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How One Woman Embarked on a New Path After Losing Her Sight

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In a 2001 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah and her guests discussed a topic that worries virtually every man and woman at some point in their lives: Is it possible to age gracefully, and if so, how? After the show, the cameras kept rolling as one member of the audience stood up and explained why she didn't quite understand everyone's concern.

"I'm blind," said Beth Finke. "I lost my sight in my 20s, and I have two things to say about that. One thing is, quit looking in the mirror! Oh my God! Because as far as I'm concerned, I'm still 26."

Beth went on to say that when she lost her sight, she also lost her job, the ability to exercise as much as she wanted, and her self-esteem. When she turned her life around, she said, she did so by lifting weights and staying positive, which ultimately helped her get a job at a university—modeling nude for art students.

Although she no longer models nude, Beth has stayed busy, writing a memoir, a children's book and several articles featured on National Public Radio, as well as teaching four memoir-writing classes for senior citizens. Find out what Beth says is the key lesson she would like the world to learn from her empowering story.

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