What Was Lost Has Now Been Found

It has been many months since I have posted on The Beautiful Women Project site. I would like to thank the many faithful followers that continue to be interested in the our work, despite not posting on the site in recent months. I have decided to pick up where I left off, sharing thoughts and insights, commenting on popular culture, and chiming in on what makes women beautiful.



The truth as to the reason why I stopped writing is quite simple, I lost track of myself in the whirlwind of that which we all call life: work, the responsibilities of being a wife and mother, making sure there was food in the refrigerator, clothes were cleaned, soccer games were watched, homework was done, telephone calls were returned, bills were paid, and the list went on and on and on. I kept up the pace until it all took its toll on me and I simply...broke.

I have taken the past months to practice what I have been preaching - reflecting on who I am as a person, discovering and rediscovering what I really like about myself, opening up the luggage that I have been carrying around and taking out what no longer works for me in order to move forward. In order to have the future that I want I needed to look at what was not working in my life...and let go. Letting go has been the hardest part of the process. Letting go of old thought patterns and relationships has been the most challenging, but necessary in order to embrace the future.

As this blog evolves, my hope is that there will be more sharing of life experiences. It is through sharing that we know that we are not alone in our life's journey. It is my hope that we will have more commenting, and guest bloggers. If you are interested in sharing and idea or writing a weekly pieces, please do not hesitate to contact me through the site.

We are Stronger Than We Give Ourselves Credit For

We all have things that keep us from moving forward with our lives, and it takes strength and courage to move through these experiences. The challenges come in different forms, and arrive in our lives at different stages of our personal development.

"How do I find my place?" "How do I develop a support system of friends that accept and support me for who I am today?" "How do I balance work and family?" "How do I find time for myself?" "Am I strong enough to run 2 miles?" "Am I strong enough to face what is ahead of me?"

Avoiding our challenges is easy, keeping our heads down and continuing on our current paths. Yet, when we do, we keep from moving forward with our lives. We miss out on all of the wonderful things that happen to us on our journey toward our goals. It is often the experiences along the way are often more valuable than our intended endpoint.

Springing Into Ourselves

After a few weeks of needed respite, The Beautiful Women Project is back on-line.

Spring has arrived and it is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Like the flowers and trees, many of us are finding our energy again, growing and changing after a long winter's rest. Once again, it is time to open up our personal "suitcases" and peer inside. Sorting through our "stuff" is a wonderful exercise in self reflection and growth. Ask yourself, what are the things in my life that I want to continue to carry? These are elements of your being that support you, feel good to you, allow you to continue to grow and change. Then look at the things in your suitcase that are holding you down, don't make you feel good about yourself and your life, keep you from growing into the person you want to be in your lifetime. These things include thought patterns, habits, friends, jobs, and sometimes it may mean family members. It is hard to "unplug" from the comfortable, but what is comfortable may not be what is best for you as you create your life's picture. And that picture is a BEAUTIFUL image of yourSELF.

Enjoy the spring, it is a time of life and reflection on the past moving toward renewal for the future.

Maya Angelou: The Sum of Her Life Experiences

The Beautiful Women Project received an email with excerpts of an interview of Maya Angelou on her 70th birthday. Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, the two spoke candidly about many topics including body image and what she has learned throughout her lifetime. This interview is an excellent example of our belief that it is the sum of a woman's life experiences that makes her beautiful.

Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older, her response was simple and direct, "Exciting."

Regarding body changes, she said that there were many occurring everyday...like her breasts, "They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist...first."

Ms. Angelou went on to say:

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that even when I have pains I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that everyday you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people never forget how you made them feel."

Honoring Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month, a time to recognize the achievements of the women that have walked before us, to remember the obstacles that women overcame in order to achieve their goals, and to reflect upon those who sacrificed everything so our collective lives are richer today.

The Beautiful Women Project's message is simple, yet powerful: It is the sum of a woman's life experiences that makes her beautiful. It is how a woman meets her challenges and carries her experiences. As individuals, we are defined and shaped by our unique experiences. It is this personal history that makes us the women we are in our present moment.

