Different Is Beautiful

It’s OKAY to be different. I’m not talking about being different to stand out, being different to fit in or even being different just to gain attention. It’s okay to be YOU, the real YOU.

I’m talking about the different that lives within YOU. It is OKAY to let that shine and to share your uniqueness and your differences with the world. Let those differences radiate and glow from you. You and others WILL benefit from it!
It’s taken me nearly 40 years to take this to heart . . . my heart. I’ve been saying and thinking this since my special angel of a daughter came into my life. But, it just now hit me that this message needs to be said and felt and lived by the little girl in me who was ALWAYS different and felt like she NEVER fit in. My 9 year old daughter, Lillian, was born with a chromosome abnormality called 18p-. This means a piece of the short arm of her chromosome number 18 is deleted. This has rendered Lillian “different” in many ways from the typical child. And, the main way this manifests is that she has speech impediments.
One of Lillian’s purposes as my daughter is to use my voice to spread the message to the world that Different is Okay, Different is Beautiful and Different iz Good. In addition, to help me learn this for myself and to accept and be okay with this for myself. I can look back at all the scenes and times running through my mind and say “It’s Okay. You were different, you didn’t fit in with the typical crowd, you looked different, your family was different, you were awkward, you weren’t stylish, It’s Okay.” And, it’s OKAY to let that go now.

Lillian is also my daughter to help heal parts of me that I didn’t even realize needed to be healed until this VERY moment. When I came across the phrase “different is good” from a fellow 18p- Mom about a year and half ago, I asked her at the time if I could use that phrase on t shirts. {Thanks SM ~ you are a beautiful, smart and amazing Mom to IM.} It has since grown into the slogan for my 501(c)3, Turning Views Foundation. I had no idea at the time that the reason was also that I needed to heal and tend to some very old wounds for myself.

And, for you reading this, it’s OKAY. It’s okay to be different. Let us please never use our differences as an excuse for failure; but instead use our differences as a reason to succeed and for success! Whether those differences are genetic, whether those differences are from disabilities or whether we are just plain different!

Different is Beautiful . . . Different iz Good . . . Spread the Word Y’all!

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Camilla Downs is an influential guide in teaching the keys to Social Media Marketing. She is a social media marketing and community-building strategist, working with businesses and individuals to maximize the internet to enhance their brands, connect with customers, build communities and network for success. As Chief Community Builder at Turning Views, Inc., keynote speaker and trainer, Camilla has inspired hundreds of people to confidently use Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other online social networking tools through conferences, specialized workshops and video tutorials.

Enhancing Your Shine

Have you ever met people who exhibited true inner beauty? There is just something about them! They possess a shine that can’t be bought, put on, or imitated. They may wear the latest fashions and religiously keep their salon appointments, but everyone knows that they could turn heads even without getting that fresh cut or glam squad makeover. Their glow comes from within and quickly affects everyone in their presence…it’s a vibration they give off that let’s you know they are connected to something great. It’s energizing!

We all possess inner beauty. It is an innate characteristic that is our inheritance as children of God. But sometimes the trials and tribulations of life can cause us to temporarily lose our “shine”. We must be careful to know when our light is being compromised. When we experience stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, etc. we are allowing our light to be diminished. A mind consistently fed fearful and low energy thoughts cannot result in the radiance for which it was intended. After a while this fear-based mental diet, shows up in our outer appearance. And unfortunately, no amount of makeup can cover it up. It is revealed in the spirit and in the eyes, which are the windows to the soul.

Exposing inner beauty requires discipline to work on the mind, soul, body, and spirit. It is a holistic approach. Adding gratitude, prayer, meditation, moderate exercise, and spiritually nourishing reading material, will be great additions to your daily beauty regimen. Removing toxins such as negative people, relationships, situations and even negative music and television shows will help you to reap untold health benefits. And finding a life of purpose and greatness in God is of the utmost importance.

