Forty is fabulous! After years of putting others first, I have finally grasped the concept that my life belongs to me. As a young woman, I lived for the approval of others. If I was just pretty enough or did enough for others, I thought, the whole world would like and accept me. Now I know that I no longer need to impress the whole world; I just need to impress me. I still love being beautiful, but it no longer defines who I am. Instead, I have embraced my imperfections and found my talents. I have converted my dreams into goals, and have begun to achieve them one by one. And I now enjoy a new level of comfort with who I am and what I can achieve in life.

As a wife, mother, businesswoman, friend, daughter, sister and granddaughter, the demands on my time never end. However, I no longer strive to be Superwoman because I have learned that when I take time for myself, I don't take from others. Instead, I add to their wellbeing as well as my own. I now know that when I love myself more, others will respond in kind. And that has given me the freedom, confidence and courage to become more than I ever dreamed possible. A year ago I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I went from being very active to completely disabled. I couldn't make it from my bed to my bathroom, but everything happens for a reason. I began to research alternative medicine and treatment available, and in three months I had a complete turn around. Since then I'm armed with this newfound awareness, I have embraced my courage, ambitions and independence with a confident smile, sassy red lipstick, and a proud new slogan -- the best is yet to come!