What Is Your Intention For 2022?

What Is Your Intention For 2022?

“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, and your intentions create your reality.”

~Wayne W. Dyer
Intention in Yoga: Group of young diverse sporty people doing yoga Vasisthasana exercise, side plank pose.

Those who participate in yoga know that it is more than stretching and relaxation. Most yoga instructors start their classes with a question, “what is your intention for your yoga practice today?” According to my Alexa device, intention is an act of determining mentally upon some action or result, or a purpose or attitude. I really like the yoga practice of setting an intention, as it helps not only focus my attention during the yoga session, but often carries over into the rest of my day. It helps relax my brain and heart in many ways, as it helps me focus on something positive and purposeful.

My intentions are often around being more peaceful, calm, giving, strong, courageous, and even quiet. I find that just deciding to focus my attention on an attitude, a frame of mind, a word, an action, a quote, a Bible verse, etc. can really steady me and keep me in a positive and productive place. 

Starting a new year often leads to discussions of resolutions and goals…most of which we drop fairly quickly. So, here is a new idea. Let’s set an intention.

In a recent yoga class, I began reflecting on what my intention for 2022 would be. I specifically want to consider my purpose or attitude. A quote from the newest Amor Towles book, “The Lincoln Highway” really struck me and has stuck with me, and represents what I want my intention to be for this new year. 

Girl giving a gift to a homeless man in the street.

“For what is kindness but the performance of an act that is both beneficial to another and unrequired? … For kindness begins where necessity ends.”

~Amor Towles

I especially love the part that says, “kindness begins where necessity ends.” We are expected to be kind, considerate, and thoughtful, but when we are able to take that past the expected level of kindness that is when it is life-changing to both the person we show that kindness to and to ourselves.

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

~Lao Tzu
Volunteers serving hot meal to people at community soup kitchen.

Therefore, I set my intention for this year to find ways to express more kindness. What does this mean. 

My intention is to daily look diligently for moments when I can be kind… and reflect each night on whether I have done this. For many years I had the wonderful honor and pleasure to work directly with people who were going throughvery challenging life situations.

As my career has advanced and I have moved into more leadership positions, I have lost that personal contact. In addition, like so many, I now work remotely and most of my contact is virtual… except with family. But, I also have many family and friends who I love that I rarely see in person. As we all know, we are often more kind to those we don’t know than those closest to us, and I too am guilty of this. It takes more intention to find ways to engage in acts of kindness now.

An intention to be intentional about kindness may mean saying thank-you and giving compliments more often, listening more attentively—even when I don’t think I have time. Holding my words when they might hurt, finding ways to bring joy to those who are lonely, complaining less, spreading more hope and encouragement on social media. And taking the “necessary” acts of kindness to the next level, such as tipping service people, giving gifts, volunteering my time and giving support to organizations doing good things. 

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

~Maya Angelou

The key is to do something in kindness with no expectation of the kindness being returned…no return on investment anticipated. The only expected benefit is the joy of making a positive difference in another’s life. 

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”

~Jackie Chan

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” 

~Harold S. Kushner
Volunteer woman visiting senior woman in the nursing home.

Think about the kindest person you know. I am sure someone came to mind. I have experienced great moments of kindness by others, and I have had the joy of bestowing kindness and love on others… and oh the joy it brought. I know I want to be known for my kindness. I have some work to do, but I hope you will join me on my journey to a more kind world. A more kind world will also be a more bold and beautiful place too! 

“Kindness is like snow- It beautifies everything it covers.”

~Kahlil Gibran

What is your intention for this year? 

By Sylvia Stinson-Perez

Connecting With Sylvia:

Author Bio:

The author’s bio photo is a glam photo of Sylvia in a pink dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is in a fancy updo with a pink flower on the left of her bun.
Sylvia Stinson-Perez

Sylvia Stinson-Perez has spent her career in the blindness field, and is the Chief Programs Officer for the American Foundation for the Blind. Sylvia believes the authentic shared experience of living with vision loss can lead to the development of bold confidence in living with blindness. She loves helping others find their beauty and courage on this journey.

Sylvia has Master’s degrees in Social Work, Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation, and Business Administration. Sylvia is blind as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), however, she believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Sylvia is a wife, a mother, a friend, an advocate, and a professional dedicated to making a positive difference. She enjoys reading, cooking, travel, crocheting, writing and public speaking, and time with loved ones.

Image Descriptions:

  • Woman in white long sleeved shirt holding a pen writing on a paper.
  • Group of young diverse sporty people doing yoga Vasisthasana exercise, side plank pose.
  • Girl giving a gift to a homeless man in the street.
  • Volunteers serving hot meal to people at community soup kitchen.
  • Volunteer woman visiting senior woman in the nursing home.
  • The author’s bio photo is a glam photo of Sylvia in a pink dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is in a fancy updo with a pink flower on the left of her bun.