Be determined to dedicate as much time to working on your inner beauty as to your outer beauty. Over time, you will notice a change in how you feel and how people respond to you. Yeah, you may be wearing the latest fashions and never miss your salon appointment, but your eyes will tell the real story.
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by Dawn Mitchell

The Tree of Knowledge

“Another tree is almost down??!! What am I going to do this time?” Although it had been nearly three years ago, it seemed as if just yesterday, a massive tree had fallen down in my backyard nearly demolishing the corner of my quaint home in my peaceful neighborhood. I remembered that cold December afternoon when I discovered I had no internet connection and no phone service. Eek!
As I was running around the house, frantically playing “CSI,” I finally gave in to the urge to look out of my back window. I scooped back the vertical blinds, and gasped as I witnessed Behemoth herself lying on the ground with the snapped phone line in her grasp. First, I remembered how thankful I was she missed falling on my house. But I also recalled the horror of witnessing what I believed was the equivalent of a giant monster with legs crossed napping in my backyard! This sight was so incredible, one neighbor mailed me a sympathy card… yep, she was that massive! It took several months to completely remove Behemoth and her debris. Her stump still remains, bringing back memories of that cold December afternoon whenever I look out of my back window.
So, here we go again. I’m standing in the same spot, vertical blinds in hand, peering out of my back window in angst. Although this tree is not as massive as Behemoth, it’s still pretty massive. It’s sloped at a 45-degree angle ready to drop into the street any day now. A good, strong wind could easily topple the tree, making it a roadblock for my neighbors. And if this happens, I’ll surely be dubbed Ms. Popularity on Parkside Drive… just the title I’ve been dreaming of. I envisioned myself wearing a sash made of pine needles and a revocation notice of my pass to the annual neighborhood barbecue. Determined not to let this be my fate, I decided to ask for some help from “on high.”
I remembered the power of the “now” moment or the “Holy Instant”. The Holy Spirit reminded me that for the “now” to work, I would have to forget about the past and relinquish the future. In other words, forget about Behemoth AND stop envisioning myself wearing a pine needle sash while being ejected from the neighborhood barbeque. The fact is one of those events happened in the past, and the other has not happened at all. By relinquishing the idea of past and future, I make room to receive the perfect solution NOW to this dilemma. I sat down, determined I would be still and know that He is God.
The Holy Spirit reminded me that in order for the Holy Instant to be effective, I would need to release my idea of what the solution should be. Through my obsessive attachment to those images from the past and future, I had allowed my ego to play God and given it authority to predict my outcome. To me, the memory of Behemoth and the possibility of inconveniencing my neighbors were both scary scenarios to contemplate! But allowing the ego to ponder outcomes SHOULD be scary, for the ego only provides fear-based solutions! A lesson from one of my favorite books, A Course in Miracles, states: “Whenever you think you know, peace will depart from you, because you have abandoned the Teacher of peace. Whenever you fully realize that you know not, peace will return, for you will have invited Him to do so by abandoning the ego on behalf of Him.” Through the act of dropping my attachment to the past/future – or surrendering, I had made room for the Holy Spirit to provide a miracle for me right now. So, I did. And the solution came to me...the Holy Spirit said, “Call the city.”
I would have NEVER in two million years thought of this solution. However, the point is to relinquish the “I” and let the One who knows control. The essential thing is learning that we do not know. So, in obedience, I called the city’s information hotline. The operator informed me that indeed a tree in the location I had described is their responsibility and that someone would investigate the matter in the morning. I hung up the phone stunned. “Well, hallelujah then!”, I said as I skipped around the house. I decided this “Holy Instant” thing was fun.
The next morning, the city inspector looked at the tree and determined it was on private property and therefore, my problem…just as I suspected. My smile started to fade. However, I remembered my commitment to stay in the Holy Instant. I reminded myself: I am entitled to miracles and I am staying in a position to receive one. I don’t know the solution to this dilemma, but I’m not supposed to know. I’m going to keep smiling. The inspector said that although he believed the tree was on private property, he would double check with his boss and call me within the hour. The inspector called back to inform me the tree was deemed not to be the responsibility of the city, but that the electric company would be coming to look at it. He said the tree was in a critical position where it would interrupt the flow of electricity to all my neighbors’ homes if it fell; a fact I had not even realized. Shortly thereafter, the electric company came out and removed the tree.
My dilemma was solved quickly, easily, and with no expense to me. With only a willingness to surrender, the Holy Spirit was able to provide me with a shift in my perception, which brought a solution I had not even fathomed…and that is a miracle. With this newfound knowledge, Behemoth is now looked upon as a learning experience and my pine needle sash, an illusion. Hey, maybe this year, I’ll host the neighborhood barbeque.
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by Dawn Mitchell
*As published in the July 2009 edition of The Holy Encounter, Anaheim, CA
Creator, Become Light!