As we reflect upon our shared history as women, it is important to take a moment and honor our personal history. A person's legacy is measured not by the great things they do, but the little things they do in great ways.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Across the country this week women and men are taking time out of their schedules to learn more about eating disorders and healthy bodies. Women's Centers, health centers, women's studies department, mentoring groups, and even book groups are taking time to bring this very important issue to the public. Eating disorders are not an individual issue, it is a family and community issue. Eating disorders are not only a medical issues for the female community, in fact, eating disorders in men are increasing at an alarming rate.

The Beautiful Women Project has a simple, yet powerful message: it is the sum of a woman's life experiences that make her beautiful. The Beautiful Women Project cannot change the fact that some determine a woman's beauty solely on her physical body. Our goal is to shift the focus from the body being the only determining factor of an individual's beauty to just a small part of what makes a person beautiful. This shift can occur. This shift needs to occur.

If there is an event going on in your area or college campus this week, check it out. Support the men and women who are doing their part to raise awareness of eating disorders across the country.

The Spirit of Doing NOTHING

There is nothing that hits the nerves of women, especially those who feel as if she they have too much to do and not enough time in the day to do it all, more than seeing a man sitting on the couch watching television or (gasp!) napping as she is cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, or keeping the kids from tearing down the house one brick at a time. The punch line is that the reason she is so aggravated by his actions - or lack of action - is because she feels like she does not have the same PRIVILEGE TO DO NOTHING.

Well, it is time to stop denying ourselves the PRIVILEGE and DO NOTHING. A college psychology professor I recently met gave this assignment to his students years ago. The assignment would take one hour, and they had to make sure that nothing would interfere with this block of time. In this hour they were to do NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING. The purpose of the exercise was for them to experience what could happen if they disengaged from the whirlwind of life and re-engaged with themselves.

What an amazing idea. How often do women take an hour to do NOTHING? The answer is simple: never. There is a mind set that if we stop doing what we do, the house of cards will tumble down. Yet, there is nothing more important than taking time to do something, or in this case, nothing for ourselves. In an hour of contemplation so many amazing things can arise within; ideas can form, anxiety can ease, goals can come back into focus, or it can be time to just have peace of mind.

Find a time in your schedule and block out 1 hour of time. Make it a priority, a meeting, whatever you have to do to make it a full hour where nothing else will infringe upon this time. During the hour you may take a walk or journal, but refrain from speaking with anyone or any outside distractions. The most important element of the exercise is enjoy this one hour of doing NOTHING. Do not feel guilty for taking time out of your life to do rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Or, turn it around and make a weekly or monthly guilty pleasure, it costs you nothing but what a return on your investment!

Finding True Love Starts With Self Love

Valentine's Day is here and it is all about love. Finding A True Love. Being Loved By Another. Imagining What it Feels Like When You Finally Find THE ONE LOVE of your life.

The thing about Valentine's Day love is that all of the love comes from outside of ourselves. It comes from class mates, boyfriends, partners, spouses...even just a glance from a friendly stranger can be enough to throw us into a tizzy on Valentine's Day. There is validation when we are loved by others. Yet, the greatest, most important love any of us can experience is the love we have FOR ourselves. Self love is overlooked and undervalued. In order to accept love from outside of ourselves, from others, we must accept and love ourselves completely for who we are and where we have been in our lifetime.

There are three great truths when it comes to love:

(1) First true love is irreplaceable in one's heart.

(2) Great love is impossible to put into words, it can only be felt.

(3) Self love is the most difficult love to find, but the most important to have in your life.

Putting it into Visual Perspective

The Beautiful Women Project is committed to helping women find the very best of themselves throughout their life's journey. It is easy to get bogged down in the "little" things in life, the things that blur the BIG PICTURE - the things that REALLY MATTER.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 beers. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous and resounding "YES!" The professor then produced two beers from under the table and pured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed again.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions - and if everything else was lost, and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the "small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first, " he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend the time with your children. Spend time with your parents."

"Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical check ups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to cleaned the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad that you asked. The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend."

