Beautiful Voices: Jane Ryan

Beautiful Voices is our ongoing blog series that highlights inspiring, empowering women, who are also Annmarie Skin Care customers. Our most recent Beautiful Voice is Jane Ryan. See what she says when we ask her some questions about her own personal journey with beauty, skin care and living her best life.

Jane Ryan loves her life in the Pacific Northwest! A native of New Jersey, she moved to the PNW 23 years ago. She loves the peace and rugged, natural beauty found there.  She is a couples therapist specializing in helping couples transform their challenges into the relationship they truly desire and learning how to live their best lives. She is married to her best friend, has three beautiful, grown children and a lazy basset hound named Winifred.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is observing other women live their lives fully, creatively, lovingly and intentionally. When I see women who have come through challenges and have become stronger and more at ease within themselves, I feel so inspired to do the same! There is a luminous quality around women who love their lives, not because their lives are perfect, but because they embrace everything with curiosity and with love. When women have a deep sense of who they are and a deep connection to their own spirituality it is reflected in their bodies, their actions, their focus and how they are in this world.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge has been dealing with breast cancer. It seems that breast cancer has been an unwelcome part of my life since my teen years until the present (I am now 54). My mother and aunt dealt with it when I was a teenager and young adult. Five years ago, my sister was diagnosed with it. Two years ago, I was diagnosed. So for me, the challenge has been to accept the reality that breast cancer runs in my family, but to not let it define me or determine how I live. Breast cancer has challenged me to not live in fear. At times that has been easier than others; at times, harder, depending on the current circumstance. I feel that the essence of my experience with breast cancer has enabled me to focus on living my best life, to practice love and gratitude in all things, and to never stop growing and striving to become my best. I don’t know if I have “overcome” the challenge as much as integrated it into my life by allowing it to transform me into a woman who values and appreciates deeply every day of my life, my loved ones, and my health. I am deeply grateful that I now have a clean bill of health and I plan to have a long and happy, healthy life ahead of me!

Where and when do you feel most at peace?

I feel most at peace when I do the things that connect me to my true nature; when I nurture who I truly am. When I am in nature, when I meditate, when I seek out inspiration and beauty in the quiet, simple moments, and when I have lovely, heartfelt conversations with my children about life.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty evolves from living our lives authentically; when we step into our true nature and take all of our experiences as opportunities to learn, grow and become our best selves. Beauty is not about the externals, but about how we feel inside and what we choose to cultivate in our lives. The beauty in our appearance flows from this.

What makes you feel beautiful?

I feel beautiful when I am taking care of myself in ways that align with my true nature. I feel beautiful when I pursue my passions and believe in myself.  When I honor and love my body and nurture it with good food, yoga, rest, being compassionately responsive to it. I feel beautiful when I treat myself to something that feels luxurious and healthy all at the same time and brings me deep pleasure. Annmarie Skin Care products are a perfect example.

How does Annmarie’s mission fit into your lifestyle?

I take very seriously what I put in and on my body. Nothing is more important than my health and so I honor this by loving my body and striving to always treat it well. Annmarie’s mission to create natural, healthy, and beautiful products that are good for us supports how I want to approach my life, my body, and my health.

Isn’t she beautiful?

Much Love,
Annmarie Skin Care

(If you’re interested in being featured as one of our Beautiful Voices, please email us at [email protected].)