Let It Shine!

I must admit that one of my favorite things to do is people watch. For some reason, observing human behavior is fascinating to me. I often wonder what a person is thinking, why they chose to wear a particular garment, or why they do the things they do. I’ve found that airports and malls are great places to people watch. Just recently while traveling to a speaking engagement in The Bahamas, I encountered a person that was watching me. I flew from Houston to Ft Lauderdale and was waiting for my connecting flight to my destination, Nassau, Bahamas. While there, I decided to grab a bite to eat. After eating I began to stretch. The flight from Houston had my neck and back stiff, so right in the waiting area amongst hundreds of people I started to do Pilates. I’m sure people were watching me, but I didn’t care because I needed the relief I feel whenever I’ve just completed a Pilates session. After touching my toes and rising up, I noticed a woman
standing very close to me. She actually joined in with and even began showing me a more efficient way to stretch. She said she had been watching me and now as she demonstrated other Pilates stretches, I watched her. I couldn’t help but notice the light that emanated from her being. I wanted stay in her presence, but we were going in two different directions. We didn’t talk about religion or spirituality but I knew that light. She was more that a friendly observer, she was one who carried with her a light that was obvious to those around her.
I remembered the scripture that says, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the father (Matthew 5:16). This made me take inventory of my own life. While I know that God lives in me and his light shines through me, I became more aware that day how important it is to let my light shine. Our world is filled with individuals who bring darkness, through negativity, bad habits, violence and hate. But when we purpose in our hearts that we will become vessels of light, we not only impact others, just as this woman did to me, we also glorify God. Ask yourself today, when others see me what do they see. I don’t mean the exterior you, I’m speaking of the authentic you. Do they see God’s light shinning through you illuminating the darkest of situations? Or do they see overcast, gloom and despair.
We should all be deliberate about letting our light shine. No, we are not perfect but when we have the One who spoke light into existence living in us, we can bring light into our world, brighten someone’s day and glorify God. Try it today. Smile at a stranger, speak a kind word, or lend a helping hand and watch that light make a difference. Be light and let light shine through you.
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Kim Bady is an inspirational speaker, author, consultant, full-time student, and loving mother who empowers women to embrace authenticity and transcend limitations in their lives.

In her new book, Authentically Me, Kim challenges women to remove the layers that are used to define them in order to discover the beauty of authenticity.
Click here to order "Authentically Me" by Kim Bady.

Playin' To Win (Excerpt)

There is a revolution brewing. You might not know that it is a revolution because the weapons of this revolution aren’t guns or rockets. It doesn’t involve overthrowing governments. It is a revolution about overthrowing worshiped, outdated institutions and the way they do business. Our country is in trouble, and when a great nation like the United States of America
is in decline, it is up to its citizens to do something about it. We have the responsibility to rise up and insist on the radical evolution of all the major social institutions in our country—schools, churches, healthcare and even corporate America. And one of the main weapons for change…are you ready for this?Video games! No, you didn’t misread—video games. Those electronic toys that many people love to play and others love to hate because they’ve been touted as the downfall of all humankind.

My name is Dr. James Rosser—“Butch” to those who know me. And I am on a mission. I want to help establish a foundation of credibility and legitimacy for the incorporation of video games into the mainstream to address pressing societal issues. I’m using this book, Playin’ To Win as a vehicle to introduce you to my mission and to build excitement about climbing aboard what myself and others call the “Games-4-Good” movement. This movement hinges on an effort to recruit video games and other pop culture icons to become assets that can contribute to the formulization of solutions to difficult challenges confronting our nation.

This book is written for every child that has sat in a classroom and been forced to come up with creative survival techniques to tolerate the onslaught of a monotone, uninspired teacher or professor who was hell bent on taking them through compulsory and out-of-touch lesson plans. Many became casualties of “friendly fire.” victims of “the system,” and history will never chronicle their names. These students were not able to survive because they could not stay in the game. They perished because they couldn’t connect the dots that revealed the image of the big picture. They failed to come up with a credible answer to the question, “why do I have to know that?”