Charlie Kramer | January 2022 Men In Motion

Men In Motion | Charlie Kramer

I help people understand that the more that you embrace the fullness and the power of who you are, the more life gets frickin awesome.

~Charlie Kramer

Editor’s Note

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday and are looking forward to creating an amazing 2022.

After a nearly month long battle with the after effects of Covid I’m slowly on the mend. As a result of my illness I haven’t been able to complete all my tasks and it’s going to take some time for me to recouperate but I could not let today’s post be delayed. Charlie Kramer is smart, funny, and very engaging. I am always learning something new from his content he shares on Instagram. Included in this post is Charlie’s YouTube video with the transcription below for those who prefer to read. Enjoy! ~Steph

Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

Beyond Sight Cover: A black and white photo of Charlie an attractive white man standing confidently with his white cane. He is wearing a black tee shirt with black jeans while resting both of his hands on the top of his cane. Text on the cover reads "Beyond Sight January 2022 | Men In Motion | Charlie Kramer."

YouTube Video

Introduction

A black and white waist shot photo of Charlie wearing a white shirt and smiling while holding his white cane out in front of him.

Hi, everyone, my name is Charlie Kramer, I’m so excited to be here with you. And I’m really, really honored to be Bold Blind Beauty’s Man In Motion for this month.

I’m coming to you from Los Angeles, California and I want to share a little bit about my journey with vision loss, which has progressed over time. It’s been something that has been a big challenge at many points in my life, but wasn’t something that I focused on or even accepted or paid attention to, until about the last four or five years. And that journey of acceptance has completely changed my life just absolutely shifted everything and changed it, and for that I’m grateful.

Today I come to you actually being really, honestly just happy to be blind and that is something that I never would have said years ago. So I’m excited to share this story with you.

Journey To Acceptance

I was diagnosed when I was five years old. And the diagnosis was retinitis pigmentosa (RP). And basically what that means is I progressively lose my peripheral vision over time, so it closes in like this. And I’m also completely blind at night. So I have no ability to see what’s going on in the dark, see what’s going on. If there’s any sort of dimly lit areas, it can be really hard for me to find things. And when I say it’s like looking through a straw, I mean, like a tiny, tiny straw. So I can’t see what’s going around on around me, I can’t see what’s going on below me. And that is why I use a cane every single day of my life.

I absolutely love using the cane, actually, I feel kind of naked without it. And it allows me to just navigate the world without having to worry about what’s below my feet. Or if I’m going to run into something or if I’m going to bump something or that someone is, you know, not going to be paying attention and I’m not going to be paying attention, we smack into each other. And that used to happen all the time for me.

Aspiring Legally Blind Baseball Player

I had more vision when I was younger and it’s progressively closed in over time. So when I was in high school, I played baseball, I played baseball at a high school level. And I also, was very active. I was always outside, I was always doing things, and I still am to this day, but it’s different.

And at that time, I thought I was going to be the first ever completely legally blind or visually impaired baseball player. That didn’t happen. Because when I hit the ground ball would hit me in the chest and fall on the ground in front of me, I had no idea what to do. I had no idea where it was. And I also had so many challenges. Just like being in a competitive athletic environment, with feeling the pressure of knowing that people were relying on me, teammates were relying on me and I couldn’t rely on my eyes.

So I actually had to give up baseball, and I decided to start playing golf. And throughout my journey, that was really the only piece of acceptance that I had that I accepted—I couldn’t play baseball anymore. That was it.

Hiding Blindness & Lessons Learned

A profile shot of Charlie standing with his hands in his pockets.

Other than that, I really hid my blindness with everything that I could possibly do. Because just like so many of us, I didn’t want to be the blind guy. I didn’t want to be the person who was treated differently or gets got preferential treatment because of their blindness. Right?

I didn’t want that I wanted to be treated like every other human being. But what I was doing is I was limiting myself because I wasn’t allowing myself to be the full embodied version of who I actually am. To be in ownership of my blindness. And when we don’t own all of who we are, life can get lonely and challenging and hard. And that’s what it was for me.

I finally made a decision with supportive a few friends to start using a blind cane every single day of my life. And what it did is it made what was an invisible disability, a visible one. It made something that no one could see, visible. And it absolutely changed my life. Because not only was the world seeing me for who I actually was, I was seeing me for who I actually was. And that had never happened before for me. So I went on this complete transformational journey.

Finding Purpose Through Acceptance

Another frontal shot of Charlie looking intently into the camera while his hands

I’ve been doing work in music for a very, very long time and I still do quite a lot within music. I love it. But I just started to realize that there was something else that the world was wanting from me, needing from me. I decided to start moving into coaching and helping people through their disability.

