Dr. Kate LaVigne DC shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kate, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is definitely the most important quality on that list. I believe if you act with integrity through your life you will attract good energy and create an environment where you can thrive. Honesty, consistency, and being guided by morals and values shows people who you truly are and set you up for success in all areas of life. It creates a trustworthiness so not only do I strive to demonstrate integrity but it is a quality I look for in others, too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the owner of Complete Chiropractic & Wellness, LLC in Shawnee Mission, KS. My practice has been open for 10 years now and continues to grow and develop to meet the needs of my patients. My focus is wellness so first we figure out how to get you out of pain and then we work on keeping you that way. Just recently, I added a new therapy called Shockwave which is great for treating tendonitis and other soft tissue conditions. I love to keep learning about chiropractic and new technology so that I can always provide the best information for my patients and keep them feeling their best through all phases of life. I have a particular fondness for working with athletes, as I am one myself. I’ve been a professional boxer for several years and like to incorporate what I’ve learned about health and wellness for myself into my practice. The awesome thing about chiropractic is that it supports the body in healing itself. We’re taking away pain by improving function and letting the body operate as it should, which is really powerful.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I went to a private grade school and since it was small, we had to ride a transfer bus from our school to the public middle school to get on the buses that would take us home every day. There was one day when I was 5 years old, a kindergartner, that I got to the public school and my bus wasn’t there. I walked up and down the row a few times but when I still didn’t see it I decided I was walking home. It was the winter in Buffalo, NY and I lived probably .5 mile from the school but I was not about to wait any longer and it never crossed my mind to find an adult for help. I wanted to go home! So I walked literally through the snow, made it home, and had a snack. I still think about that moment sometimes when I am determined to do something because nothing is getting in my way and hasn’t ever since I was a child.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Commonly in boxing people will say “no loses, just lessons.” It sounds kind of cheesy but I really think that’s true. When you are winning or successful, it is really easy to think things are perfect and you lose some motivation to keep improving or change. When you lose or are struggling, you have no choice but to learn and change if you want things to turn around. Any time I’ve lost a fight, I come back stronger because I am immediately working to improve what I did wrong. When business is slow or I am going through tough times personally, I really buckle down and make a plan, just like with boxing, and come back stronger than before. Hopefully, we’re doing the most self-reflection in our suffering and that’s what ultimately leads to success. If you’re able to learn and to grow from suffering, it gives it a purpose and somewhere down the road we can appreciate the suffering and the loses for the role they contributed to later success. Once you understand this, you can also make your wins more meaningful by knowing there is always work to be done.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is the real me. At this point in my life, the real me is the only person I know how to be. I think it takes a while to get there and, especially in a healthcare field, we feel like we have to be extremely proper and almost inaccessible. The more comfortable I became with being my true self at all times, the more successful I became. People are smart enough to see when you are putting on a show and really, they want to know the real you. When I’m being myself I attract the people who are supposed to be in my life and am able to build authentic relationships.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
There’s nothing I would stop doing. My mom died when she was 54 years old and ever since then, I’ve made sure that I don’t spend time doing things that don’t bring me joy. Don’t get me wrong, we all have to do something occasionally that we don’t want to but in terms of work, hobbies, relationships – I make sure they all have a purpose in my life so that I wouldn’t want to stop even if I was on limited time. Someone asked me one time, “If you didn’t have to work for money, what would you do for a living?” I said, “Exactly what I’m doing now.” I love my profession and my practice and my patients so even without money I would continue. I hope I continue to be able to be intentional with my choices so that one day, when I do only have 10 years left, I won’t regret a thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drkatelavigne.com
- Instagram: @katelavigne
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-lavigne-782732a6
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompleteChiroKC/
Image Credits
Jennifer Ward
