A Smile is Like the Sunshine

Teresa loves to laugh and see others smile. She was even a professional clown when she was a stay-at-home mother with her young children. Her character was ‘Quackers the Clown’ because she always made you crack up! As a creative artist, Teresa’s world is filled with joy as she sees the wonders of nature in her daily life. She has a passion to bring those wonders to life through her poetry and photography. Ten years ago, she lost her ability to laugh after a slip-n-fall on black ice that caused a serious traumatic brain injury causing life-changing disabilities. As an optimist, she told herself that God had put her on another path and she would open her mind and heart to what she learned and who she met along the way. Teresa began to meditate and did mindfulness walks. She took photos of the beauty in nature and began to notice how the sunlight illuminated intricate patterns in ice, a decaying leaf, or the beauty of a forest of Quaking Aspens. These images brought her peace and hope. Last year her walks turned into hikes. With her two hiking sticks for balance, her first hike was only fifteen minutes at Quarry Bend Trail. She focused on not how far she hiked, but how many times in a month she could hike. She was then curious how many hikes she could do in 3 months. The outcome; she accomplished ‘50 Hikes in 90 Days’ and was able to slowly hike a few miles by the end of her quest.By accepting her disability and letting her light shine from within, Teresa is able to laugh again. She found new talents and ways to bring meaning to her life. She hopes others can be inspired through her journey and see the Light Beyond the Shadows in their life.