By CAROL A. DAWSON
One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One wolf is Evil. It is angry envious, full of sorrow, full of regret, greedy, arrogant and consumed with self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, false pride and ego. The other fighting wolf is Good. It is joyous, peaceful, loving, hopeful, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, empathetic, generous, truthful and possessing great compassion and faith.” The grandson thought about this for a while and then asked his grandfather, “Please tell me, which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
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At the Reflection Hair Design salon in New Albany, there is a woman who only feeds the wolf known as Good. As soon as The Extra Miler column was extended to include all of Southern Indiana, Karen Conrad’s name immediately surfaced as a person who fits our description of someone who quietly goes above and beyond.
In researching Karen’s acts of kindness, there appears to be a key to her success. It appears she simply cannot help herself, Her acts are instinctive. She takes whatever road is necessary to help others, even when it means veering from an intended path.
Diane Rufing works at Reflections and summed up Karen’s good deeds, “Karen is the type of person who wants every day to be special for the people around her.” Diane reflects for a moment, then words flow, “She is simply a Godsend. I can’t say enough about her. She just touches the lives of so many people that it is hard to adequately put into words. She has a gift of making lives better and for making people happier. Everyone loves Karen.”
I asked for stories of Karen’s good will from her friends and co-workers and was immediately pulled into stories of an annual event created for the foster children of the Providence House for Children and the people who love and care for them.
Imagine you are a 10-year-old child who has been separated from family and home. Imagine your need to connect with friends and people who care about you, people who could give a sense of belonging while boosting your self esteem. Where would you find such a consortium?
In steps Karen Conrad, her business partner Leslie Minsterketter, and the staff of Reflections. Karen, described as having a heart bigger than Texas, was looking for an outlet, not for stress or anger, but an outlet for her compassionate spirit.
She begins a friendship with Sister Barbara Ann Zeller, director of Providence House for Children, and offers a special day of pampering and love for the foster children and their foster families.
Touched by the plight of these children, Karen decided Reflections could help the children increase their positive self esteem through a day of pampering, hugs and love. Karen and her staff arranged to come in on their day off and shower the children with Karen-style love which included free hair cuts, manicures, makeovers, temporary gel colors, paraffin hand soaks and more, while playing games and enjoying refreshments.
Reflecting on Karen’s kindness, Sister Barbara is reminded of these words, “If you want to know if you are good for others, ask yourself how much hope you have given them.” She adds, “Every fiber of Karen’s being is about hope and heart. When one is in her presence, you know that you are with someone who is good and in a very real sense, holy.”
Donna Wells has worked with Karen for several years and was eager to comment on our Extra Miler, “Karen simply gives, gives, and then gives more. She gives to friends, family, co-workers, and strangers and has the biggest heart of anyone I know. Everyone is important to her, she likes for people to be happy. I would not be at all surprised to find that Karen has wings tucked under her clothes.”
Among the many other community service activities in which Karen is involved, she also started an organization to give away custom wigs to cancer patients. She does this in memory of her long time friend, Dorothy Bickers, who passed away from cancer.
Karen’s business partner, Leslie described how Karen does so much, “It is difficult to put into words. Karen is always thinking of other people. It isn’t just for people she knows, it can be anyone who walks into her life and needs help. She just stops what she is doing and helps without a second thought. She puts everyone else’s needs above her own.”
When most of us become fatigued by deviations in our somewhat structured journey through life, Karen Conrad travels effortlessly through the challenge of taking the road less traveled to help people in need. For her continual acts of feeding Good within our community and for being such a wonderful role model, Karen Conrad is recognized as a Southern Indiana Extra Miler. Thank you, Karen, Leslie, and the staff of Reflections.
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As for the young Extra Miler from Spring Hill Elementary, Jasi Coureur, who was featured in The Evening News Feb. 2, keep lending your helping hand and bright spirit to those around you. You are also a Southern Indiana Extra Miler and a shining example of how all of our young people should behave. Keep on this positive path.
KINDNESS TIP OF THE MONTH: I’m going to reiterate this one for those of you who missed it in an earlier column — and because it is easy to do and such fun. When you go through a restaurant drive up window — ask how much the next order is. If you have the extra change and it is within your budget pay for their order. Tell the cashier this is a random act of kindness and ask him/her to tell the next driver to pass it on.
Then drive away with a big smile on your face knowing your act is certain to be a bright spot in that next customer’s day. The look on the cashier’s face is just a freebie.
Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and president of a national training and consulting company, EEO Guidance, Inc . If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an extra miler, let us know about it. To submit a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via email: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or send mail to: The Extra Milers, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.