This book is for every parent who has lain awake at night, worrying about what the future holds for their precious children in a world that presents so many influences and distractions. I hope they hear this message: “There is hope and it is going to be okay!” This book is for every politician who has struggled to make a decision to restrict or even censure video games because on the surface they seem harmful to the public, but harsh action would provide a short- lived political advantage. It is for every educator who has wanted to step outside of the box of rubber stamped lesson plans filed with bureaucratic rhetoric, only to be beat down by superiors who were blindly committed to the status quo.

This book is meant to trumpet a call for the empowerment of the people by all means necessary. I want this book to be the birth certificate for a revolution that embraces rather than shuns pop culture, a revolution that eradicates fear through scientific evaluation and validation, a revolution that will be fought from the top down and the bottom up. From the waltz,
the telephone, radio, the movies, Rock-n-Roll, Hip Hop and Rap, and now to video games, pop culture has never readily accepted and efficiently incorporated video games into mainstream society.

As with any disruptive innovation, there is always a predictable response of fear, over-exaggerated calls for alarm, unsuccessful attempts at censorship, rejection and even eradication. Now is the time to break that cycle. Pop culture is a child of society and good can be found in every child. Like a loving parent, society must identify the good in its offspring and nurture it. Let’s not be guilty of abusing a child with so much potential.

And we should do this with the knowledge that we do not have the luxury of gradual intervention. We are facing a crisis in our educational system; millions of our children are underachieving. If our children are not motivated to engage in the learning process, and if process participation does not translate into real world relevance, our great American culture is “kaput.”
Because it is so crucial to the cause of revitalizing our nation, this book is not meant to be hidden away in the education or textbook section of the library or bookstore. It is not meant to be placed in your elephant graveyard of book titles stacked in a corner. I hope you will spill coffee in it because what you read shocks or thrills you with the expanse of
its possibilities. I want you to use this book as a resource that you can turn to again and again, not only for reference, but also for inspiration and entertainment.

This book is a fervent reminder that change, especially when it is connected to something of significance, is not accomplished by pure intellect that resides within your cranial vault, but rather victory is ultimately dependent upon that which resides within your heart.

Finally, this book is absolutely not meant to be some self-salvation for the world. It is what it is—One man’s attempt to assist in the establishment of a credible hope that has the potential to shape a planet with a future that will be greater than its past.
To make our future great, we need to revolutionize the way we educate, train and empower our citizens. To make any revolution successful, we must all select a part—big or small—where we can get busy making contributions.

In the book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell used an example of the power of a social epidemic to spark the resurgence of Hush Puppies® shoes in American and global fashion. If a social epidemic can help turn Hush Puppies around, maybe applying some of the same principles could lead the empowerment revolution to cross a threshold, tip and spread like wildfire. As in all successful revolutions, unlikely alliances must be formed, and past enemies must embrace. Let’s get rid of secrecy and
closed mindedness; open sharing and collaboration must be held sacred. If you are reluctant to join because you are uncomfortable with an intimate proximity with protest, my response is inspired from a message by Martin Luther King Jr.: “Each participant in the struggle must become familiar with peaceful protest.”

For those among you willing to participate in the struggle, protesting the ‘status quo’ by offering up this unconventional solution of using video games on the frontline of learning, must become as familiar as breathing. Do you think about breathing? No, you just do it. Your moment-to-moment contribution to this campaign for change must at all times be directed to Playin’ To Win.
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AUTHOR BIO: Dr. James "Butch" Rosser is a father, author, speaker and the Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York, NY and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He was previously the Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, as well as Director of Beth Israel's Advanced Medical Technology Institute (AMTI). Prior to his Beth Israel career, he held several faculty positions such as at the Yale University School of Medicine where he was appointed Associate Professor and Director of Endo-Laparoscopic Surgery. His instructional methodology, services, and products were developed over a decade of testing and validation and have been used to teach over 5000 surgeons worldwide in the new technique of laparoscopic surgery. His knowledge and skill transfer techniques have been validated scientifically and many papers have been published related to this paradigm shift in educational technique.

To order your copy of Playin' to Win visit www.playintowin.com.

Encouragement During Discouragement: Praise Him!

