Last year, I met a woman on a plane.
This year, that woman has a book, The Beauty of Different, that has been published.
I’m not known for being without words — I was once, as a child, told that we were given only so many words in a lifetime and I was quickly running out of them — (I think my parents were tired of my incessant ceaseless chatter) That might be the first and one of a handful of times that I’ve been speechless.
I am compelled to tell y’all; Karen’s book, left me speechless.
Karen’s book is powerful, beautiful, moving, breathtaking — so many things.
Here’s what y’all need to know, Karen’s book, is Karen.
When you meet Karen, she grasps your hand in both of hers and looks at you, not only does she look at you, she sees you, if you’ve ever met her — you know exactly how powerful and special her greeting is. You know without a doubt that she is seeing you and that she is taking note of you and she will remember you.
To be around Karen is a gift. Her laughter is contagious, she lives life, she gets that it is a gift, every feeling, she cherishes it, she exudes energy and when she feels something, you see it.
This is Karen learning about a strange Gelatin Dish at last year’s Mom 2 summit.
Her face brings me joy.
Karen loves. Karen feels. Karen lives.
To be around Karen while she’s photographing others is a blessing and a gift.
Karen’s gift is showing others how they are beautiful.
When Karen spends time looking at you, focusing on you, when she takes your photograph — it does something to you. It moves you.
I have been photographed by her, so I say this with first hand knowledge.
I have also been witness to her photographing others and there’s a magic that happens when she focuses her camera on you.
In her book
Karen share stories and pictures of people who’ve impacted her personally.
Her book is a statement.
It’s a challenge.
It’s a gift.
When Karen’s book showed up at my doorstep, it took me 3 days to open it. I wanted the right time, the right place, the right moment.
I’ve met her. I’ve seen her in action. I’ve followed her work.
I wanted to give this work of art, it’s due.
I am so happy that I did this.
This book deserves attention, YOU deserve to give this book the full attention that it deserves.
This book will impact you. You cannot see, touch, feel, read, experience this book without wanting to change the way that you view yourself and the world around you.
I found myself stroking the pages, the pictures are so full of life and texture and depth
I want to carry this book with me and share it with everyone I come across.
I want to give it to every woman that I’ve ever known, we should all be so blessed as to be seen through Karen’s eyes. We should all strive to see ourselves and our world, through Karen’s eyes.
Karen’s book is available for order now
If you live in Houston, her book signing is tomorrow, Dec 2nd
If you’re near San Antonio, she’s going to be at:
- What makes you beautiful? (this is your entry)
Tell me and on Friday, December 3rd at 10:00 PM CST I’ll use Comment Contest to choose the winner of this priceless gift.
This giveaway is over. Congratulations to our winner, Paula
I am a fan of my dimples and freckles. i think they make me beautiful
Kat´s most recent brilliance ..Comment on it’s been long enough by 30 days of honesty- day eight — Sassy Irish Lassie
My husband would say to tell you my eyes make me beautiful. I think it’s my big mouth. I have a big mouth. Lol! I laugh loud. I think that’s what makes me beautiful – my big laugh?
Angela England (@AngEngland)´s most recent brilliance ..Full Circle Home’s Clean House Green House & Other Products
Sounds like an amazing book. I would say my thoughtfulness towards others & the asymmetry of my smile.
Steph´s most recent brilliance ..Lazy “Cooking”
OH YAY!! The book signing tomorrow is like one mile from my house!
*thanks for the heads-up, mama*
You totally captivated me with your description of Karen. Can’t wait to read her book. I believe that everyone is beautiful …. all individual with different attributes. I think that what makes me beautiful is not a physical trait, but the way that I am able to accept everyone I meet no matter what their background, culture or views ; )
Thank you for introducing me to this book and to it’s author Karen. I shall have to watch out for it in our local bookstores.
Paula´s most recent brilliance ..Christmas Sleighs- Winter Mitts and More
You sold me on this book, I want to meet Karen. I’d say my imperfect smile makes me beautiful!
Jenna @ Newlyweds´s most recent brilliance ..No Shame
Wow, you sold me on this book. It is on my list of books I want to read! What makes me beautiful? I believe it is my smile. Everyone always says that I’m always smiling, even when things are not going great. I guess I just have a way of letting things “roll off my shoulders” and it shines through in a smile.
I think my devotion to my family makes me beautiful:)
Melanie´s most recent brilliance ..Eating breakfast and a giveaway
My nose makes me beautiful. It’s large, dominates my face, and I have learned to love it. I think it makes me striking.
My kindness and generosity makes me beautiful
If I don’t win this book I am soooo buying it!!!
What I love about me is my ability to try to find the good in people even at the cost of hurting others by pushing them to see it too..
Kim´s most recent brilliance ..Thankful
Perhaps my baby blues that sparkle when I’m in love.
QuatroMama´s most recent brilliance ..Get Your Soup On! Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe
My smile makes me beautiful. I have perfect lips and white, white teeth. Wow! I’ve never told anyone that before. Thanks for the chance. It feels kind of great.
