Look and Listen

Biography

Barbara Smith married her high school sweetheart in 1980 and is the home schooling mother of 14. She has faced tragedy, yet she has a smile that would light your path on the darkest of nights. Instead of hiding her mistakes and hurts, she freely shares them, knowing that hearing her story will help others. There are people who lead by example. Their life is a reflection of their beliefs; their actions draw people to them. Their strength is not in their flamboyance, but in their heart and soul. Barbara is such a person. She radiates love, her friends find comfort in simply knowing her, and strangers embrace her easily. She has an amazing compassion for people, and uses it to help others heal their emotional hurts and reach their life goals. She teaches people how to live fuller lives; lives filled with hope, love and joy. Barbara is more than a mentor; she is a friend. She does not dwell in the past but looks with bright anticipation to the future. She invites you to share that journey.

Inspiration

I have always been a lover of words. As a child, I loved the way a book could carry me into other lives and times. It was as an adult though, facing my own real life trials, that the power of words became so dear to me. Often the situations I faced left me feeling alone and in the dark. It was through the writings of others that light began to shine back into my world in those dark days. I am grateful to those writers who were willing to share their own lives. Now that I too am living in the light of joy, I want to carry on that tradition of loving people through words. It is my hope that others can learn from the paths I have walked.