Helping people through their challenges with all of the skill sets that I’d learned over time. And I studied, I worked on it, I’ve developed the skills and now I’m working with people one on one who not only have blinding retinal diseases or blindness as their disability; but I work with Deaf clients, I work with people who are in a wheelchair, total spectrum, people who are autistic, it is a total total spectrum of different people. And I love it.

Because we all share the same little fear of what is it going to be like if we actually share all of who we are? Is it going to be painful? Is it going to be hard? Are we going to be accepted? I help people understand that the more that you embrace the fullness and the power of who you are, the more life gets frickin awesome.

  • And I help navigate through how to advocate for yourself,
  • how to create really powerful, strong, healthy boundaries,
  • how to properly communicate with people about your disability,
  • and how to navigate through some of the most challenging situations that we face as disabled people.

And I can’t tell you how amazing and how fulfilling it is to do this work because I’m helping people to go through a process that took me 24 years, in eight weeks. 24 years or eight weeks? I wish I had someone who grabbed me by the shirt and said, “Charlie, I’m going to take you through this process in eight weeks.”

So now my life is devoted to helping people through that process. And I have to say it is an absolute joy, to see the results of my clients, taking that next step in their life and really creating that abundant joy. It is so delicious. So good.

So that’s a little bit about me. I’m just grateful that Bold Blind Beauty is sharing these incredible stories of so many of the other Men In Motion and I’m just very, very honored to be one of them. So sending you all my love.

Please stay in contact with me. I’d love to connect with you whether it’s on Instagram, my website, anything like that it just Charlie Kramer Vision and send you all the love in the world. And remember that the more that you embrace and show who you are, the more beautiful life becomes. Peace.

Connecting With Charlie:

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Image Descriptions:

  • Header and Beyond Sight Magazine Cover contain the same black and white photo of Charlie an attractive white man standing confidently with his white cane. He is wearing a black tee shirt with black jeans while resting both of his hands on the top of his cane. Text on the cover reads “Beyond Sight January 2022 | Men In Motion | Charlie Kramer.”
  • YouTube Thumbnail & Video Description: A black and white photo of Charlie in a button-up shirt open at the neck is on the thumbnail. He is wearing eyeglasses and smiling broadly with a neatly shaven beard and mustache. In the video, he’s wearing a light denim shirt and his hair is reddish/brown.
  • A black and white waist shot photo of Charlie wearing a white shirt and smiling while holding his white cane out in front of him.
  • A profile shot of Charlie standing with his hands in his pockets.
  • Another frontal shot of Charlie looking intently into the camera while his hands rest on top of his white cane.

Disability & The 7 Chakras An Overview

Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz | Disability & The 7 Chakras

“Each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws, principles of consciousness that we can use to cultivate greater harmony, happiness, and wellbeing in our lives and in the world.”

~Deepak Chopra

7 chakras, 7 days of the week, 7 continents, 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 Snow White dwarfs, 7 wonders of the world, 7 notes on a musical scale, 7 deadly sins…

An outstretched hand holding the 7 chakra stones in different colors.

Seven is considered a lucky number and there are mathematical, biblical, spiritual, and cultural meanings of this number. I thought of this number since there are seven chakras we have discussed over this past year. How can your disability be shaped by these 7 chakras?

  • Root chakra – Are you grounded in your family roots and with your disability?
  • Sacral chakra – Are you playful, creative, explorative with your sexuality and emotions in spite of your disability? 
  • Solar plexus chakra – Do you have personal mastery, empowerment, and assertiveness with your disability so you can be your authentic self?
  • Heart chakra – Do you have compassion, forgiveness, love, and acceptance with your disability and those you interact with who do not understand your capabilities?
  • Throat chakra – Does your disability allow you to manifest and express yourself with conviction?
  • Third eye chakra – In spite of your disability can you allow space for self-reflection, see beyond words, and to embrace your spirituality?
  • Crown chakra– Can you think outside of your disability to reach for spiritual awakening, wisdom, and enlightenment to share with the world?

Each one of us is a miracle and it is up to you if you want to share yourself and your disability. Let your values and chakras be your guide to improving your authentic self. Find your voice and step outside of your comfort zone in 2022. Let all 7 colors of the rainbow and 7 chakras shine! 

Author Bio

A headshot of Teresa Gregg who is smiling while her long brunette hair cascading over the shoulders of her hunter green top.
Teresa Gregg

Teresa Gregg, Lumine Your Way CEO/Founder

My name is Teresa Gregg. I am a mom of two adult children and a grandma of four grandchildren. 

I was born with congenital glaucoma and uveitis. In 1993 I had my left eye removed due to glaucoma and in 2013 my right eye also. After that surgery I fell into depression then eventually became tired of living in victim mode. 

