Yep. It’s back! I’m not making any promises on how often I will be updating the Women Worth Knowing Project profiles, but I can promise you that the women I’ve contacted to join in are all very interesting, very appealing women, who are well worth knowing.
Let’s start with Katie. One of the things I like best about this project is learning new things about people I might have known for a while. I haven’t known Katie for very long, so getting to read her Q&A was a real treat. What I do know is that Katie is the consummate cheerleader, a great encourager of people, and a truly empathetic soul. You’re going to enjoy meeting her, as much as I am getting to know her.
Meet Katie
Q: Who are you?
Q: What do the first three hours of your day look like?
A: I get up around 5:40 A.M., hop in the shower, get clean, get out partially dry my hair and put lotion on, occasionally I’ll put makeup on but generally skip that step. Then I decide what to wear for the day, change my mind, and then change my mind again and eventually get dressed. I get my dog up and we have breakfast, and I’ll do a little facebooking or play a game before heading to work. At work, I catch up with my coworkers and do some work!
Q: What about the last hour?
A: The last hour of my day is usually spent getting ready for bed, which can include a quick shower if I’ve been outside or I’ve gone to the gym, or just washing my face, taking my pills, and brushing and flossing my teeth. I make sure the dog goes out before bed, put him in his crate and I’ll get into my bed. I usually listen to an audio book and play a game on my phone before I fall asleep.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I am an Instructional Designer for knitters, crocheters and sewists. What this means is I produce web seminars and online learning, working with designers and educators in those fields.
Q: What are you most passionate about?
A: I’m most passionate about social justice, I really think it’s important that all people are treated equally and those of us with privilege understand that privilege and work as an ally to oppressed groups.
Q: What advice would you give your 13 year old self?
A: Everyone is too busy worrying about what they feel is wrong with themselves to be worrying about the things you think are wrong with you. You don’t have to fit in with the people who don’t want to know more about the world. It’s totally okay to be a nerd.
Q: What is the best advice someone else has ever given you?
A: You can’t control how other people feel, you can only influence how you feel about things.
Q: How do you want to be remembered?
A: I would like to be remembered as a person who wasn’t afraid to be herself and encouraged others to be themselves.
Q: What advice would you give a young adult about romance?
A: There are so many ways to love people, I think it’s really important to remember that you are a person both inside and outside of a relationship. Find that person who encourages you to keep your identity, rather than a person who wants to merge their identity with yours. There’s so much to be said for being a “you and me” rather than a “we” inside of your relationship. [Ed. This is really great advice!]
Q: What signifies successful in other people, to you? What do you think success looks like?
A: I’m still trying to figure out what I think makes success in other people. I think there’s a lot to be said for financial stability, but there’s also a lot to be said for looking at someone and knowing that that person is mostly happy with their life.
Q: What makes you feel successful?
A: I feel successful when someone tells me they really appreciate something I’ve said or done to help them out with their problems or just makes them feel good about themselves.
Q: What makes you happy?
A: Happiness is a warm puppy?, Okay maybe not entirely, but my happiest moments involve laughing with people who really understand my sense of humor, my family, being outside, seeing something new, and hanging out with animals.
Q: Where do you go from here? What’s next in your life?
A: The ultimate question. I don’t entirely know right now, I finished graduate school a year ago and I’m working which is great, but probably not the job I want to keep forever. I know I’d like to find a man who makes me laugh and feel good about myself. I might go back to school at some point for a PhD. In the immediate future I’m working on getting back in shape and enjoying my life.
Q: Who are the women who have made the most impact in your world?
A: There are so many women who have had huge impacts on my life. My mom (of course) is a constant inspiration, who will never ever know how awesome she is and who has taught me how important it is to be passionate. My older sister who I have always looked up to and who has always shown me how much she loves me. My maternal grandmother who taught me negativity can hurt relationships. I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to find myself around women who believe in me at various points in my life. I’m constantly amazed by these women, a former boss and friend, friends from college, and friends I’ve never met in real life, who constantly lift me up and remind me how important friendships are.
The Outside Lane 