Kari, The 40 Over 40 Women’s Portrait Campaign

Kari, 54

I have been described by my friends and family as…

Unique, Spontaneous, Adventurous, Brave, Genuine

My best qualities are…

I am a good listener

I am most proud of…

In addition to emigrating to America and raising my 3 sons to adulthood, I am most proud of starting a business together with my husband during Covid.

We own and operate a Himalayan Salt Cave in Los Angeles, California, called “Valley Salt Cave”.

It has not been easy to do this during a global pandemic but we have persevered and are working hard to make it a success.

My favourite quotes…

“I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved.

I’ve been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight and the smell of coffee & wine.” Brooke Hampton

and

“If it excites you and scares you at the same time, it probably means you should do it!”

What advice would I give my 20-year-old self…

Live every moment, be present, and don’t have regrets. Always do the best you can with the tools you have at the time.

Everything you experience and live through gives you strength and character.

Be yourself always! Explore, see and enjoy life with its pros and cons, highs and lows, surprises, sweetness, and miracles.

We all experience many lifetimes in this one life. What did you find were the most poignant changes as you entered your 40s?

I think that the most significant and poignant change for me, in my 40s and one that has continued to shape my life,

was my mother’s unexpected diagnosis of leukemia and her death all within the space of 3 months.

This loss of the matriarch of our family continues to resonate. It has made me very aware that life is short, nothing is guaranteed, and that we must live every moment with no regrets.

It has made living so far away from my family much harder. As I enter a new phase of my life with my children grown up and taking on their own lives,

I am looking forward to new experiences, taking on new challenges, and working on discovering new ways to grow as a business owner, person, and partner.

I am looking forward to embracing everything that challenges me and scares me and I look forward to continuing to live a life that is filled with adventure and brings me joy.

A story I’d like to share…

Just after this amazing photoshoot with Monica, when I got back to Los Angeles, I decided to get a tattoo.

I have been wanting one for a long time and this tattoo has a lot of meaning to me. It is a hummingbird and protea. The hummingbird is a magical creature

and when it shows up in your life, it is a sign of good luck and symbolizes that you are doing well.

It means that you have a unique way of handling life’s challenges; you have amazing strength and flexibility.

The hummingbird is also a powerful spiritual messenger, and it straddles the divide between life and death.

Seeing a hummingbird brings comfort to those who have lost loved ones and means that we can make changes in our lives when needed

as this bird can achieve amazing things despite its tiny size;

it can change direction, fly backward, and travel long distances. And still, hum, fly, dance, and enjoy its life despite hard work.

It also reminds us that we should not forget to enjoy the process.

It is also a very fierce bird that will take on much larger birds to protect its nest and young.

It is mine and my mom’s favorite bird and I see hummingbirds around me all the time.

The protea is my favorite flower and the national symbol of South Africa.

As one of the most ancient flowers, it is a symbol of longevity and represents diversity, change,

and transformation as well as resilience and courage, growing in tough conditions.

It also represents beauty and individuality.

All these qualities resonate deeply with me.

Thoughts on aging…