Relyn´s most recent brilliance ..places to go- sights to see
Hmmmm. If you would have asked me ten, even five, years ago…I could have answered fairly easily. But after some serious weight gain after being on a medication…I can’t seem to look in the mirror and even see myself there anymore, at least not an attractive self. So I guess if you mean physically, I’d have to go with my eyes…they are very blue, and have managed to escape getting bigger.
Speaking of my eyes…your description of this book, and this amazing woman, brought tears to them.
My kids make me feel beautiful!
My freckles, the ones on my lips.
tara´s most recent brilliance ..Lesser known uses for a pregnant belly
What makes me beautiful is that 75% of the time I love myself. I love my legs, and I love my bottom and I’m ok with the jiggly middle because I’m never gonna be stick thin, because I love food too much to starve myself, because I’m a mommy to two beautiful children and because my husband has always found me sexy!
It looks like an amazing book! I’d love to win.
I think what makes me beautiful is my yellowish-green eyes.
amanda @ fake ginger´s most recent brilliance ..Favorite Holiday Treats
Don’t we all, as women especially, struggle with this idea? For me I would have to say that it’s not any one of my features (green green eyes, flawless complexion) but the way I look when I’m smiling or laughing. I forgot how to do that for a while but I’m finding my way back to what makes me beautiful and it truly manifests from inside to out.
Amy´s most recent brilliance ..Day 1 reverb10 – One word
My eyes when I am looking at my family.
It is my smile that makes me beautiful, it connects me to people in ways that words don’t always do.
I love to keep in touch with my friends and family. I try to be as encouraging as I can. This is what makes me beautiful.
Very hard question to answer. I’ll go with the physical aspect and say my smile. My real light up the eyes smile
Francine´s most recent brilliance ..Comfort Food
This book looks great. My freckles make me beautiful, I have them everywhere.
Shannon´s most recent brilliance ..My Five Most Helpful Tips For Holiday Tech Shopping
I adore photographers who can tease out the beauty in all kinds of faces. Karen does that, so does Casey (Mooshinindy). The book looks amazing. I think my smile makes me beautiful, especially when it’s brought on by something silly my kids did or by the kindness of a friend.
Angie @ Just Like The Number´s most recent brilliance ..Fighting Over the Drumstick Of the Non-Turkey Variety
That’s a hard question, but I know I look much more beautiful when I smile.
Laughter makes me beautiful. I love to tell stories, to make others laugh because of them, in spite of them. And, I love to laugh along with them.
My laugh, your laugh…it’s what makes me beautiful.
Such a hard question. I think that what makes me beautiful is my nurturing spirit. Holding my kids close and making sure they know how beautiful, perfect, smart and wonderful they are…in hopes that they never doubt it like I do.
Sarah´s most recent brilliance ..IEP done – but still nothing is settled
I am beautiful because I care for people!
Jen T´s most recent brilliance ..Last week
Wow Rachel, make us dig deep. I believe Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, therefore, what I think makes me beautiful is the ability to be me, most of the time I am really comfortable in my skin and who I am and where I am going – to me that is beauty.
I sure love your writings and the thoughtfulness you put into your messages. Loves you much!
Happy Holidays Rachel and sweet family.
This book truly looks wonderful.
My heart. That was my knee-jerk response. I love whole heartedly, I am loyal, I give my emotions easily. Sometimes it makes things hard, but mostly it fills my life with beauty.
Rachael´s most recent brilliance ..Rachael vs NaBloPoMo
i think my beauty comes from something deeper. i hope others see it in my words and actions–my intention everyday to be kind and true. i hope to have this book in my hands soon.
My inner strength is probably what makes me beautiful.
Danyelle´s most recent brilliance ..weekend awakenings
My pale skin makes me beautiful. I hated it growing up and wanted so badly to be tan, but it’s just not in my English genes! It took my husband absolutely loving my pale skin to make me love it, too.
Jenn McG´s most recent brilliance ..Project 365
My smile. It’s big, it’s genuine and I use it all the time.
Sherry Carr-Smith´s most recent brilliance ..A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thanksgiving
the way I wear my heart on my sleeve…
I am beautiful because I have two very prominent scars on my face. One on my chin and one that splits my right eyebrow. Each has a very important story behind them and those stories have shaped who I am. They remind me every day that I feel and live a certain way because of the experiences that led me to have these scars. I am stronger for them.
I am beautiful because of my scars, not despite them.
Nikki´s most recent brilliance ..Really- I’m not back I’m just visiting
God loving me unconditionally and filling all those holes in my heart that no one else knows is there: that makes me beautiful; the love my children have for me and the way they make me laugh with joy, that makes me beautiful; the look in my husband’s eyes when he looks way deep in my soul and says he won’t ever leave me…that makes me beautiful
My determination makes me beautiful.
Rachel Boldman´s most recent brilliance ..This little boy
I think my quirkiness makes me beautiful.
Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
Christy´s most recent brilliance ..Thanksgiving- Quirky Style
My humility makes me beautiful.
Jenni Chiu´s most recent brilliance ..Celebrities have ended their digital lives Okay