Just Kaitie Grace

Inspiration:

For me amongst a lot of other amazing people in my life, my biggest inspiration is my eldest brother James. James is 8 years older than me and so why I was a confused hormonal teenager he was jetting around the world. For years I watched him via social media, galavanting from one adventure to another. It was his courage and his willingness to do solo travelling that made me believe that I could do it. And even now, having both grown into adults, watching him so focused, motivated and committed within the world of business is still so inspiring.

I know that wherever I am in the world, whatever I am doing, I can call him. Having someone that’s not a parent but has an older and experienced perspective on things can be so comforting when you think you are completely lost, when you have achieved something, learned something, grown, taken a step backwards. Someone there though it all.

If you’re not feeling inspired. If you’re not feeling your best self. Change things. As my grandma would always tell me ‘nothing changes if nothing changes’. I tell myself this constantly when I’m feeling like I’m in a rutt. Talk to someone you admire. Ask them questions. Tell them about your dreams. Change your setting, whether this is going for a walk on a road you’ve never been down. Changing jobs, changing towns, changing clothes. Do whatever it takes to wake up and feel ready for the day. Ready for an adventure. This is a tricky thing to do, staying motivated. But the biggest thing to remember is that I don’t mean to be inspired is to be motivated to change the world. It just means that you are constantly learning and growing and achieving, from the smallest things to the biggest just keep moving forward.

Ask yourself what sort of person you want to be. What values are important to you. What do you want to spend your time doing. Write it down if you have to. This may take time to truely have an understanding of, but once you’ve figured it out or even have a slight idea, then surround yourself with like minded people and get rid of anyone that is toxic or not following the same values as yourself. There is no wrong answer to this either. On the proviso that you aren’t out there intentionally hurting other people, whatever you feel is right, what ever direction you want to head in is entirely up to you. There comes a time when putting your own wellbeing first is not selfish, but instead necessary.

Also, just because someone may have values that you don’t wish to carry yourself, it doesn’t make them a bad person. No one is perfect. People contradict themselves and comparatively given seperate situations will react in ways unexpected. This is only human. It is just important, and a journey I am still on, to practise control. Understanding your emotions and being able to categorise how and when to use these feelings, so you do not overact or accidentally say something out of rage or hurt. Next time you’re at work, down the street, using public transport or even just hanging out with your friends, pay attention to whom is reacting to what. Who’s talking for the sake or talking and who’s mostly listening. Gain consciousness of your also of you are participating in society. Be the person you wish to be. 
So, thanks James and to all the other amazing and inspiring people I have met so far along this journey. You make me want to be a better version of myself everyday. You make me certain that there is good in the world and that it doesn’t matter whom you were in the past, what you’ve been through, the most important part is to just keep moving forward.

What inspires you?

What is it that makes you want to do better?

“Are you comfortable with me ranting about my day for a few minutes?”

“Oh, this is your poetry? Would it be okay if I read it?”

“Do you mind if I use your phone for a few minutes?”

“Wow, your meal looks awesome. Could I try some?”

It will save a lot of grief, especially in a developing relationship. Eventually, with consistent “yes’s” and “no’s” you can figure out more permanent boundaries and guidelines.

WOMAN (angrily) They’re marigolds!

MAN 2 God! I think she’s right! They are marigolds!

The man in the red cardigan in the clip was played by Michael Greer, who was openly gay himself - unusual for the time. He actually worked closely with the director and rewrote much of the film’s dialogue to reduce the homophobia and make it more realistic. As a result it’s quite progressive for its time, having a gay character, played by a gay man, living in a happy same-sex relationship, which is more than a lot of media offers us today.

The twist is that even after the pair is caught, they are not inducted into the military. The Army investigators assigned to watch them are themselves gay and are trying to keep straight people out of the Army.

Pores do open up and close in response to temperature but you can’t permanently make them smaller. 

So here’s a true story: my father, sometime in the 70s was looking for his first job. He went to the local McDonalds and told the staff, [manager’s name] said I was supposed to start today. They took his word for it and started training him and by the time the manager saw him and asked who he was, people just said “oh that’s the new guy.”

Somehow this actually worked. My dad worked there for a couple of years as a cook. He even won an award plaque which he had on the wall until the day he died.