A pearl oyster,invaded by an irritant it can't expel, turns adversity into a glowing iridescent work of nature's art. This shining treasure you now hold in your hands celebrates the similar path shared by women. In Path of the Pearl, Mary Olsen Kelly invites us to assess our own life's journey using the same six criteria used by jewelers for grading pearls - shape, size, color, luster, orient, and perfection. Her reflections and insights offer a new way of recognizing and embracing our whole self, complete with imperfections, and rejoicing in the hard-earned treasures obtained by overcoming adversity.