"I can't stand it! All I want is to serve you, Jesus. Live for You. Experience a life sold out to you. I don't understand why You allow obstacles, hindrances, and oppositions. I am crying out for help in my time of discouragement!"

When is the last time you experienced this feeling? Did you run to Jesus for His answers or did you mull over it in your mind? Why in the middle of serving the Lord can discouragement arise? Shouldn't He protect us from this? Let's go a step further. Why in the midst of serving Jesus do we experience those "Mind Moments?" The ones that bring doubt, oppression and uncertainty?

I must be honest, I experienced this last week. I love the opportunity to be real with you and share my weaknesses and struggles. So, here flows a fresh stream of honesty from my heart to yours. After experiencing the spiritual "mountain top" at Share Fair I was bombarded with negative thoughts from the enemy bringing havoc to my mind. Thoughts like... "What gives you the right to teach women? You don't deserve to be leading women? There are so many others more capable and knowledgeable to handle the task!" They were like shooting stars in my head. Not taking these thoughts captive, I began to dwell on each one of them. All of a sudden, I found myself believing the accuser's accusations. Discouragement invaded every part of my being.

The funny thing is the enemy's claims were right. On my own, I don't deserve and am not capable to be a leader for the Lord. It is only through Jesus that I am worthy to serve Him for His purposes to be accomplished. His righteousness covers me and leads me. As a result, I should have proudly agreed with my accuser and said, "Thank you for reminding me of these things because it is only through Jesus that I am called to serve Him in this way. I am not deserving of anything." But instead, I let the negative thoughts and lies move from my head to my heart in a matter of seconds. As they entered the heart chamber, I could feel a door slam and a bolt quickly secure the lock.

For three days I wallowed in this dungeon of dismay and insecurity. Finally, on the forth day of this imprisonment I stretched out my arms to the ceiling and asked God to be my encourager. I pleaded for Him to lead me to the place in scripture to hear from Him. In a matter of seconds, I found myself in Joshua 1:1-11. As I began reading I could sense the Lord's words pouring over me. Three times God told Joshua to "Be strong and of good courage." As I read these words I could feel the chamber doors unlock and slowly creak open. Then I read Joshua 1:8 and to my amazement the chains broke and the walls of discouragement came crashing down...

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it
day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it."

Freedom. Release. Glory to God! A shout of praise came pouring from my heart and out my mouth. God is the Encouragement During Discouragement... Praise Him!

Challenge for the Week... Are you in the midst of a discouraging time? Are you held captive by negative thoughts that are binding you to the dungeon of discouragement in your mind? God gives us a way to break free from these chains. Read through Joshua 1. See how God encouraged him to move forward in the calling. God is the ultimate encourager. So many times we run to others for encouragement rather than Jesus. Ask Him to spur you forward and look for how He chooses to inspire your day! You are in for a treat of Encouragement During Discouragement... Praise Him!
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Author Bio: Carla McDougal is founder of and author/speaker for Reflective Life Ministries, located in the Houston, TX area. Her true passion in life is her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a gifted speaker and author, Carla has captivated audiences with her realness, laughter and ability to teach the Word of God. As a result, God has taken her around the world to encourage women to live everyday for Jesus. Her Monday morning e-votionals at, Carla's Corner, allow her to stay connected to women through her inspirational writings. Carla and her husband, Fred, have three sons and one daughter.
To order book, please visit www.ReflectiveLifeMinistries.org for more information.

It's Finally Time to Let IT Go!

Recently, I was watching ”The Biggest Loser” which is quickly becoming a favorite television show. Although, I prefer the grit and intensity of programs like CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, etc., I have found myself deeply touched by shows like TBL and similar programs like, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. What is it about those programs that seem to cross over judgements, racial and cultural differences, and personality issues?

Those shows seem to create a common bond of bringing people together to root for the underdog, find compassion within ourselves, stimulate our desire to support and want more for another’s life, and give us momentary hope that our lives can be in a better situation than we now experience. It is a great feeling.

However, what about our lives? Often we find it easier to hope and have strength for others than we do ourselves. We can easily look into others lives to identify those things that are obstacles, bad thinking, or ways to carry out their goals only to find ourselves stumped in identifying those things for our own lives.