Take a moment to write down in your journal, sketch it out on paper, jot it on a crumpled piece of paper or napkin - whatever you have on hand. This exercise will provide you with visual perspective. Visual Perspective is like a second pair of eyes, it allows you a moment to step back and see what you have, or would like to have, in your life.

Remember you are the jar, these "objects" are what fill you up and make you whole.

1. The Golf Balls - Who or What are the important things that fill your life? If everything else fell away, and these are all that were left, you would still consider your life full
   
2. The Pebbles - Who or What are the other things in your life?
   
3. The Sand - The "small stuff" that tends to fill in the small empty spaces. These can sometimes bury the pebbles or blur how we see the golf balls.
   
4. The Drink - Who would you like to make time to sit with and just talk, share, laugh, let time pass?
   

The Image of the Inauguration

As everyone watched the United States of America swear in its 44th President, all eyes were on the Obama family. It was magical to see the country came together, it was a sea of hope.

Nonetheless, in the midst of it all, the media didn't miss a beat in commenting and critiqueing the First Lady and her daughters' appearance. Focusing attention to one's appearance has become an acceptable part of our society. Not one media outlet commented upon the grace and poise these women showed as they too were in the center of the frenzy. Michelle Obama stood proud that day, not only of her husband, but in the knowledge of all that she too had accomplished in the days, months, and years leading up to that historical day. And everyone knows the integral part she played, and will continue to play in the coming years. The young ladies began a new life, a life that will be unlike anything that they have ever experienced, but are embracing as a part of their lives' journey. Yet, the media couldn't resist commented on their dresses, their coats, the reason they chose the colors of their dresses and coats, or her choice of a shoulder gown versus a halter gown. No one commented on the President's suit, tie, over overcoat. No one mentioned the President's white bow tie was crooked at the Neighborhood Ball. Media outlets are still "breaking down" the outfits of the women two days after the event and will continue every time there is a public event.

We all heard many wonderful, inspiring words spoke by the President that day. The atmosphere was electric. Because of what The Beautiful Women Project stands for, recognized that a woman's beauty is the sum of her life experiences...words cannot express how amazing it was when the first words the President spoke to the nation at The Neighborhood Ball was, "Doesn't my wife look beautiful tonight?"

He saw before him so much more than a woman standing before him in a white ball gown.

Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Find Happiness

We can spend our lifetime chasing a concept of perfection, and never feel as if we have achieved our goal. Finding perfection is like running on a treadmill, unitl you shut off the machine it continues its unending cycle. Perfection is defined as, "...a person or thing that is the perfect embodiment of some quality." Instead of trying to become the perfect embodiment of something or someone else, why can't we accept ourselves as perfect the individuals we have already created with our life experiences?



Marcia, one of the women in The Beautiful Women Project, shared with me a wonderful piece of wisdom. She awoke one morning with a question in her head, "Do you want to be happy?" Her immediate response was, "Of course, who doesn't want to live their life being happy." She was immediately greeted with the thought, "Then stop trying to always be right and perfect." Marcia went on to teach me that trying to be right or perfect is the stuff that leads us down the road of low self esteem and self loathing instead of self love, sickness and disease instead of health and wellness.



Another Beautiful Women Project story brings home this point. Throughout her life, Suzi always had to be the best at everything: head cheerleader, valedictorian, college scholarship. She was well respected at the top of her profession, a super-mom at home and at her children's school, and kept an immaculate house. Everything was perfect accept the way she felt about herself. Exhausted from the chaos of it all, she realized that it was impossible to be everything to everyone, because there was nothing left for herself. She said good-bye to the notion of Perfect Suzi. Now the dinner dishes are delegated, morning meetings have to wait until the kids are off to school, and there are only a few things that take her away from her family nights and weekends. And in her newly imperfect lifestyle she has found a happiness she never had while trying to always be perfect.

Trying to be perfect is exhausting. Refocus your energy and give back to yourself. Recognize all of the things about yourself that are wonderful, that bring you joy, and that make you proud of the woman you are today.

