See Beautiful: A Matter of Focus (Yes, this means my TEDx Talk is Live)

The person who really made this TEDx Talk possible can't be seen in the video; he was sitting in the front row though. He's the strongest, most inspiring, loving and giving person I know and I get to share my life with him. He helped create the concept of "See Beautiful" by helping me do so when it felt impossible. If you don't know this about See Beautiful, you should know that my husband makes the work I do possible.

He has lived the hard and sad and tough that you'll hear me reflect upon in my talk. He's been a rock when I've been but a shadow of myself. He has been just as much a part of bringing greenhouses to Kenya and a children's library to a homeless shelter in Utah as I have. He may not sit on the front lines and tweet the celebratory milestones, but he's the lifeblood of beautiful we get to create.

I can't find any Ted(x) talks about infertility (and that's not specifically what this talk is about), but it was our hope that by sharing part of our story, it might find its way into the right people's hands and hearts. We decided, through being vulnerable, honest and ultimately hope-filled, this talk might help someone who was struggling to realize the incredible strength to be  found in seeing beautiful too. If you know someone who might benefit from listening to the talk, we would both be humbled and honored.

Obviously, it is impossible to share this talk without honoring the silent presenter who constantly fuels my fire to grow the work of See Beautiful. Thank you, Andrew. You make this amazing work feel like a dream.

Now, the talk: See Beautiful: A Matter of Focus:

They Do.

Something chill-giving, tear-causing, heart-warming, and love-growing happens at every wedding I've ever attended. The moment that two people decide to give their lives to another in such a special way is such a gift. It will come as no shocker that I believe weddings are chocked full of "see beautiful" moments.

When I learned about what two beautiful women (who I happen to get to call family) did at their wedding to grow more beautiful in the world the chill-giving, tear-causing, heart-warming, love-growing emotions were at full throttle.

The night before their wedding, Alicia and Morgan joined with family and close friends and asked them to complete a seemingly simply task. They handed out paper and pens and asked those closest to them to write down a positive message to share with the world (essentially, their "see beautifuls"). Without explaining how they were going to use these special comments, they collected the paper and went on with a celebratory evening.

Fast-forward to their wedding the next day. During the ceremony, Morgan and Alicia revealed a See Beautiful bottle to those on their "wedding vessel" (Yes, it was really a ship. Yes, they're that cool.). The See Beautiful bottle was full of these hopes for the world that family and friend's had written the evening prior. As the Captain explained to family and friends that these messages of hope would be released and shared in the world, Alicia and Morgan tossed the bottle into the water. There See Beautiful floats for just the right person to find the bottle and be filled with hopes for spreading more beautiful in the world.  Hope floats, right? In this case, it does. On the heels of a wedding, in the celebration of love, and within the world, hope really does float. It leaves you seeing, well, beautiful. Right?

The fact that See Beautiful was (literally) incorporated into their wedding was a gift. The way people have translated "see beautiful" over the past couple years is incredibly inspiring. It is beautiful to see how people live it and make it their own. It is my hope that every day be filled with much beautiful for this amazingly giving, loving, couple.

Ahoy, Matey!! You can even watch the See Beautiful bottle floating with hope and waiting to spread beautiful!

Will they see beautiful? They do.
Will they grow more beautiful in the world? They will.

Asbestos Awareness Week ~ A Celebration of Heather Von St. James' Strength

When Heather Von St. James reached out to us we learned about her story and mission and were left seeing so much beautiful. Eight years ago, Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma; a rare and deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She had just given birth to her daughter, Lily, and was given 15 short months to live. After a life saving surgery that included the removal of her left lung, she made it her life’s mission to educate people about this deadly disease and it’s cause.

Asbestos Awareness Week April 1-7th. Asbestos has been used for many applications in the past including building materials in homes, office buildings, and naval ships. It is STILL not banned in the United States today.

This year, she's asking bloggers to participate and spread the word about Asbestos Awareness Week by being a Voice for the Victims. Visit her awareness page here: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness/

Heather writes, "From awareness grows hope.. Each voice could save a life!" We completely agree and find so much beautiful in her bravery, fight, and work to save others!

Thank you so much, Heather, for sharing your story and working to improve the lives of others!

Be inspired by Heather's story here: 

Visit Heather on the web here: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/

Tweet with Heather here: https://twitter.com/HeatherVSJ 

Clap Along...If You Feel HAPPY!

Clap along. Just do it. Feel happy. See Beautiful.

Don't Bully - Spread Kindness Rap

We love learning about inspiring and aspiring future educators who are making a difference with children with whom they're already working! In this case, student teacher, Mr. Rezsaun Lewis, empowered a class of fifth graders at Chicora Elementary School to use their creative freedom to create an anit-bulling rap video!

