I am glad to be a beautiful woman.

I may not have said that yesterday, but I am saying it today.

I may not feel it everyday, but I am feeling it today.

And when I don't feel it, I know that there are two other women in the world that know I am beautiful.

Kim MacGregor and Arline Malakian know it and through their beautiful book Be...a Woman, they are helping others to realize their own beauty.

This book has one ribbon bookmark. It needs more. As I looked through its beautiful photography and read the enlightening words on its pages, I realized I needed some of those little sticky post-it notes. Seven to be exact.

The words and images made me think about my own ideas of beauty and how traditional they were. Attributes that one would not relate to "beauty" were realized as a strong characteristic of it. Words like reflective, courageous, exuberant, vibrant and gentle.

I wanted to go look at myself in the mirror and see if I could find these qualities in my stare, my stance and my smile. I wanted to find something beautiful, ignoring the traditional definition of beauty.

And I did.

I found courage. "Life acknowledges courage to be its strongest ally."

I found exhuberance. "...with spirit, heart, and a wicked sense of humor, I can laugh in the face of adversity, knowing I can summon the power from 'with-in,' so I will never be left 'with-out.' "

I found forgiveness. "Neither perfection nor imperfection alone bring me joy; it is acceptance of both that make me whole."

I found beauty in three things today: this book, myself and my life.

You can purchase a copy of Be...a Woman here:
http://www.be-awoman.com/buyBook.html