A New Year, A Love Renewed

The New Year. A celebratory time when all that has passed has passed and there is so much hope and goodness on the horizon. A time for new beginnings, new ways of thinking about ourselves, and reconnecting with our inner selves. The Beautiful Women Project would like to share with all of you this poem by Derek Walcott entitled, "Love After Love".

The time will come
When, with elation,
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror,
And each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here, Eat,
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine, Give bread. Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you

All your life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Welcome to a New Year, A Love Renewed

The Greatest Gift

The greatest gift we can give and receive this holiday season is the gift of self love. When we love ourselves, everything else in our lives begins to fall into place.

Love yourself for who you are and recognize how your became the woman you are today. Love the shape of your body and recognize that this vessel gets your through every minute of everyday - thank it for its work. Love yourself for what you have been through in your lifetime and bless the life you live, even if it seems to be difficult today.

Loving ourselves for who we are, how we carry ourselves ... this is a gift that keeps giving for the rest of our lives.

Happy Holidays.

So Much to be Thankful For

Even in the most challenging times, we all have so much to be thankful for in our lives. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to take a moment and give thanks for all that we do have in our lives instead of focusing on those things that are currently missing or seem out of our reach. Thanksgiving is also a time to look at the opportunities that lie before us, and remember that opportunities come in some of the most surprising shapes and forms.

Here is one minute exercise to do on your own - or even try it with your friends and family over the holiday.

(1) In thirty seconds list the things that you are thankful for in this moment of your life.

(2) In thirty seconds list the things in your life that you would like to change or that are proving to be extremely challenging for you in this moment of your life.

Take some time to reflect on both of your lists and give thanks for everything on both lists.

It is easy to be thankful for all of the things we want and have in our life. It is difficult to give thanks for your challenges and unwelcome situations, but you have the power within yourself to turn things around. By giving thanks for the things that you don't necessarily like or want, you are immediately changing the power that it has over your life. Simply finding the positive in something that seems overwhelmingly negative changes your life's dynamic.

Most importantly, remember that it is all a part of your life's journey and that....

LIFE + EXPERIENCE = BEAUTY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN PROJECT

The Beauty of Being a Girl

There is something amazing about just being a girl. This past week the Beautiful Women Project has been at the Springside School for Girls in Philadelphia. It is an amazing place where the spirit of womanhood thrives. The girls come in all shapes and sizes, there are little girls moving upward and there are young women getting ready to move onward toward college. There is a sense of oneness, yet the knowledge that each and everyone of them is an individual. A wonderful example of this has been my favorite thing to observe: despite the requirement of wearing a uniform, each girl wears different socks and shoes that express their personalities, the way they feel that morning as they get dressed and how they want the world to see them throughout the day.

This wonderful school, and so many others like it across the country, is a living and breathing example of the beauty of being a woman. Woman are there for one another to support each other through good days and bad days. They are there to lift one another up toward their goals and catch them if they slip or fall on their way. They are there to help one another express their greatest delights or ther greatest fears. Yes, there is competition, but it is the kind of competition that builds one another up - not tear one another down. There is no greater bond that women share, regardless of all of the things that may seem to make us different, we all start out as little girls who grow into amazing women. There is just something so amazing about being a girl.

Finding Inspiration

The Beautiful Women Project believes that our greatest life challenges should also be viewed as our greatest opportunities. Challenging times are a wonderful opportunity to ask ourselves, "What inspires me?" "Who inspires me?" "How can I inspire others?"

It is through inspiration that our greatest acts of love and kindness emerge from us. Inspiration turns acts of hatred into acts of kindness and compassion. Inspiration transforms a doodle on a scrap piece of paper into an image that transcends form and figure. Inspiration provides a pathway away from self hatred to a life filled with self love.

Inspirations is a wonderful gift that you can give to yourself and share with others around you. Your inspiration may just be how you get through the challenging opportunities that lie before you today.

The Beautiful Women Project's Second Anniversary and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This weekend marks The Beautiful Women Project's Second Anniversary. The Beautiful Women Project was launched on October 11, 2006, in Saratoga Springs, NY. In the past two years we have raised awareness of women's health initiatives, visited numerous art in public space venues, helped raise funds for countless not-for-profits, and through our outreach work have touched the lives of thousands of individuals.

