same opportunity to access their birthright, their greatness, their connection with God. 

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your magnificent journey and for being a part of mine. 

I wonder if the Community Foundation of Louisville knew that hurricane season might just be the best time for a community-wide fundraising effort for good. In a time when natural disasters sweep our hemisphere and difference of opinion has hit emotional highs, what a beautiful opportunity Give for Good Louisville offers each and every one of us. 

You have likely heard there’s a fundraising event happening this week. For 24 hours, anyone with internet access has the opportunity to give back to a cause they’re passionate about. Talk about raising the vibrational frequency! ​

Many sponsors have joined the Community Foundation of Louisville to make individual donations stretch further. Grand prizes, golden tickets, geotargeted efforts and bonus pools, offer non-profits a huge opportunity to generate a lot of good. 

Compassion was the message at the 2017 Festival of Faiths. Karen Armstrong said that a compassionate city was an uncomfortable city. This moved me because anyone living in Louisville can appreciate the level of inequality across our different zip codes. I’m uncomfortable with this and vow to remain uncomfortable until my personal efforts start to make a difference. 
Louisville Salt Cave will contribute 20% of our sales on Thursday, September 14th, toward giving back to our beautiful community. 

We encourage you to pitch in wherever you feel drawn, and wanted to share a few of our favorite non-profits we’ve worked with over the past 2 years: 

Pretty in Pearls - Shannon Higgins recently told me about her efforts to help young women transition from foster care and state custody to a successful future. Then I saw her featured in Style Blueprint where she talked about her triumph over obstacles most of us can’t imagine. Pretty in Pearls is having a ribbon cutting on October 21st. 

Uspiritus -  The Uspirtus staff are some of the happiest people I’ve ever met, and I mean almost every interaction I witnessed. This staff works with children affected by abuse, trauma and/or mental health, their efforts, and their impact on our community, are far reaching. 

Strive - They design and facilitate meaningful creative wellness opportunities for organizations, facilities and the Louisville Community. You can find them around town creating art through collaborative musical events. 

Thanks for helping spread the good vibes throughout the city. Peace, Love & Salt.