The thinking about writing the script, using personal experiences, learning about music videos and imparting social change resulted in this inspiring rap that others can share with their students.

Featured in a news special in Charleston, South Carolina, we have no doubt Mr. Lewis' thinking and commitment to education is going to be felt throughout the country. Well done, Mr. Lewis. Thanks for helping us see beautiful!

Connect with Rezsaun Lewis on twitter and congratulate him HERE.

Seeing Beauty in This Moment: When Good Prevails

Most of us in the United States will remember where we were on December 14, 2012, when we heard about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when our hearts ached for the children, teachers, and families who's lives changed instantly. It wasn't beautiful - what happened.The loss was devastating. The sadness? Palpable, from hundreds of thousands of miles away and right around the corner in Newtown, Connecticut.

To see beauty in this moment was not easy - almost impossible at best. And then someone shared with us this video - from almost one year later. A glimpse into how to see beauty in devastation; a way to see beautiful so that evil does not win.

As we enter our final Seeing Beauty in this Moment blog hop for the year it only seems fitting that we do so with great intent to remind and invite us all to see beautiful in all situations - even if it's buried in sadness. We invite everyone to create beautiful with us, in each breath you take - for that breath breathes more beautiful into the world.

In this moment, we see beautiful in the family and friends of the Sandy Hook Elementary School community and their resiliency. We see beautiful in the family and friends of all who stand by each other's side in sad and difficult times to lift each other up with love, and kindness, and understanding. We see beautiful in strangers who come to the aid of other strangers because it's what is right and good and a reflection of love. We see beautiful in the people who we will never meet who stepped into this See Beautiful community and grow it with us every day. You change the world by being in it. You are beautiful. Thank you.

P.S., As a little token of our gratitude, if you're still shopping for items on wish lists, enter "I AM BEAUTIFUL" at check out from our store and what ever you buy you'll get a See Beautiful bracelet free.

Giving A Heart. Finding Thanks in a Heartbeat.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a day that many give thanks. The following is a special story that we saved for this day because it honors taking a moment to be thankful for life; thankful for your own heartbeat. It is not easy to watch, but it highlights the greatest give we can give: the gift of life to others.

We shared THIS POST about organ donation, and hope that you will visit and learn more about organ donation, or even become an organ donor.

We hope that you see beautiful today in the sound of your own heartbeat and in your ability to save another's life.

Calling for a Change

 What is the consequence to other girls and women when we belittle ourselves when talking about our body image? There is one. What is the consequence to your own peace of mind, happiness, and life when you belittle yourself - to yourself? There is one. What if we changed the shape of the fashion industry by redefining fashion? You can.

Let's break it down:

1) You already make the world more beautiful by being in it. You do. There is no one else like you in the world. You offer something not one other person in humanity can offer. Let that sink in for a moment.
2) You have the power to impart change - change in the fashion industry, change in pop culture, change in humanity. You have the power.
3) Your beliefs, your values, your words shape your happiness, but do the same for others as well.

A special thank you to Robyn and Ellen for this clip below that reminds us of the power of seeing beautiful. It really is all about perspective and celebrating the beauty you inherently possess. Through this, you begin to see, celebrate and create more of it in the world too.

 

Dominic Giamo

Check out the beautiful way Dominic Giamo sees and spreads beautiful. This is an incredible feature about how one person's kindness leads to a life full of giving, beauty, and love. Thanks you to all those mirroring the actions of Dominic Giamo's in the world!

Faith In Humanity

There are so many people doing such beautiful things in the world. If you need to renew your faith in humanity, take a look at this clip and remember, there are people all around you willing to drop anything to save another - even one who may appear weaker or less valuable. We all have this ability. It costs nothing to do the right thing and it can save a life. Part of seeing beautiful is seeing opportunities to help others. As you go into the weekend, we hope you see and celebrate beautiful in yourself and others. You never know whose life you might save. 

P.S. You might need a tissue. We did.

Happier Than a Camel on Hump Day

Today, we hope you're happier than a camel on hump day. We hope you see beautiful with every blink. We hope you feel love from all those around you. We hope you're able to give more than you realized, without ever knowing. We hope you do a happy dance (unprompted) because you can't hold in the jig. Happy, hump day!

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being donated to Girls With Sole). Learn more HERE. 

