'Inventing BE' Now available

Inventing BE is a story a person finding their oneness in community with others. Yet, it is a deeper story of how to (re)create ways of being with/as each other that can heal us, while dismantling social structures that seek to separate us from our authentic selves and from each other. Inventing BE shows us the joy in connecting and it is only through connection that we can be free. 

“The only thing more important than reinvention—and sometimes radical reinvention—is invention. BE Alink has mastered it. She rises above traditional definitions of diversity and inclusion, spreading her colorful wings into true belonging and helping others get there. As she says, invention is for the brave, not faint, of heart!”

“BE Alink has remarkable gifts: storytelling in the most natural, evocative way that comes with a blanket and fireplace, so you stay till the end, altruism that took her all over the world to help in crisis, design skills that led to the storied Alinker, and the courage of a warrior to align her body with her soul. She is a remarkable invention we can all learn from.” 

It's possible to love a book and not know much about the person behind it.  When you love a book and the person who wrote it, you've got a double bonus.  When you love a book... the person who wrote it...  and  you know the impact it is going to have on countless people, you have a perfect trifecta.

I've known BE for more than 10 years.  I've watched as she has "Invented BE" - discovering peace and power in the being she was created to BE.  She is, quite simply, an extraordinary human being with a heart focused on making life better for people and the planet.  It is a privilege to be her friend.  

This book is  a beacon of light and truth for people who have walked the same path, who are walking the path now, or those who desire to understand the path others walk.  The world needs this book!

BE embodies the energy of compassion, love, and respect for all humanity. Over the nearly ten years since we met, we have had many conversations about what it means to live authentically, to thrive outside the boxes that are woven into societal norms – in other words how to just BE – be anything and all that you are, to be limitless. BE exemplifies growth and the expansion of what it means to be human and has given me the courage to be fearless, to explore my own reinvention. I can’t wait to read Inventing BE for the wisdom on steroids that I have come to rely on from one of the most profoundly original people I have ever known.

I met BE through her invention, the Alinker. And to meet BE is to love BE as that is what you feel in their presence. Unfailingly human, the best of the best, BE invites us all in to  this book,  the memoir of an incredible life told in adventures of world travel. 

And  with compassion and truth, we see the greatest creation of their life so far, living in the freedom of being BE. I love this human and I think you will too. Gorgeous writing pulled me in straight away, the perfect companion.

“This is the best possible invitation to be curious about what can happen when we all release the attachments and just BE.”

'I was completely transfixed by this book. BE has a story that takes my breath away and a way of telling it that made me feel like I was sitting around a fire listening to a story teller of the ages'

BE’s unique perspective takes us on a fascinating journey to distant cultures and has us experience humanity at the edges. From that vantage point BE crafts her way into inventions that address how people want to live; with dignity, with care and with hope.  

Inventing BE invites us on a journey of empathy sharing helplessness, hopefulness, honesty and heart. Alink confronts the harsh realities of societal expectations while encouraging readers to embrace their authentic selves, now matter how far that journey takes them. This book will resonate with anyone who wants to be inspired to disrupt the status quo. 

I just started reading “Inventing BE”, and it immediately offers a powerful and introspective look at identity, resilience, and the process of reinventing oneself. BE Alink’s story is inspiring and thought-provoking, especially for those on a path of self-discovery. As someone who uses the Alinker, I find her reflections on living authentically deeply resonant. The Alinker has empowered me to embrace my disability and stay connected with my surroundings in ways I hadn't imagined. This book invites readers to challenge conventional ideas of being, pushing toward a fuller understanding of how we connect with ourselves and the world.

"Inventing BE is a deeply moving and unforgettable story of finding the courage to embrace who you truly are. BE Alink’s journey is one of resilience, love, and discovery, reminding us that even in the hardest moments, there is light waiting to be found. Her memoir and manifesto speak straight to the heart, offering comfort to anyone who has ever felt out of place or misunderstood. BE’s story reminds us that we are never truly alone, and sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead us to where we’re meant to be—home within ourselves."

I worked with BE (then Babs) during her International career and often wondered how she was able to achieve all she did in such difficult places at such difficult times.  More than once I found myself asking, “Who is this person”.  

This book allowed me to better answer that question by reading of how she developed the strong will and mental attitude which she applied to the difficulties she faced.  Her writing gave me a better understanding of not only who she is but how she became that fearless humanitarian who when faced with overwhelming challenges and frustrations, persevered.  I was also able to see how she developed and then maintained the amazing level of empathy for those most marginalized, to whom she dedicated her life’s work and which came to define her. 

I enjoyed the flow of the book and while there was a seriousness to the message, I still found it funny and entertaining along the way.  Her book also reminded me of times when I was faced with a risky activity in a dangerous place  but that really needed to be done and I had just two options.  I could try and find a team of “battle hardened, fearless, tough as nails, ex-military special forces SOB types….. or… I could send in Babs.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading a chapter of Inventing BE during her time in Afghanistan. I first met BE in Jalalabad, Afghanistan during a consulting stint I was doing on Afghan craft, embroidery and the importance of women’s education. I immediately took a shine to her bold and unapologetically authentic personality and the ease that she navigated Afghan society wearing men’s clothes working with locals in a manner that gained my trust immediately. She was there to work with and for the people. She treated locals as equal and with genuine love and kindness and I was thrilled to read that the love and respect was reciprocated by people she encountered in Afghanistan during some of the most challenging times in Afghan society.

For people that live on the periphery of society standards and having a nomadic soul that fits in everywhere yet always stands out shockingly in the binary frame of western existence, it was refreshing to see her navigate at ease in a way that wasn’t so simple for any “expats” living in a war zone.

I cannot wait to read the book at its entirety and savor every experience vicariously through BE’s amazing storytelling.

A life that has found its purpose and has realized that we are here to service our fellow humans should be celebrated and recognized and I’m looking forward to see this book becoming a staple in everyone’s reading lists and libraries.

With love and gratitude.