An Anecdote Years ago a young girl - a child - was asked to come into my counseling office to discuss her suicide attempt. Through the conversation, which was decidedly one-way as she did not want counselling, it became very clear that she did not believe that she could do anything. She was unable to say that she liked herself, much less loved herself. Then she stormed out. Although it was not an effective counseling session, the incident did help to catalyze this book. That event, coupled with the entry of my first grandchild and her parents' constant observation of her 'amazingness', made me aware of so many other children, and adults, who did not remember theirs. The affirmations of the book tumbled out in February, 2007. And when the words were ready six months later, the artist, Tanya, appeared. I asked Tanya how she did her illustrations.... "On water colour paper." "What medium?" "Acrylic... and oh yes, pastels." "How did you do it though?" "Well, I look at the words, and I take my paper and I paint a background of various colours. Then I look at it and I wait." "How long?" "Sometimes quite a while ... and then ..." Tanya's eyes light up and her face fills with delight, "...I see the image... and it's kind of magical in a way ...it's like ... 'Well...There you are! Hello!' ... and then I work on highlighting that image to stand out." I got goose bumps. My mother, Rosamond Wilson, wrote the first stanza of the poem, "I am Happy Being Me!" when she was almost 95 years old.---- Bio - Patricia Wilson - Author Patricia Wilson came to Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada, from Alberta in 1997. She has worked as an educator/counselor over a span of 40 years in Alberta, BC, and in the North. In her view every person is amazing at his or her essence, and each has tremendous potential that can be realized. Family and friends and hundreds of people whom she has met throughout the years confirm this belief.---- Bio - Tanya Harrington - Illustrator Born and raised in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Tanya Harrington has been teaching/counseling at Salmon Arm Secondary School for fifteen years. As a counselor, Tanya was inspired by the text of "I AM AMAZING!" and the psychology behind how repeated positive language can help change one's self-esteem. The illustrations evolved from a style of painting whereby the artist allows images to emerge from shapes seen in the background paint. The images are then highlighted to bring them into the forefront. There is a deep feeling that what is meant to emerge from the canvas will come forth - thus reflecting the spirit and intentions of both the author and the artist. Tanya lives in Salmon Arm with her husband, Chris, and "amazing" five-year old son, Ben!----