The Beauty of Different

We all have it. Something about us that is different. But what we choose to do with that different? That all depends. On...

What kind of different it is.

How different it makes us.

How we feel about our different.

What we think others feel about our different.

The list goes on and on. But, the question remains; what do we do with our different?

Enter The Beauty of Different; the brand new book by Karen Walrond (aka Chookooloonks). The title says it all, doesn't it? It boldly and quite simply states it like it is. Our different is beautiful. Did you hear that? YOUR differnet is beautiful. 

And in honor of that truth-that powerful, transformative truth-we have partnered up with Karen on her quest to seek out and celebrate the beauty in the different for this month's One Word Project.

We ask you this month to share with us beauty. Your beauty. The beauty of others. The beauty of the world around you. It's up to you. And our guess is, your vision (because it's yours alone and it is unique) is different. That's where the beauty will come in.

Awesome, isn't it?

So, let's kick off the month with beauty, in all it's different incarnations, shall we? 

...........

We are thrilled to be giving away a signed copy of Karen Walrond's book The Beauty of Different today. Leave your comment here between now and Friday 12/3 at midnight EST for a chance to win.

Comments

[Marcie]

Different can be a vision..a viewpoint..the way in which an image is framed:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1377
I'd consider myself lucky to be a recipient of Karen's beautiful book!!!

[Kat]

Wow, I would love to win the book! I've been eyeing it. :)

I have been learning to find beauty in reality: http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/10/beauty-of-reality.html

[hurworld]

The beauty of human relationship is all around us. As the new year dawns upon us, it would be prudent for all of us to take a moment and reflect the relationships we have with people we love and people who love us.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hurworld/4900663449/

[Suzanne]

Great word! Thanks for making me think :)

[Angie Willis]

I had a look at the comments on Amazon about this book and it looks great. There is much beauty to be found in 'different'.
http://www.palomachaffinch.com/2010/11/dead-things-1.html

[rebecca]

Different is beautiful, sometimes scary or confusing, but always beautiful when met with understanding and compassion. Thank you Karen for putting this idea out there in such a BIG and beautiful way. :)

[yvonne]

thank you for the opportunity to win!

[Diane]

Throwing my hat in the ring...

[Rebecca]

I have a set of identical twins, turning 7 on Saturday, that ACHE to be different from the other. It frustrates them that others never know which one they are--I often here them say to their friends, "You don't know who I am?!" and I have to confess I slip at times and I get, "You don't know who your own kid is?".

When getting ready to leave the house they make a real effort to be different from the other. If one has two braids, the other wants one. If one wears pink, the other wants to wear purple, etc... I even found them using markers to write their initials on their hands so others can identify them.

As much as their looks are identical, and they struggle to find their differences in their appearance as they get older, they are completely different inside. Those differences I have seen since they were in my stomach--watching them through the many ultrasounds, watching them grow in the NICU--and showing HUGE differences in personality--while only weighing 2lbs, and seeing those same differences now--getting ready to celebrate their 7th year.

In their case-it is who they are INSIDE that makes them different (not anything in their outward appearance), and YES--it is beautiful.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5226338486/

[Ellen]

I'd love to win! While I really want to be different, I think it scares me sometimes!

[kristin]

amen to different!
this is a shot form my archives but one i really like of myself. my sun spotted skin, a few scars, more smile lines every day, and my full lips. maybe not everyone's beautiful, uniquely mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4174233064/in/set-72157619934683844/
karen's books sounds so very needed.

[starrlife]

Now this is something that I can get behind- different is most obviously identified by my daughter who has Down Syndrome and I most often photograph her beauty but there is a lot of more hidden differences in the rest of my life too that I've become more attuned to (but don't yet have pics of) because of her.
http://starrlife.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/surprise/
http://starrlife.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/father-daughter-dance/
http://starrlife.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/the-many-faces-of/
Sorry about the number of photos... is that okay?

[beth]

Looking forward to this month's one word challenge. It's starting to snow here in Vermont which always makes for a stark often surreal beauty. Thanks for the opportunity to find out more about this baeutiful book, and the chance to win one!

[playcrane]

a perfect word for this month
Congrats to Karen on her success!

[AnnGeeDee]

I am so thrilled to say that I'll be attending her book launch TONIGHT! I'd love to have another copy of the book to give away.

[AmyG]

I just found this website after purchasing your book two days ago and I cannot get enough. I am so inspired. As a mom of three I have spent the last 9 years teaching my children that different is the most beautiful thing you can be. I can't wait to capture "different" and what it means to me. Thank you for the inspiration!