I am a Certified Transformational Life Coach with the certifications to assess/debrief with the Energy Leadership Index and Emotional Intelligence 2.0. In 2017 I won the Hadley School for the Blind Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship Program Grant to start my own coaching practice.

It is my vision to offer endless positive possibilities for a heart-centered energetic passion-driven lifestyle. Working with families who have children with disabilities and being a liaison between the family and their IEP team is rewarding. Partnering with schools for the blind in workshops regarding social interactions, recreation and leisure, self-advocacy, self-determination, Human Growth Development, and Sexual Education is a passion for me. Helping others understand their sexuality and social and emotional skill sets is the best gift I can offer those with a visual impairment.

Connecting With Teresa

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Image Descriptions:

  • The header is a yoga, zen concept of a woman meditating on her knees while holding the 7 chakra lights in 7 different colored over her body. She’s holding each chakra in it’s position on her body i.e. crown = head and so on.
  • An outstretched hand holding the 7 chakra stones in different colors.
  • Author Bio photo is a headshot of Teresa who is smiling while her long brunette hair cascading over the shoulders of her hunter green top.

2021 Year In Review

Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz | 2021 Year In Review

Bold Blind Beauty's podcast logo is a bright yellow illustration of a hot air balloon on a black background with the words "Bold Blind Beauty" in white text and a curved arc around the top of the balloon. Under the balloon are the words "On A.I.R."
Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R.

It’s that time of year again where we reflect on our progress and noteworthy achievements here at Bold Blind Beauty. From the development of our podcast Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. to the Up In The A.I.R. panel sessions, this year was all about Access, Inclusion, and Representation.

It is always an honor to be recognized for the work we do as advocates within the disability community. This year Bold Blind Beauty was the recipient of a generous donation to help offset the costs we incur to keep the lights on. Out of respect for our anonymous donors while we cannot mention them by name we feel it’s essential to publicly acknowledge their gift—THANK YOU!!

We hope you enjoy the presentation we put together to celebrate everyone who participated in our success in 2021. Please note in lieu of audio description, below the YouTube video we’ve provided detailed descriptions of each slide.

Wishing you and yours all the best for the Holiday Season and a joyous New Year! ~Bold Blind Beauty

2021 Year In Review YouTube Video

Presentation Description:

The presentation is a scrapbook theme with slides in the deck in alternating colors teal, tan, gray, and white. Following is the content and image description for each slide:

