“Kim Townsend: January 10, 1950 – April 5, 2008”

Kim Townsend was a R.A.D.I.C.A.L. woman in every sense of the word. I first met Kim in 2007 when a mutual friend suggested we get together. Kim had been divorced a length of time and had left New Hampshire to come back to Kansas City where her family resided. She had been a Jazzercise franchise owner for years, and had developed a passion for showing women the importance of staying fit and taking care of their bodies. But she was now in career transition and looking for a new challenge to embark on.

From day one Kim was intrigued by Midlife Divorce Recovery. She decided that she had to be a part of the movement, and the best way she knew to contribute was to share her passion for taking care of ourselves. Just prior to our R.A.D.I.C.A.L. boot camp in 2008, she received her cancer diagnosis. Yet still determined to be a part of the program, she presented anyway, on “The connection of looking good and feeling good.”

Kim was a beautiful and confident woman, and she made everyone in the room at the Midlife Divorce Recovery Boot Camp feel more confident, too! “Never go out looking like you don’t care about yourself. Put on a little lipstick even if you’re just running to the grocery store,” she said. “You never know who you’ll run into!” If her encouraging presentation wasn’t enough, she also had convinced Macy’s to give her special gifts of perfume and make-up for each attendee. She went the extra mile to make each woman feel beautiful and valued.

Kim’s disease was quick, but she was upbeat and encouraging through it all. A friend brought Kim flowers one day, and she had commissioned the florist to put a different color of lipstick sticking out of the middle of every rose. “You never know who you’ll meet,” the card read. In unity with one amazing R.A.D.I.C.A.L. woman, let’s all make sure we put on some lipstick (or lipgloss or tinted lip moisturizer) today. Be proud of who you are and take care in how you look! That, will make Kim smile.

“You are altogether beautiful, my love.  There is no flaw in you.” ~ Song of Solomon 4:7 (ESV)