Photographer: Simon Howden
After attending a friend’s funeral, I was reminded of Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the habits emphasizes the importance of “beginning with the end in mind.” For me, the most memorable application of this principle was contemplating four people speaking at my funeral: a family member, a close friend, a coworker and a spiritual leader. The goal is to make what you hope they would say about you part of your mission statement. What do you think this collection of people would say about you now? Does this help you to focus on what is truly important? It does for me, but external situations frequently test my ability to keep the end in mind…The only sure thing is change, so we all need to find a way to separate ourselves from circumstances by keeping our core values firmly in mind.
So, I’m announcing how I hope to be remembered, because I know declaring it will keep me on track:
When I die, I want to be remembered like my friend Libby. As I witnessed each family member paying tribute to such an extraordinary woman, I realized I wanted to be remembered like her. While each person has their own individual legacy, much of Libby’s life honored essential universal principles, such as selfless service of others and love above all else. She led with her heart, but never neglected the importance of being a “spiritual warrior.” According to Elizabeth Lesser, “instead of trying to feel safe, a spiritual warrior approaches life as an adventure. And a strange thing happens when we can let go of the compulsion to control: our minds clear up, our hearts accept life on its own terms, and we find ways of working intelligently, hopefully, and swiftly with little and big problems.”
I drove home from the funeral below a surreal sky filled with beautiful pink and red clouds. As day became night, my eyes saw darkness, but my heart could only see the light of her boundless unconditional love. I had a vision of her running and laughing as she was warmly greeted by those who welcomed her in her next life. Suddenly, I knew she was smiling as all of her friends and family here spoke about her exactly as she hoped.
You can call me Tranquil Beauty. After spending a good portion of my life being disillusioned by my mind, I’m finally on a path led by my true self. I'm here because I've been blessed by the wisdom of so many others who powerfully emulate what it means to live guided by their own purpose. I'm profoundly grateful to share the knowledge I’ve gained after being enlightened by Neale Donald Walsch, Rick Warren, Eckhart Tolle, and Shakti Gawain (to name only a few). I feel this wisdom has permeated my being and shifted my focus from the past and the limitations of my mind to a state of pure consciousness that seeks to honor my true self. I've been a personal development fanatic since 1999. Some books that have influenced the website include Friendship with God, The Purpose Driven Life, The Power of Now, A New Earth, and Creative Visualization.
My passion for beauty started at a very young age. Though primarily driven by personal struggles with fine curly hair and combination skin, my beauty expertise grew over the years from devouring numerous beauty publications and trying mounds of products. After wasting piles of money testing top of the line products, I've learned that expensive beauty products aren’t necessarily better products.
Making a commitment to realize your beauty inside and out is a choice each and every moment. I believe strongly that we all have an innate power to create fulfilling lives. I vow to accept nothing less for those who wish to join me on that journey!
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