Most of us take the gift of sight for granted, but have you ever considered what life would be like without it? What would you do if you could no longer see the world around you? Karen Rose deals with this obstacle on a daily basis yet has never let it stop her from achieving her dreams. Blind since birth, Rose is a shining example of an empowered woman, believing in herself and working to help others do the same.

Karen’s Story, A Difficult Road
Growing up, Rose looked to her therapists for advice, and by the time she was in college she knew she wanted to help others too. Getting through college wasn't easy. In her time, braille was not available at the college level, so she had to hire people to read and record information for her. Upon obtaining her MFT in marriage and family therapy, she spent 60 hours a week for three long years looking for jobs. Unfortunately, no one wanted to hire her because she was blind. “People would ask me how I was going to get to work every day, and I told them I would get there on my feet like anyone else.”

Refusing to give up, she became so skilled at looking for jobs that she eventually became a career counselor. Later in her career, she was able to open a private practice as a marriage and family therapist. To any woman who has ever been told she can’t do something, Rose advises, “Do things you want to do, no matter what anyone else says.”

Inspirational Lessons
Rose doesn’t just look within for inspiration but to people she admires as well. She has studied with and received encouragement from spiritual teachers and authors Ram Dass and Allen Watts. Instead of focusing on the disadvantages of being blind, she has chosen to learn from them and to use those lessons to her advantage. “The world wasn’t made for me," she reflects. However, she has discovered that "being blind increases my creativity because I have to constantly figure out different ways to do things."

Empowering Advice
Rose is a pillar of female empowerment and proves that you need only look within yourself for strength. No one else has the power to stop you. She recalls, “When I was a kid, people would tell me that blind people couldn’t ride a bike when I had already been doing it for five years. No one can tell me what I can’t do.”

These words remind us that we are in charge of our lives. Rose’s advice for women around the world is to start with these questions: What is it I want to do? How am I going to do this? She cautions not to bother asking if you can do something and says simply, "Just do it."

Just do it, indeed—words to live by. We are often more powerful than we think, and we have the ability to accomplish incredible things. If you find yourself in need of encouragement or inspiration, just think of Rose's story and remember her words: “If a blind girl can do it, anyone can.”

If you are interested in learning more about Karen Rose or would like to make an appointment for an individual counseling session, e-mail her or visit her website.

~Laci Chiodo

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