  • Title Slide with 2 photos: 2021 Year In Review
    • Shayy Winn is laying on the floor propped against an ottoman wearing a stunning gold gown trimmed with black feathers along the hemline.
    • SOVAS (Society of Voice Arts & Sciences) A teardrop-shaped golden statue — an artistic rendition of a microphone and pop filter atop a round base.
  • 2nd Slide 1 image 1 text box: January
    • In January 2021 we launched our monthly podcast Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. Everyone on the planet needs air to survive. A.I.R. (Access, Inclusion, and Representation) is essential for people with disabilities, not only to survive but to thrive. Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. is clearing the air for more A.I.R.
    • Bold Blind Beauty’s podcast logo is a bright yellow illustration of a hot air balloon on a black background with the words “Bold Blind Beauty” in white text and a curved arc around the top of the balloon. Under the balloon are the words “On A.I.R.”
  • 3rd Slide 4 text boxes: Beyond Sight Monthly Features
    • Men In Motion – Showcasing male influencers across the blindness spectrum.
    • Women On The Move – Profiles of inspirational women across the blindness spectrum.
    • Monthly Beauties – Cover features that shine the spotlight on bold, blind, and beautiful women.
    • Cane EnAbled – Highlighting broad perspectives of those in the field of blindness.
  • 4th Slide 1 text box: Strength Resilience Tenacity
    • The Young & The Motivated – Strength, resilience, and tenacity are qualities that all of the young people we featured this year possess. Despite the barriers they encounter daily, they persist and are remarkable self-advocates.
  • 5th Slide 2 phtotos and 1 text box: February
    • Multi-Talented Leaders – Kai Owens is a college student, advocate, amazing skimboarder, and drummer. College student and advocate Kaleigh Brendle is a public speaker, singer, and choir director.
    • Kai Owens – A surf photo of Kai smiling while standing on the beach in a black wet suit holding his skimboard. His long dark wavy hair is pulled back in a ponytail.
    • Kaleigh Brendle – A pretty young white woman with long blonde hair and eyeglasses, is wearing a black top and smiling.
  • 6th Slide 2 photos and 1 text box:
    • Advances In Technology – Like Louie Voice make life so much easier for people who are living life on the spectrum of blindness. There are so many options from which to choose and we need to ensure that everyone who has a need can access these remarkable tools.
    • Mady Amirah – Mady is posing with her white cane while wearing her roller skates. She has on black jeans, a pink crop top with a dark gray sweater.
    • Pramit – A waist shot photo of Pramit sitting at a table holding up a cell phone with the Louie Voice logo on the home screen. The logo is a bold white ‘donut’ hole circle on a dark navy background. Under the circle is “Your Friend For Life.”
  • 7th Slide 2 photos and 2 text boxes:
    • Jahron Black AKA @JDollaz – A young hip hop artist, athlete, and role model, Jahron is helping others rise up through the ranks.
    • Karla Saenz College Student – First-generation college student considering becoming a social worker, and working with immigrant women who have suffered from domestic violence.
    • An attractive African American man with dreadlocks Jahron is wearing sunglasses. In this photo he’s in a yellow hoodie with his hand to his chin as if he is in deep thought.
    • A headshot of Karla smiling and wearing a light colored v-neck sweater. She has long dark hair and is wearing eyeglasses.
  • 8th Slide 2 photos and 1 text box: Scribely
    • Accessible Web Design “I’m passionate about accessibility because I’m passionate about inclusion. I feel like we all need to think about ways that we can embrace our diversity, because that’s really what makes us human, after all.” ~ Caroline Desrosiers
    • Caroline Desrosiers – A headshot of a smiling Caroline, a white female in her 30s who has wavy copper-colored hair and bangs. She is wearing a dark top.
    • Danara Barlow – Danara is standing outdoors smiling with her hand on her hip. She has dark shoulder-length hair and is wearing a black top with light-colored pants. In the background is a tree and a building.
  • 9th Slide 1 text boxes: Virtual Work Experience Program
    • Student Opportunities – Giving back to the community is important to Bold Blind Beauty. One way we are doing this is by helping our youth develop transferrable skills to assist them in their prospective careers. As an inclusive and diverse organization, we understand the importance of providing quality opportunities for our future leaders.
  • 10th Slide 3 photos: April
    • Lance Kestrel – A headshot photo of Lance with long blonde hair, beard, and mustache smiling for the camera.
    • Shayy Winn – A headshot of Shayy with her hair styled in long braids and her chin is resting on one hand.
    • Catarina Rivera –  Catarina is a light-skinned Latinx woman wearing a sleeveless navy midi dress with a belt. She has her long dark brown wavy hair swept to one side. She is wearing coral lipstick and sparkly earrings. She is standing in front of a tree and green leaves. Her mouth is closed and she is looking intently into the distance. 
  • 11th Slide 1 image 2 text boxes: Audio Description Awareness Day
    • 2021 Marked Our 2nd Annual Event – Held on April 16 each year, the annual Audio Description Awareness Day is a social media campaign designed to bring attention to the importance of Audio Description.
    • Illustration of Bold Blind Beauty’s fashion icon Abby and a friend at the theater watching a movie. The movie screen is the same image in the header. Abby’s explosive black hair is smoothed back so she can wear her teal-colored headphones.
  • 12th Slide 3 photos: May
    • Aziza Rodriguez – A headshot of Aziza, a smiling dark-haired beauty, on a beach with the ocean in the background.
    • Melva Henderson – Melva is wearing a huge smile along with a black cowgirl hat and a gray dress. She has long wavy brown hair and is standing next to a lamp and pink flowers. 
    • Jenice Heck – Enjoying Nature: Jenice (Jaz) is casually leaning against a tree in a field of white poppies with a sweet smile on her face. She is wearing black jeans and a black silk top in a cold shoulder style with yellow and white stripes. Her long brown hair is braided and hanging lazily over one shoulder.
  • 13th Slide 1 photo 1 text box: June
    • Insight & Articulation – “Whether you are disabled or not, whether you are legally blind or not, I just want you to know that beauty is not just about whether you fit in or not. It’s not just about the outside. If you’re different, that’s beautiful too.” ~Liam Cruz
    • Liam Cruz –  A frontal headshot of Liam who has dark curly hair and dark-framed eyeglasses.
  • 14th Slide 1 photo 1 text box:
