I did some free associations and some goggling. Then I applied the relationships of Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasidm to the concept of Kedusah.
The first association that came to mind was "keeping the Sabbath holy". I looked at the verse in Hebrew and the root was QDS.
Exodus 20:8
בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת—וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
G*d set the Sabbath apart from the other days and commands us to keep it holy (To also set it apart.) This root is also attributed to kiddush, kaddish, kiddushin (betrothal), and aron kodesh. What do these words mean to me?
Kiddush - Invokes the setting apart of the Shabbat and the blessing is said that thanks G*d for our sustenance. Therefore we 'act' to recognize that all which is and all we need to live, comes from G*d.
Vay'varekh Elohim et yom hash'vi'i vay'kadeish oto
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it
Kaddish - The lives which have 'passed' still serve to sanctify the world and the Name. This gives enduring meaning to life itself and a connection to the past. It also makes family central. All our prayers ‘set apart’ the faithful and yet unites them around the world.
Betrothal (Kiddushin) reflects the ideal of two people’s commitment to something greater than themselves. They set each other apart from all other people in their marriage.
That commitment can lead to procreation. In procreation G*d creates through us and G*d created us through other people. The idea of betrothal is also attributed to Shabbat (idea of the bride), which reminds us of the creation. G*d could be said to have 'set apart' all things in creation. The light from dark, the day from night, the water from the land, woman from man.... If we 'betroth' ourselves to the Shabbat we are an instrument by which the day is made holy. (Same formula applies with the land of Israel.)
The Aron Kodesh (QDS again) The cabinet in which the Torah is kept, which is like unto the Ark of the covenant, or the hearts in our chests. Reminds us of the blessing given at Sinai when the Israelites (after other nations were offered the covenant) accepted the Torah. This sets them apart (Makes them holy) This requires them to fulfill the law and be a holy people for the world.
These principles I first admired, then was given the opportunity to embrace. I embrace them through the kindness and faith of the people at the synagogue. Their friendships, the many levels of study, and the beauty of the liturgy fill my life with meaning. G*d's sanctity being the 'root' of all being. My individual being like these words based on the root. Through my faith I can act. Through our Torah I can find strength, consolation, and purpose.
How Kedusha operates in my life, using the terms you taught me from Pirkei Avot (1:2)
The Kadusah operates in my life through Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasdim.
One of the Torah’s meanings is instruction. The Torah commandments are what 'sets apart' the Israelites. Yet, Kadusha manifests only through Avodah or 'action.'; especially both ritual and literal observance. This is the actual separation; the verbs of ‘living’ and ‘studying’ the commandments.
This is very Kabalist notion. The specific instances/occurrences of being are manifested from the unlimited ever 'becoming' of the supernal. Kadusha being where one emanates the other.
Then Gemilut Chasdim ensures this giving is unselfish and reciprocal; as in real love. The law must not be accepted or practiced as shallow, orthodox, or without justice. It requires emotional commitment; as in marriage, ritual, or prayer.
In my experience, the unintelligible (transcendent) nature of holiness makes it emotional. Holiness is greater than all thoughts about it.
I believe faith to be an emotion. Faith is how we value ideas. The values we give to our ideas are our beliefs.
Yet our beliefs don't make things real or holy! Only when we act on our beliefs are we fully identifying (emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually) with our ideals. The highest ideals are those we act on. We can through the commandments in ‘some-wise’ manifest a degree of one-ness with the Holy One, blessed be he.
Yet this is not all, look at how these concepts depend on each other: Emotional commitment without action is mere fantasy or delusion. Observance without loving kindness makes little sense. Loving-kindness brings us closer to each other, (the meaning of Hebrew for sacrifice).
The Torah was given to the world by G*d. We should give Gemilut Chasidm to each other. Our actions should sanctify G*d.
[I realized upon re-reading this that the constant idea of 'setting apart' is also the constant realization that before setting them apart they are unities.]
[I offer a citation I found on http://www.aish.com/sp/pg/48885202.html]
In Leviticus 20:26, God proposes, "Be My kedoshim, -- My holy ones." Rashi explains: "If you separate yourselves from the other peoples, then you will be Mine."
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