I'm Here

I'm Here is a short film created by Peter H. Reynolds, author/illustrator of the amazing children's books Ish and The Dot (to name a couple). The video, created for the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) is meant to highlight the loneliness that a child on the autism spectrum often experiences, and the life-changing impact each of us can make when we connect and embrace others. All it takes is a second of kindness to turn another's world around. Let them know you're here for them. It could be exactly what someone needs to see beautiful.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being donated to Girls With Sole). Learn more HERE. 

An Unlikely Assist to See Beautiful

What happens when competing teams erase lines of competition and unite on a front to support another? Everyone wins.

What if we applied the sportsmanship reflected in the video below to the way treat EVERYONE in the world? Everyone wins.

Celebrate the most memorable turnover in all time.

Playing life with this much sportsmanship creates a lot of opportunities for seeing beautiful!

"Oh Fitch, Please!"

"Beauty isn't between the number 0 or 8. Oh Fitch, Please!"...from Ellen Degeneres in her response to Abercrombie & Fitch's decision to stop creating clothes over a size 10.

Beauty isn't a number. Beauty can't be bottled. Beauty isn't bought. Beauty isn't a SIZE at ALL!

Thank you, Ellen for seeing and creating more beautiful in the world!

Gas Station Pranks can be Beautiful

It is clear from watching the following video that this couple has made a life out of seeing and creating more beautiful from others. When spoken to through a television screen above the pump, instead of jumping into the car and locking the doors (or bolting from the parking lot), this married couple/soon-to-be award winning duo, seize the moment offering us all an instant smile. Perhaps instead of shuddering at the price of gas the next time we pull in to fill up our tanks we can remember these two and belt a few (or take a little dance break). Why not?

Because let's face it, when we're "living on a prayer" by day, "sweet dreams" really are made of moments like these...

What if Money Did Not Matter?

This video asks important questions to help guide your life and inspire your day(s). Spend your time doing the things you love, and teach our younger children to do the same.

To explore:

1. What would you like to do if money were no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life? Do that. Forget the money.

2. What do you desire? Go do it. See, create, and embrace beautiful.

3. Watch. Reflect. See Beautiful.

Seal Cuddling can be Beautiful

Consider this our virtual hug to all of you who see and create  more beautiful with us every day. These seal pups sure do know how to bring a smile (and great laugh) to another. What if we were all like these seals, hugging and loving and giving with sheer trust and enthusiasm (and blubber). 

Oh, and please, get to the part where he starts to laugh. It's contagious.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being donated to BullsEye Rescue). Learn more HERE.

You are More Beautiful Than You Think

If there was ever a video to watch on our blog, this one might just take gold (our willingness to make it a repeat post should be a testament to its brilliance and power).

The following social experiment, hosted by Dove, asked women to do two things: 1) describe herself to a forensic artist; and 2) describe another person they'd just met to the artist. Watching the thinking, sharing, and emotion unfold moved us to tears. The following few minutes will leave you seeing beautiful in the reflection of two sketches: one that reflects self-doubt and criticism projected from pop culture and another reflecting beauty one possesses.

This video is an important, beautiful reminder that it's okay to see beautiful in the reflection staring back at you in the mirror because there is SO MUCH beauty there. Whether others know you intimately or not, they see beautiful. Passing strangers on the street see your softness, your kindness, your beauty. Those who love you see your softness, your kindness, your beauty. It's time for you to see it too.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being donated to BullsEye Rescue). Learn more HERE.

The Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra is Beautiful

Sixty minutes reporter Bob Simon starts this feature stating, "Beauty has a way of turning up in places that you least expect it." The Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra, nestled in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is stopping people around the world by offering sheer beauty for our ear drums and inspiration to guide humanity.

Their rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy reminds us that there most certainly is joy in the Congo, and it is changing the world.

everything makes music if you really want it to...

How beautiful that through the music created by these beautiful Congolese symphony orchestra members we were gifted with their sound. There are precious gifts in the DRC who have much to teach us. Let's start with one of the first lessons shared by the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra: PLAY WITH JOY.

Watch the 60 Minutes segment HERE.

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being donated to BullsEye Rescue). Learn more HERE.

To This Day Project

The following Spoken Word Performance by the talented Shane Koyczan serves as a reminder to us all that our choice words and actions have the ability to create beautiful or pain in another's life. It's a choice. What comes out of our mouth can transform someone else's thoughts. It is seminal to understand that power. And it is even more important to use that power to grow kindness in the world vs. hatred in humanity. Listening to his performance is way more powerful than reading our words, so without further ado:

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Are you looking for a for a tangible reminder to see beautiful, or know someone who needs one? Check out our See Beautiful™ products (and feel good knowing a all proceeds are being put toward donations to school teachers throughout the month). Learn more HERE.