I have chatted with or emailed so many of you to ask, “In the next five years, what do you dream for yourself?” Most often I find the question was not considered or a limitation was placed on the dreams based on what was able to be accomplished with only a little hard work.

Today’s post is a challenge to you. It is a challenge to realize that it is time to finally let IT go. IT is whatever obstacles, past situations, conditions, fears, doubts, excuses, hindrances, reasons, people, or difficulties you have in your life that prevent you from dreaming madly, pursuing wildly and trusting completely.

As many of you have read from my book, “Damaged Goods: An Autobiography”, I came from a past of tragedy, great pain, people telling me that God could never use me because I was damaged goods, and many obstacles. A great challenge came from God to take a risk in believing in the impossible, illogical, unobtainable, and unbelievable through my eyes and to take on the dreams and visions that He placed in me that seemed guaranteed to fail. Hopefully, you have read to the end to learn, in part, that only you can accomplish what has been given for you to do.

However, the dream begins with us Dreaming Madly. That is reclaiming those lost dreams, listening to the dreams and visions that you believe God has given you that seem totally crazy and out of reach. Putting fear aside, allowing yourself to hope and long for your most wildest dreams for ministry, family, work, passions, and the use of the gifts, talents, and abilities you have been given.

Next comes our part in Pursuing Wildly. Everything is a choice and every pursuit has a cost. The cost for many of us is to finally let go. Letting go of the people we are still waiting for apologies and forgiveness to offer because of pain they caused in our past. Letting go of the lies that God could not use us to do “THAT!” Letting go of feelings that keep us trapped in believing we are not good enough, lovable enough, or acceptable enough or that we are the only ones who feel the bitter feelings we feel. Letting go of equating difficulty and obstacles with God not being in the process or forgetting us. Letting go of thinking that we are walking through this process alone and can not make it. And letting go of the insanity that our past, our current situation, who we are or what we did is greater than God’s grace and perfect plans for our good that He planted in us before we tasted a breath of life. We must be willing to take the next courageous step of moving out of what is comfortable, risk-free, pain-free, and easy. Pursue what has been placed in you like a starving man in search of a meal.

Finally, trust completely. Not in your ability, gifts, talents, strength or even willingness to do. The greatness of possibility only comes from the source that we are trusting in. If I trust in me that all that I dream and could ever imagine will happen because I’m such a doer, strong person and get things done, Lord help us all. Cause I am a mess. However, if the owner of a restaurant tells me about a delicious unbelievable 8-course meal that he will serve me but I have to wait until he has prepared everything, why wouldn’t I completely trust him? He’s the guy who owns the restaurant and can do whatever he pleases.

Same with God, perhaps he has given you a dream or vision of things to come to wet your appetite of greatness to come. He will prepare everything, including us, that is necessary to bring about what he has given. Our responsibility is to wait with hope and anticipation, continue to move, challenge, release, let go, and walk through those things he places in our path, and to trust him completely that he is in control and is sane in the midst of what looks like insanity to our eyes.

QUESTION FOR YOU: What are some of the dreams and visions He has placed in you that seem crazy to others and leave you thinking, “Okay, but seriously God!”? And what are your two top challenges in letting go in the process of waiting out those dreams and visions? I and other readers would love to know.

You can either post a comment or shoot me an email at charlotte@charlottehunt.net. Also, while you’re there, feel free to order your autographed copy of “Damaged Goods: An Autobiography” to use as a great source of encouragement as you move towards your unimaginable dreams.



Dream madly, pursue wildly, trust completely

Take care,

Charlotte
AUTHOR BIO: Charlotte Hunt is an author, Christian radio personality and counselor, vision casting facilitator, and favorite lecturer for district attorney offices, educators, addiction treatment programs, women s shelters, and child advocacy centers. She has been a national motivational and inspirational speaker for over two decades speaking with diverse audiences in the areas of childhood trauma and abuse, overcoming obstacles, women s issues, personal and spiritual growth, impacting leadership, casting vision, and reclaiming lost dreams.

Charlotte studied music education, psychology, and vocal jazz studies, went on to teach at the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music and has performed and worked nationally as a music director, background vocalist, studio musician and jazz artist working with world-renown performers in the music industry. Her credits also include being a voice-over artist and stage actor with performance in national television documentaries, radio programs, PBS specials, jingles and commercials, and internationally as a runway model.