She was also able to let her challenges turn her into a champion! Join Sophie as she shares real life solutions to the opportunities for growth that present themselves in our lives. Having come to love herself, she was able to offer those around her so much more, which made her feel even better. Thanks to the love and understanding of her adopted family, Sophie came to learn her true value. Sophie was heart-broken and saw no reason for her worthless, pathetic life. Her only purpose in life was to be a hideous amusement. She had been created… no, she had been born to be ugly. UGLY SWEATER SALE the words above her head screamed. It was one that had been taken when she had been sent to model at the photo shoot. There on the open page was a picture of her. As her heart sunk, she glanced to the right and saw a newspaper advertisement. In plain sight, was an invitation to the party she was going to with the prompt to Get Your Ugly On! $100 to the winner of the UGLY SWEATER CONTEST. There before her, Sophie saw things that caused her world to crash in around her. One evening, Sophie and the family that had been attached to her were left on the kitchen table. With these new skills in place, what once seemed overwhelming was now simple and easy. Why wasn’t she good enough just the way she was? With the help and support of her new family, Sophie learned some new coping skills that allowed her to grow and gain from the feelings she once had. Being an over-achiever, Katie also added bells, bows, a purple peacock, a raccoon, an elf, a floating Santa head, an angel and candy canes all over her right arm! Sophie was feeling like a freak show and wondered why her forever person would want to change her so much. Next it was larger ornaments and presents under the tree. Oh the glitz, the glam, Sophie was loving it all. Sophie was alive with excitement, especially when she found out that Katie was going to “bling” her out. The perfect forever person had chosen her, and she even heard her talk about going to a Christmas party and being entered into a best sweater contest. At first, Sophie believed she was the happiest sweater in the world.

All of the things she learned would be needed for what was to come. During her short stay at the store, before Katie purchased her, Sophie had the opportunity to watch and observe human nature in a big way as the masses of holiday shopper descended when the doors opened each day. These were skills she would need when she arrived at the Superstore, the place where her forever person would find her. With compassion and humor, Sophie was able to turn those who started out as adversaries into allies. Her feeling of joy faded when she got back to Warehouse City and had to quickly learn to understand and find the best way to work with all the different personalities of the other sweaters. For one day, she was shipped off and was the model for a glamorous photo shoot.

Sophie was created a Christmas sweater and was feeling on top of the world when she was chosen to be featured in a newspaper ad.

Have you ever felt alone? Can you remember a time when you thought you weren't good enough? Maybe you have even felt ugly before? Sophie certainly knows how you feel.

Ugly sweater piccollage