    • “No one but you can decide what you are capable of. It is only when we challenge imposed or assumed limitations with a creative lens that we can discover the beauty of success and accomplishment.” ~Tamara
    • Tamara – An albino woman with loose curly hair tumbling down her right shoulder looks off to the right smiling slightly. She is wearing a pale pink shimmery off-the-shoulder chiffon gown with some slight beading around the sweetheart neckline. She sits against a taupe coloured backdrop.
  • 15th Slide 1 photo 1 text box:
    • “But for everyone that’s involved or who’s on any level in the process of making these choices you have to push back wherever you see a situation that is lacking in awareness of diversity and inclusion. And stand up to it by pointing to the opportunity for positive change, for inclusion.” ~Rudy Gaskins, Society of Voice Arts & Sciences
    • A teardrop-shaped golden statue — an artistic rendition of a microphone and pop filter atop a round base.
  • 16th Slide 3 photos: July
    • Ryan Maxwell College Student & Former BBB Intern – A photo of Ryan’s form as he pulls back bow string to shoot an arrow. He is wearing a black tee with blue jeans and white sneakers.
    • Iliana Mejia High School Student & BBB Intern – A headshot of Iliana a pretty light brown skin Latina. Her dark hair is pulled back and she’s wearing a sleeveless black top with a bejeweled neckline.
    • Marta DiVito Communications Major In College & BBB Intern – A pretty young white woman with short brown hair styled in a fashionable bob. She is wearing a blue floral scoop neck dress paired with small gold hoop earrings and eyeglasses. Her hair is slightly windblown.
  • 17th Slide 2 photos 2 text boxes: August
    • Lily Mordaunt – A graduate from CUNY Hunter College with a BA in English, and a concentration in creative writing and religion minor.
    • Lily – a headshot of Lily an attractive African American woman smiling broadly. Lily is wearing a black and white striped top and her hair is styled in long thin braids dyed a light blue on the ends.
    • Accessible Pharmacy Services – “A home delivery pharmacy specializing in blind and low vision patients. We are the only provider of its kind and we are the largest blind-owned healthcare company in the United States.”
    • Home delivery pharmacy concept of a hand reaching out of a computer holding a box of prescriptions. A plant, coffee mug, keyboard, and mouse are on the desk.
  • 18th Slide 3 photos: September
    • Molly Watt – A photo of Molly, a pretty young woman, with long wavy blond hair and a big smile is wearing a light-colored top. Trees are in the background.
    • Brittney Ellis – In this full length body shot of Brittney she is standing on a brick walkway with her white cane. She’s wearing a sexy form fitting white dress and white heeled sandals with her left hand on her hip.
    • April Lufriu – April a pretty white woman with dark wavy shoulder-length hair and a dazzling smile is wearing a coral v-neck top.
  • 19th Slide 1 image 1 text box: BLIND
    • Bold Leaders Illuminating New Directions – design is an artsy image with the word “BLIND” at the top and the words from the acronym are centered in a list underneath. These words are in a graphic box with lines and dots and at the very top are small words that say “Estd. 2021”
    • 2021 was full of surprises and among them was the launch of our Bold Leader Illuminating New Directions(™) Ambassador Program. We began our search for Bold Blind Beauty Believers with a social media campaign requesting video submissions from prospective Ambassador candidates. We are so excited to see what the New Year will bring forth with our new team of Ambassadors.
  • 20th Slide 2 photos 1 text box: October
    • Choosing An Independent Life – Through their separate and uniquely different sight loss journeys, Matt Degruchy and Brittney Ellis found that choosing independence allowed them to focus on those things for which they are passionate.
    • Matt Degruchy – Matt is a young white man with blond hair. In this photo he is standing in front of a clothing rack containing his brand apparel.
    • Brittney Ellis – Brittney is a beautiful African American woman with long wavy dark hair. In this full length body shot she is wearing a sexy form fitting brown dress with spaghetti straps.
  • 21st Slide 2 photos 1 text box: Beauty In Positivity
    • Anne Marie and Ken Brandt’s sight loss stories are vastly different yet they share a common belief in embracing beauty in positivity.
    • Anne – A photo of Anne@PurposeInView at the Stanley Park Seawall – Anne, an Asian woman, is walking with her white cane along the Stanley Park seawall in Vancouver, BC. She is smiling and looking out to her left at the water. She is wearing a white drop waist dress and suede espadrilles. There are low hanging trees in the background. (Photo Credit: Hayley @Flytographer)
    • Ken – Ken is a distinguished-looking white man smiling broadly. He has white hair and a white mustache and is wearing a gray jacket over a black tee.
  • 22nd Slide 3 photos: November
    • Arturo Soto – a photo of Arturo Soto on a sandy beach kneeling next to his guide dog, Vangie (a 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever), with a big smile on his face and his arm around the Vangie’s neck. He’s wearing a white tee, light-colored shorts, sneakers and his shades are atop his head. 
    • Anne Marie – A powerful street wall mural titled “The Power of Women is Infinite” painted by the talented @vernabrownart in shades of pink that is bright, colourful, vibrant and includes various shapes and sizes. Anne, an Asian woman, stands in front of this wall posing with her white cane. She is wearing a blue/grey cardigan and navy pencil skirt with wedge sandals. Sunglasses are on top of her head.
    • Apprentice Butterfly – In this closeup photo Apprentice Butterfly is standing at a microphone singing. Her signature long pink hair is cascading over her shoulders.
  • 23rd Slide 1 image 1 text box:
    • Thank You is written on a yellow post it note
    • I am so humbled and grateful for all of our guest features on Bold Blind Beauty in 2021. There are so many people who’ve contributed to our success this year from our amazing contributors, guest writers, interns, advisory board members, biz development team, podcast guests and co-hosts, superb volunteers, and loyal followers ALL OF YOU ARE VALUABLE AND APPRECIATED! ~Stephanae
  • 24th Slide 3 text boxes:
  • 25th Slide 3 text boxes:
    • Interns – Christine Bharosi, Marta DiVito, Ryan Maxwell, Iliana Mejia, AJ Mitre
    • Collabs & Volunteers – Juan Alcazar, Megan Brunner, Andrea (Andy) Chadwick, Anthony Corona, Teresa Gregg, Alexandra Herold, Alexa Jovanovic, Tekesha Saffold, Ana Sophia, Roy Samuelson, Thomas Topping, Natalie Trevonne, Natalie Watkins
    • Organizations – New York City Access, River Oaks Psychology, VISIONS/Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired
  • 26th Slide 1 text boxes: Get In Touch For Questions And Feedback