I purposefully chose the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to launch The Beautiful Women Project. As women, every October, we are reminded how important it is to take the time to conduct self-examinations of our breasts. This very simple preventative measure is one of the best ways that we have gained ground in the fight against breast cancer. Unfortunately, all too often, something that is healthy for us as women - self examination, becomes something that becomes unhealthy. It is easy to begin the searching to find all of the things we don't like about our bodies - the bit of flesh coming out of the bra, the breasts that don't stand up at attention as they did when we were teenagers, the skin under our arms that hangs from the bone, the sun spots that run across the upper chest, the hips that may have widened after childbirth...the list can go on and on and on.

Beginning this month - WHEN YOU CONDUCT YOUR SELF BREAST EXAMINATION, instead of making a list of all of the things you don't like about your body write down one thing you LIKE ABOUT YOUR BODY. Next month, look at your list of one and add a second. Each month add something new that you like about your body to your list and by the end of the year you should have at least twelve things you like about your body and healthy breasts.

If you are one of the thousands of women who do not conduct their monthly breast exams because you don't like looking at your body in the mirror, take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror - fully clothed, and see your own beauty. Please take the time to honor yourself and conduct your breast examination, even if you do it with a shirt on this first month. Before, or after, write down one thing that you do like about your body. Next month, conduct your self exam again and write two things you like about your body - by the end of the year you will have at least twelve things you like about your body, be comfortable with your body, and you will be healthy.

It is also fitting that October 15th has been designated Love Your Body Day by the National Organization for Women. On this, and everyday, take a moment to recognize that your physical body is a small part of your individual beauty - it is the sum of your life experiences that shine through your body that makes you beautiful.

Forget the Shoulds, Just Be.

In our minds we all have ideas about how we should look, how we should dress, how we should act, and even who we should strive to emulate. That is a whole lot of shoulds. What is wrong with just being who we are? The simple fact is, we are so focused on the shoulds, we have lost sight of the being we are all.

It is very important to reacquaint yourself with the person that you are today. What makes you feel beautiful? I have been asked, what do you mean? For me, I feel most beautiful when I am sitting alone in my bathroom waxing my legs. Yes, you really just read that sentence. It's quiet and intimate. I also feel amazing when I am behind the my camera...I am my true self. Some women feel beautiful when they are out in a restaurant having their hand held by the man they love, some feel beautiful reading under an elm tree in the summer, some feel beautiful singing along with their car radio. You may not be sure what that “thing” is off the top of your head, but through self-examination, you will find it.

Below you will find a series of random questions. Provide the answers that come immediately to your mind. I usually find your instinct serves you best. You are not being judged or graded, you don't even have to share your answers with your closest friend. Just enjoy the experience of your beauty. Enjoy being who you are in this moment of your life.

Favorite Soundtrack/Song:
Favorite Movie
Favorite Television Show
Favorite Time of Day
Favorite Season of the Year
Favorite Form of Exercise
Favorite Food
Favorite thing to Shop for
Childhood Ambition
First Job
Perfect Day
Indulgence

Biggest Challenge
Inspiration
Proudest Moment
Wildest Dream
Fondest Memory

Complete the following sentences:
I begin each day…
I end each day…
I am most comfortable…
I am most uncomfortable…

A person that sees me walking down the street would never believe/guess…
When I look in the mirror I see…

Living In & Loving the Body You Have Today

This past weekend was my dearest friends' twentieth high school reunion. She was petrified about returning to see her high school friends, many of which she has not seen in twenty years. What petrified her most was that the physical body she has today doesn't resemble the body she had on graduation day. It was difficult for her to admit her fears and body image issues, but she was willingness to speak openly and honestly about her body to move through this body image challenge.

