“Please Be Kind”: Life After 19 Days – Everyday Philanthropy, Second Chances, and Showing Up – Paul Meese 2 | Conversations with a Chiropractor
What does life look like after the hospital, after the funeral, after the book?
In this follow-up episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier reconnects with Paul Meese, author of 19 Days: One Man’s Journey Through Grief, to talk about the next chapter: leaving his HR career, taking his Family to Hawaii for Christmas, navigating the isolation of COVID, finding Love again, and building a life that quietly runs on generosity.
Paul shares how Retirement wasn’t an escape so much as a reckoning, why he chose a Christmas trip over trying to recreate old traditions, and how donating, decluttering, and “just helping where I can” turned into a pattern of everyday philanthropy. From supporting women’s Education and animal rescue, to stocking community resources and donating airline miles so families can say goodbye in person, he shows how small choices can carry big weight.
If the first conversation was about surviving 19 days of crisis, this one is about what you build in the years that follow—and how “Please be kind” becomes a daily practice, not just a nice phrase.
🎧 In This Episode, Discover:
How Paul’s grief journey continued into retirement—and why he knew he couldn’t stay in his old role forever
What a healing Christmas in Hawaii looked like for his family, and why changing tradition mattered
How the COVID years pushed him toward decluttering, donating, and living with a lighter grip on “stuff”
The story of finding love again, and what it means to build a second chapter without erasing the first
Practical acts of kindness: scholarships, food support, community resources, senior dog rescue, and more
Why Paul believes time, skills, and attention can be just as valuable as Money
How to show up for grieving people in real life—what to say, what not to force, and why simple presence matters
The ongoing heartbeat of his life after loss: “Please be kind. It’s really not that hard.”
🔗 Stay Connected & Explore:
Learn More About Paul & 19 Days:
Paul’s Website – 19 Days: One Man’s Journey Through Grief: https://20daysandbeyond.com
Support Ruth’s Legacy:
Ruth M. Meese Memorial Scholarship – Front Range Community College (info via Paul’s site): https://20daysandbeyond.com/scholarship/
Paul M. Meese ’82 Music Endowed Scholarship – Lakeland University (gifts via Lakeland’s giving page): https://lakeland.edu/give
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO GIVE DIRECTLY TO PAUL’S SCHOLARSHIP: On the Lakeland giving page above, click the GIVE NOW button and fill out your information. For the “Please direct my gift to:” section, select “Endowed/Specific Scholarship (Specify in Comments)”. Continue filling out the form, and at the bottom in the COMMENTS box, specify: “Paul M. Meese ’82 Music Endowed Scholarship” as your chosen endowment/scholarship.
Organizations Paul Cares About:
Give A Mile – Donate miles to help families see loved ones in critical or palliative care: https://giveamile.org
Albert’s Dog Lounge – Senior & special-needs dog rescue: https://www.albertsdoglounge.org
Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor:
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Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness
Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: [email protected]
Credits: Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing [email protected].
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 00:41 Meet Paul Meese: Author and Philanthropist 01:26 Paul’s Journey Through Grief and Retirement 04:25 A Healing Trip to Hawaii 07:23 Navigating Life During COVID-19 12:40 Finding Love Again 16:34 Acts of Kindness and Philanthropy 25:52 Discovering Community Resources 26:45 Supporting Animal Welfare 27:14 Give a Mile: Reuniting Families 29:05 Volunteering Time and Skills 32:33 Coaching and Community Involvement 45:47 Spreading Kindness and Final Thoughts