Hope, Love & Joy: A Grownup Letter To Santa

Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz | A Grownup Letter To Santa

Gift wrapped packages and holiday decorations are among a piece of paper and pen with a letter to Santa on a white table.

“Of course there is a Santa Claus. It’s just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That’s why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are.”

~Truman Capote

We are in the full swing of the holiday spirit and children around the world are writing their letters to Santa asking for that special toy. We have the miracle of baby Jesus and the star leading the wise men with their gifts.

I want to challenge you to write your own Santa letter of sorts. Start by stating that when you wake up on Christmas morning you will be wrapped up in a miracle. Write what the three wise men would give you for sage advice and what gifts they would bestow to you for 2022. Write about how you will know that you are living that miracle.

Use all your senses to describe your new miraculous life. How would your lifestyle, career/volunteer, family and work environments, friends, bucket lists come to fruition? Think about how you could authentically make this miracle come alive for you in 2022. Put that positive energy out into the universe.

Be thankful for what life drops in your lap and make the most of it. Spread that holly jolly spirit and carry it with you in 2022. Write to me or respond to this post and share your miracle. I can be reached at teresa@lumineyourway.com. 

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy Christmas and a joy-filled New Year!

Author Bio

A headshot of Teresa Gregg who is smiling while her long brunette hair cascading over the shoulders of her hunter green top.
Teresa Gregg

Teresa Gregg, Lumine Your Way CEO/Founder

My name is Teresa Gregg. I am a mom of two adult children and a grandma of four grandchildren. 

I was born with congenital glaucoma and uveitis. In 1993 I had my left eye removed due to glaucoma and in 2013 my right eye also. After that surgery I fell into depression then eventually became tired of living in victim mode. 

I am a Certified Transformational Life Coach with the certifications to assess/debrief with the Energy Leadership Index and Emotional Intelligence 2.0. In 2017 I won the Hadley School for the Blind Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship Program Grant to start my own coaching practice.

It is my vision to offer endless positive possibilities for a heart-centered energetic passion-driven lifestyle. Working with families who have children with disabilities and being a liaison between the family and their IEP team is rewarding. Partnering with schools for the blind in workshops regarding social interactions, recreation and leisure, self-advocacy, self-determination, Human Growth Development, and Sexual Education is a passion for me. Helping others understand their sexuality and social and emotional skill sets is the best gift I can offer those with a visual impairment.

Connecting With Teresa

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Image Descriptions:

  • The header and additional photo are identical. Gift wrapped packages and holiday decorations are among a piece of paper and pen with a letter to Santa on a white table.
  • Author Bio photo is a headshot of Teresa who is smiling while her long brunette hair cascading over the shoulders of her hunter green top.

5 Winter Hair Trends For This Holiday Season

The header and second photo are identical although it's cropped in the header. The photo is of a woman with her hair styled in two bows atop her head similar to the large teddy bear ears that she's holding on her lap. In the background are blurred Christmas lights.
Photo by Ali Pazani from Pexels

Beauty Editor’s Note:

Since everybody is starting to gather together for the holiday season you might want to try something new with your do. Have fun! And let the festivities commence! Dana 

Get ready to turn heads with a new hairstyle as you start to gather with family and friends. Party on! 

A photo of a model with her head sllightly tilted upward with a wavy bob hairstyle against a dark red backdrop.
Photo by Gabb Tapique from Pexels

Whistling Bixie

A pixie style on a model wtih dark hair and blue highlights. Her bright blue eyeshadow compliments her hairstyle and stands out against the white background.
Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

Two classic hairstyles come together to make this one. The edginess of a pixie cut meets the softness of a bob. It’s like they made a baby hairstyle that is. This hairdo would look cool with some highlights painted into this multi-textured cut. 