The first question that came to me was to ask: At 38, can your body resemble that of an eighteen year old girl? At eighteen, some girls are still growing and developing, some are just finishing puberty. Their breasts are "new", their hips can be quite slender and there is a marked difference between the buttocks, legs, and stomach of an eighteen year old and a woman past her thirties. Let's face it, regardless of how well a woman takes care of herself our bodies continue to develop and change over time. Skin stretches, hips expand, and other metabolic changes can result in physical changes. There is no denying that physical changes continue throughout a woman's lifetime. It is better to embrace the bodies that we have throughout our lifetime and be thankful for all that our bodies do for us everyday.

My second question was more personal: Why does it bother you that you have changed? For my friend it bothered her because in high school she was an athlete, extremely physically fit, and today she doesn't feel that her body reflects that part of her life. Today, her lifestyle has taken her in a different direction, not that of an active individual. She was quick to admit that since she became a mom she has neglected to take time out of her week to exercise, and eating on the fly has become the norm instead of the exception. Throughout the course of our conversation, she came to an awareness that this aspect of how she views her body is something that she knows that she can change, but the fear of failure has held her back from beginning to do the work. She wasn't even afraid of failing herself, it was letting her family and friends down if she couldn't stick with her routine, or ended up losing the weight and then gaining it all back one day. I reminded her that she can't do this for others, it has to be about her and what she wants from her life and her body. Her family and friends love and support her because of who she is, not the number on her scale.

By Saturday evening, my friend was comfortable in the knowledge that it wasn't an eighteen year old girl who would be walking into the reunion, so there was no reason why her body would resemble that of such a young girl. That is who she was then, not who she is today. In this moment of her life, she chose to let the experiences of the past twenty years shine through her for her old friends to see how they have shaped the person she is today.

What We Have to Show for Our Lives

My cousin called me today in distress. Always a strong and independent woman, she is a mother of three young children, a successful business woman, and a wife of fourteen years. Her marriage is in dire straits, and it is her belief that she will soon be a forty five year old single mother. A child of divorce herself, this is not what she wanted for her life or the lives of her children. Quietly she asked, "For all that I have invested in my life and marriage, what do I have to show for my life ?" Knowing my cousin's nature, she wasn't looking for sympathy, but brutal honesty.

My cousin grew up in a tiny little town on top of a mountain. A tomboy, she found her life's passion in downhill skiing and was chosen to attend a private high school that would take her off her mountain and into a strange and exciting world. A college awarded her a full skiing scholarship and with further development she qualified as an alternate on the US Olympic Ski Team. At any point in her lifetime she could have returned home to work in her family's established business, a business that would have provided her with a very comfortable life. Instead, she chose to strike out on her own. With time, she established not one, not two, but three successful businesses. She always recognized the responsibility she had for the lives of her employees and their families, and when times were tough she would take on additional jobs as a waitress, ski instructor and coach, or respiratory therapist in a local hospital, in order to keep things afloat. Always a mother to her children and wife to her husband, it was her that made sure that they bills were paid, the laundry was completed and the groceries were in the refrigerator and cupboards. The importance of love, family, and friendship - lessons learned on top of her chilhood mountain home, are now passed onto her children. When her father was terminally ill, she was his primary care giver, with him until he took his final breath. Over the years she has created a network of friends that are there for her in times of celebration and support her in her darkest hours, often when family was too far away. There are children that she instructed on the ski slopes that are on race teams across the country or just enjoying the winters with their families year in and year out because of her instruction. There are little babies that have grown into thriving teenagers because she was there for them in the neo-natal unit helping them breath when their little lungs needed assistance. There are three amazing children thriving in the world because of their mother. I believe that she found it hard to believe that she thought for even a moment that she had nothing to show for her life.

Often when posed with the question, "What do I have to show for my life?" we are looking for material, tangible pieces of evidence. The truth be told, the measure of a life isn't how much money has accumulated in a bank account, the number or kind of cars in a garage, the waist or dress size you have hanging in the closet - or the size of your closet for that matter. The answers to the question are quiet similar to the definition of beauty: It is the sum of your life experiences. The answer lies in your life's journey.

We all have things in our lives demonstrate our life's value. Even during the most challenging times, there are amazing things. Find a moment in the next week to recognize all of the wonderful things that you have to show for your lifetime.