Soothing the Soul
When we were little, it was a bowl of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup that was opened to bring some warmth and comfort to a stuffy nose or a yucky day. It might have even been the solution to a broken heart at the tender age of six, or a hug when something was lost. Today, many years later, we might even reach for that bowl of steaming comfort, of course it might be a different brand, homemade, or gourmet soup that brings a little healing or fills the gap and heals the wounds.
As portable as things have become in our lives, we'd look a little silly pulling a bowl of soup out of our bag on a train ride or as we sit and wait for a meeting. Enter, Chicken Soup for the Soul in 1993; publisher of the well-known book series, and creator of a number of products to help warm the soul just like that bowl of comfort once did; and a little less conspicuous than a bowl of soup when you reach for it in your bag.
Chicken Soup for the Soul started with stories of the heart, stories of struggle and triumph, loss and healing, and other emotions and life stops along the way that pull at the heart string or inspire the soul. Just like the shelves at the grocery store stock all variations of chicken soup; their popularity, the desire to share one's story, no matter how difficult it might be, grew that series to fill book shelves with a variety of titles. With over 250 titles, translated into more than 40 languages, and over 500 million copies sold; Chicken Soup has offered comfort and inspired many souls.
Today isn't about celebrating the book series, it is celebrating a movement that spawned from the books. It's a day to celebrate who you are, where you have been, where you are going, and who you will be thankful for when you get there. Words, and stories that radiate within us, that awaken something in our soul, that inspire us to action, to help us get back on track when we've drifted; stories, and words to mend, heal, reunite, or propel us forward towards something new. Words that evoke many emotions and feelings of belonging, triumph, gratitude, and many others. We all read the same words on the page, but what we hear, what they say to us, is what belongs only to us.
"If today was your last, who would you call, what would you say and what are you waiting for?"
"I am deeply grateful for my soul sister; the one who walked beside me in the darkest winter of my life...you kept me warm and lit the way home."
"In life we do things. Some we wish we had never done. Some we wish we could replay a million times in our heads. But they all make us who we are, and in the end they shape every detail about us. If we were to reverse any of them, we wouldn't be the person we are. So just live. Make mistakes; have wonderful memories. But never ever second guess who you are, where you have been, and most importantly where it is you are going."
"She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines." She was beautiful for the way she thought. She was beautiful for that sparkle in her eye when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile even when she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful deep down to her soul."
"The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog."
"Being deeply loved by someone gives us strength. While loving someone deeply gives us courage."
Chicken Soup for the Soul addresses all our relationships from friendships to families to community to our pets; the audience has
expanded from adult readers to books targeted for middle schoolers, teenagers, to even the youngest reader. Titles and topics about fitting in, standing out, making a difference, nurturing relationships, finding our way, and keeping our chin up. Finding the beauty and humor in our everyday lives, reminding us to take that exhale from time to time, to look for the positive in the negative and chart our course from there.
As you stroll down the aisle at the grocery store scanning all the different offerings of soup, is today the day you're pulled toward good ol' chicken noodle? Do you need to be that little child sitting, chin resting on the edge of the table needing that pick me up? Looking at all the different covers of the many Chicken Soup books, there are many I'd like to fill my Amazon cart with; as life is busy, chaotic, messy, trying, and beautiful all in one. Today while many covers caught my eye; I've chosen one, and in part two of this blog, I'll share my story with you.
Today is The National Observance of Chicken Soup for the Soul Day. So today consider treating yourself to a bowl of steaming comfort, along with a book of warm tight hugs and stories to feed your heart and stir your soul. It might even be a great day to write your own story about one of your journeys and who you took along and are thankful is still at your side now that you have arrived. Whatever your soul is calling for, I hope it is filled and inspired to do something that makes you warm inside.