Pony Express

A rear shot of a hairstylist creating a fancy braided style on a woman with long blonde hair accenting it with pearl beading.
Photo by Maria Lindsey Content Creator from Pexels

Do you want to dress up a simple ponytail? Infuse it with pearl beads. You can find beads in a beauty supply or craft store.

  • Stagger the beads on strategic pieces on the ponytail with a bobby pin
  • You don’t have to do the entire ponytail, you just want to add a hint of elegance and glamour to it
  • Secure the pieces of hair with the beads on it with a small rubber band to keep them in place.

Not enough hair to have a ponytail you say? No worries just buy one at your local beauty supply store and work it out. I recommend clip-in hair extensions as well as it just makes it easier. 

Wear Your Crown

The model in this photo is wearing her hair parted down the middle and she has long braids.
Photo by Dellon Thomas from Pexels

Crown braids are very popular especially on Tik-Tok. You can incorporate Fall’s hottest trend by using a scarf with your braids. A large silk satin-like scarf would work best because it can follow the natural length of the hair as you braid. There are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube to get a little inspiration.

If your braiding skills are not the greatest I would seek a professional hair stylist or braider. That way you can know for sure the end result will look nice.

Shag Baby

A model with wavy brown shoulder-length hair is holding a holiday light in one hand while more are suspended in the background.
Photo by Arsham Haghani from Pexels

The Shag hairstyle has also been trending this fall so why not try it for the holiday season?

A little fringe, some face-framing layers as you rock your holiday party. However, you don’t have to look like you came out of an 80s rock band.

This haircut can be a great option for long or short hair and a hair stylist can guide you with a plan for this haircut while taking into consideration your head shape. Highlights added to this cut can add more dimension. 

Ride The Wave

The last model has curly hair piled atop her head in a messy bun with delicate tendrils framing her face.
Photo by Gustavo Almeida from Pexels

Whether you wear your natural waves or created them with a curling iron, this is a chic and personal favoriate holiday style to me. My natural hair is more wavy than curly so I have been wearing it slicked back with some gel in a bun. I feel like I look polished and ready to go for any occasion. At the end of the day how you decide to style your hair should be reflected in how it make you feel. If you feel fabulous, go for it!

“You are born with beauty, but there are some things you can only gain through living: intelligence, poise, determination.”

~Jessica Cruel, Editor in Chief Allure Magazine

By Dana Hinnant, Beauty Editor

For more inspiration check out these resources:

Connecting With Dana Hinnant

  • dhinnant@bolddblindbeauty.com 

Author Bio:

A headshot of Dana wearing a black scoop neck top under a black jacket. She has glowng caramel colored skin and short dark hair.
Dana Hinnant

Dana Hinnant, a Washingtonian native, whose journey into the beauty industry began 20 years ago after receiving her B.A. in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland in 2000. She received her aesthetics training at Von Lee International School of Esthetics in Baltimore, MD.

Dana started as a local makeup artist and events coordinator with Alluring Looks, Inc. in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Her articles were featured in local publications such as Pose Magazine and Yndigo newsletter. In the mid-2000s, she was a volunteer instructor with the American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program, which landed her an esthetician position at an area day spa. 

Over the past several years, Dana has worked with various non-profit organizations and small businesses. During her tenure as the President of the Health and Wellness division of the National Federation of the Blind DC affiliate, she utilized the platform to provide salon safety tips and skincare advice throughout the community. She was a consultant with the Ecumenical Health Council in Port Towns, MD doing beauty and wellness presentations at area churches and events.

In 2019, Dana received the Maryland Association of Community Service Award for Volunteer of the Year due to her community engagement work for The Arc of Prince George’s County. In addition, she also received the Volunteer of the Year award for 2020 from The Arc of Maryland. She is a member and an ambassador with the Professional Beauty Association. Dana is one of the co-owners of Capitol Collective Consulting LLC which launched in April 2021.

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Image Descriptions:

  • The header and second photo are identical although it’s cropped in the header. The photo is of a woman with her hair styled in two bows atop her head similar to the large teddy bear ears that she’s holding on her lap. In the background are blurred Christmas lights.
  • A photo of a model with her head sllightly tilted upward with a wavy bob hairstyle against a dark red backdrop.
  • A pixie style on a model wtih dark hair and blue highlights. Her bright blue eyeshadow compliments her hairstyle and stands out against the white background.
  • A rear shot of a hairstylist creating a fancy braided style on a woman with long blonde hair accenting it with pearl beading.
  • The model in this photo is wearing her hair parted down the middle and she has long braids.
  • A model with wavy brown shoulder-length hair is holding a holiday light in one hand while more are suspended in the background.
  • The last model has curly hair piled atop her head in a messy bun with delicate tendrils framing her face.
  • Author bio photo is a headshot of Dana wearing a black scoop neck top under a black jacket. She has glowng caramel colored skin and short dark hair.
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