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Rachel C's avatar

Your podcast led me to your writing and this post had me in tears...in the self reflection of knowing. While we have taken some different paths, there is so much I resonate with in your story. I’m at the “tired of my own bullshit” stage in both my healing journey and my day to day life in general. The newness of your where you are at with this shift in your life gives me hope I can do the same!

You’re an inspiration and your podcast is so one of the best I have found in recent years...the depth of your research and general knowledge on topics is so wonderful to listen to. I look forward to each and every episode! Thank you 😊

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Kate Kavanaugh's avatar

Rachel - "the self reflection of knowing" is perhaps one of the most beautiful spaces, but that doesn't mean it's easy. I'm so glad my story can give you hope and let me reflect back to you just how resilient you are - our individual journeys serve to illuminate what is possible, and I truly believe anything is possible. Thank you so much for tuning into Mind, Body, and Soil. I appreciate your listenership more than you could know!

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Nikki's avatar

"There comes a point in time where we become so tired of our own bullshit that the only option is to change or wither and die." So true! Finding healing in our own flawed selves seems counter productive, but it seems to be the right route time and time again.

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Kate Kavanaugh's avatar

Yes, I love this "in our own flawed selves." We are all we have.

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Elizabeth Pree's avatar

I had to take breaks to read this in completeness. It was too emotional, wonderfully raw. I am awed, not just in your story or your ability to tell your story, but how in all likelihood, so many people can relate to this. I know I can. I am in the middle of self-experimenting my way through poor poor health that is utterly changing who I am, after 6 years of chronic pain and injury. It's hard and lonely and big and scary and you captured all of those complex feelings so beautifully. I am, perhaps, not enough on the other side to be able to wax poetic just yet - and I thank you for being able to take the emotions straight from my very own heart.

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Caitlyn Carr's avatar

I am infinitely proud of you.

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Madelyn's avatar

This just randomly found its way into my life today and hot diggity, I needed to read it. Thank you for sharing, for trying, for continuing in spite of it all!

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Jan's avatar

Not gonna avoid mentioning the fact that I've been shamelessly searching your name in Substack for almost two months now, hoping you decided to venture here. I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE!

I love this vision of you essentially having to involute to find your way. In telling a story, all the messy parts can be given a linear sequence, a backdrop, connection. The experienced reality is much more of an ebb and flow, and I admire you for navigating that with such inquisitiveness and grace. As someone who has struggled with (albeit mild) chronic health issues in the past, I do sometimes ask myself if autoimmune issues might often arise from growing a taproot into the practice of (like you described) deeply othering one's own self. That certainly can't be the whole story, but might it be part of the "why" for many of us?

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Bill Deys's avatar

Thank you for sharing your story. I've battled health problems all my life and like you always tried to figure it out and over analyzed elements in my life that might be causing problems. We do our best with what we have, never settle, and keep up the fight. Such is life and most people don't come to terms with it. Most aren't awake to it enough to know what they're missing if the get past themselves. Thank you for the inspiration to keep on it.

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Kate Kavanaugh's avatar

Bill - I love this "over analyzed element". Yes, I have definitely done plenty of that. I think you really captured the key to all of this - to never settle and keep up the fight. It is easy to become complacent and to not wake up to fight, thank you for doing being awake for yourself. I really believe that the individual steps we take towards healing is not just for ourselves, but for everyone else, as well. I sent you an email - also - so check your inbox!

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Rowan's avatar

Your podcast is exactly what I’ve been searching for. I’m grateful that you found the courage to start the podcast because you do a wonderful job interviewing others and sharing your own wisdom.

Also, thank you for sharing a bit about your health journey in this post. It is always comforting to hear the perspective from others who have also struggled with health issues.

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Kate Kavanaugh's avatar

Rowan - I am so glad that the podcast is resonating with you and thank you for your kind words.

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Paige Beck's avatar

Thank you for writing such an honest and vulnerable post!

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Kate Kavanaugh's avatar

Thank you for reading and being here!

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