[stacy a]

Love this idea and so looking forward to Karen's book (will be getting it whether I win or not :) )

[Samantha]

That looks like an amazing book! If I don't win, I'm putting it on my Christmas wish list :-)

[patricia]

What a great choice for the One word Challenge. Karen's book gives us a new slant as to how we define beauty. I so appreciate that.

[Beth]

I've always found that our differences and our different views of the world are what make us beautiful. I'm so excited to read this book! Thanks so much! www.ecookphoto.com

[emily]

this looks like such a great book!

[Diana Hill]

I turned 53 this past month and for the first time, I see middle age in the mirror. The wrinkles around the eyes, the sun damage from years ago, the sagging neck, the expanding middle...I don't feel very beautiful to say the least. In our culture, youth is beauty. However, I know that on the inside there is more depth and wisdom and empathy and solid conviction than when I was beautiful on the outside. And what is on the inside is a beauty I am willing to embrace. I would thoroughly enjoy a copy of this interesting book to celebrate my beautiful middle age.

[Lauren]

Wow I'd love to win this book. I think being different is indeed so beautiful. The world would be so boring if we were all alike....it's what makes the world go 'round.

[Trude]

Learning more and more each day to appreciate my own beauty, both inside and out. It's such a long process to truly come to acceptance! http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/5201449355/

[Jan]

I just love Karen. Such an awesome woman.

[Tera]

I think if you take time this season it's easy to find beauty but often we are trying to do too much and be something/someone else and we lose sight of the beauty of this time of year.

[Jamie Solorio]

I would love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

To me this chair is beautiful, it was my late Grandfather's. I brought it home and now it is in my bedroom. Each day I take time to sit in it and think of him. The arms of the chair are all beaten up and used, but to me they are different and beautiful. The wear and tear just makes me think of him all those years in his chair, and how he would sit there talking with us.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49026977@N05/sets/72157624699881548/

[Mira]

what a fabulous project. can't wait to see the book.

[Rizzi]

To those who dare to be different, to those who accept those who are different! Thank you Karen!!

[monica]

The book is on my wishlist. I love Karen's blog and her positive attitude, her keen eye, and the good she is doing in the world with her vision (e.g. lovebombing the haters).

This photo of my husband holding his sister is beautiful: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pennieseverywhere/4989145674/in/set-72157621624824135/

[Rizzi]

To those who dare to be different, to those who accept those who are different! Thank you Karen!!

[Karen D]

this is a BEAUTIFUL giveaway ;-)

[libbie]

It has taken me years to find the beauty in me. I'm not sure that I have reached a point where I would call myself beautiful but I have reached a point where I'm not afraid to be in front of the camera and not just behind it.

[WorthIt!]

This is a shot from the archives but it is one of my favorite portraits. Love how the sun plays on the wrinkles & lines and just check out those eye lashes.

Thanks for pointing out the beauty in different and for giving us a chance to win Karen's book.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5226435299/

[Claudia@ DipityRoad]

This could be very DEEP -- beauty to me may not be the same to another -- thats what is different and makes us the wonderous humans we are.

I love taking something very typical and shooting it with a spin on it.

Or taking another persons traditions and making them beautifully your own.
http://www.dipityroad.com/christmas/officially-christmas-season

[Meghan]

Been re-evaluating beauty for a long time. Love Karen!

[Angela]

I've been following Karen since she lived in Trinidad and would love a copy of her book.

As for dashingly different, how about an Indian guy channeling Humphrey Bogart?

http://angela-hemming.blogspot.com/2010/12/bombay-bogie.html

[wendy]

Yes please!
It took me a long time to learn that trying to be the same is counterproductive, and even hurtful to myself. I'm on the right road, now, and thoroughly enjoying it!

[Carrie]

I'd love to win the book, it sounds amazing :)

[melissa]

tear-soaked and wholehearted gratitude...'your different is beautiful'. deeply marinating in these words. thank you. for the beautiful words, images and offering...and for inviting me to embrace my difference as my beauty.

[Ursa]

Different. I am grappling with this question lately as in the rush of December I am trying to accept myself as a mother of two, with changes in our life that 2010 brought. It should become my new motto "different = the new normal".

[Karen]

I would be thrilled to win the book. I talk to my nieces all the time about how beauty is shown to us in so many ways - differences included!

[Kylie]

A wonderful word for the month, and the book looks amazing!

[EE K]

What a fantastic sentiment. Thanks for the giveaway!

[Beth]

I love that photography allows me to *focus* on finding *beauty* in my everyday life. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/5209386516/

[Sandra]

so very beautiful!
can't wait to get a copy of the book!

[andria.g]

Great theme for this month!

[Breanne]

Great theme and hooray for Karen!

[Jeanne]

I can not wait to feast my eyes on the beauty inside this book!

[brigid]

I am a huge fan of Karen's work! What a great thing to celebrate! On Love Thursday!