Two more children and many life experiences later, being a part of the compassion that Louisville embraces is at the heart of my doing.
We opened Louisville Salt Cave in 2015, and believed the relief from allergies would be a sensible sell as entrepreneurs in the Ohio Valley. We were in love with an opportunity to share what we use in our holistic health efforts to manage stress and anxiety.
During one of our early interviews, Kim referred to the Cave as a sacred space. I remember thinking, “That is a perfect way to describe it!” I had no idea how viewing the space as sacred would transform my commitment to this place.
Shortly after opening, Dr. Pradeep Deshpande contacted us about conducting Bioenergetic Studies with Cave volunteers. He is a former professor of Engineering from the University of Louisville, and shared his research on the benefits of a daily meditation practice toward health and wellness and its positive effect on world peace.
I haven’t turned back.
The way I see the Cave, and its aid in respiratory challenges, also gives people in today’s busy society the chance to stop and reflect. Almost everyone that leaves that space comes out more relaxed and rejuvenated to celebrate their best self with those they care about, or to better handle difficult decisions around life circumstance.
I’d like to think that we’re doing a small part to assist with Louisville’s compassionate charter.
During the 2017 Festival of Faiths, Karen Armstrong spoke about what it takes to be a compassionate city.
“A compassionate city is an uncomfortable city! A city that is uncomfortable when anyone is homeless or hungry. Uncomfortable if every child isn’t loved and given rich opportunities to grow and thrive. Uncomfortable when as a community, we don’t treat our neighbors as we would wish to be treated.” - Karen Armstrong, founder of the global movement, The Charter for Compassion
Today, Louisville is viewed globally as a leader in this effort. We really hope to become more involved in the compassionate movement, and are grateful for your contribution to this.
Here’s a video about what makes Louisville a compassionate city and how to get involved. How will you grow your compassion?