About Karen

The Puzzle of Life

When I was in third grade, I remember my teacher, Mrs. Johnson. Her perception of me made an inedible mark on my life. She often shared her impressions of me with my parents during parent teacher conferences. Mrs. Johnson would always say, “Karen is a good girl, however, she needs to focus her energy more on her studies than on others. She has an insatiable need to make people happy and it causes distractions to the entire classroom. If she would just stop talking and focus on herself, she might even make something of herself someday.” Mrs. Johnson was one of those people who tried to blocked my path early on and didn’t even know it, it was just my first recollection of not making the grade, according to a teacher that only had me in her presence for less than a year.

Growing up a plump tomboy on a rural farm in Minnesota, all I ever knew was hard work. With a critical, demeaning and very demanding father, there was no room for anything else but work.

My teenage years were anything but normal. When I finally reached the age of independence, I was stricken with a rare disease that left me paralyzed and confined in a wheelchair. That challenge forced me to find the courage to reinvent myself and move forward, embracing life to the fullest, regardless of the outcome. I decided that my life mantra would be, “Life is a canvas, throw all the paint you possibly can on it, even though some will get splattered beyond the canvas.”

Sitting here today, I am able to celebrate the courage that I was able to find, even through the darkest of times. By embracing my spirit and allowing my soul to forgive, I have been given the opportunity to lead a very colorful and diverse life.

Our life’s journey is full of obstacles, triumphs, hardships, successes and failures.  Instead of accepting the hardships of life as a negative, I have worked very hard to view these experiences as a way that enables me to empower myself and to believe in my passion and purpose. Having the courage to know that I can get to that place, allows me the opportunity to share these gifts and become an example to others just by overcoming them.

Wishing you heaven in your heart, strength in your soul and miracles in your life.

Karen