Today we introduce you to @kellyyazdi. She is one of the rare ones living life and riding the wind. She recently moved to rural Alaska with her dogs where she somehow manages to make cold weather look warm.
What does it mean to be alive? To be alive means to live on a path of love; to give, share, embrace each moment, and enjoy every breath.
Who are you inspired by? I’m inspired by passion—living with passion, people with passion, being tenacious about following your passion, and of course, passionfruit. It’s my favorite.
What is your favorite quote your dad used to say? My father had so many words of wisdom and sayings to live by; it’s really difficult narrowing it down to one.... I’d have to say that I’ve got two favorites whispering to me:
“Give... give so that the gift of giving may be yours, for one day all that you have, and all that you are, will be given.”
And
“Forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the Winds long to play with your hair.”
Both quotes are derived from The Prophet, a book by Kahlil Gibran that my father used to read with me when he was alive.
Why is it important to help others? Helping others, in my opinion, is one of the fundamental parts of being a human being. We are creatures of community and gatherings, and beings that thrive on giving and sharing. When we help others, we are able to live purposefully and thrive on a level of existence that makes us feel more fulfilled. I truly value helping others and find that the most successful people in this world are philanthropic in their own individual way.
You used to be a stunt person... could you tell me a bit about that? I wouldn’t call myself a stuntwoman, but I am a woman who’s worked in the stunt industry, and what an awesome life chapter that was. After graduating college, I became a fitness trainer and I had a couple of colleagues in the health industry who were also stuntmen and women, and they introduced me to that line of work. My studies in martial arts and extreme sports got me through the door and onto the sets of some sweet gigs. I was lucky to work with some awesome teams on phenomenal projects including superhero films, post-apocalyptic television series, international commercials, and more. Being a stunt person is an extremely demanding way of life, especially in the physical sense, and it taught me a great deal about balance in all forms.
Describe adventure.... Adventure... what a beautiful word, right? Just the word itself feels superimposed with thousands of colors and fills me with unparalleled joy. Adventure is life. Adventure is my way of life.
Describe empowered.... To be empowered means to be living on a path of purpose; being the master of your fate and captaining the direction of your life. Think about it, when do you feel most empowered? To me, it’s when I’ve got a purpose or a goal that I’m working tenaciously to achieve. Empowerment is fueled by living your life with a purpose, and knowing with unwavering certainty that the universe is on your side.
Describe freedom..... Freedom means to choose... to have the ability to choose what you want to do and how you want to live. Freedom is a luxury that many take for granted, something that many will never be able to experience, and something that the courageous give up their right to have for the sake of others. I’m grateful for my freedom and embrace it through motorcycling. Being on a bike reminds me how fortunate I am to have such freedoms like traveling where I desire, turning when I want to, and embracing each moment of the path I chose to take.
Tell me one Kelly fun fact? When I was a baby, my nickname was Sausages. I was one chunky monkey, that's for sure....
What is the best advice you ever received? The best advice I ever received also came from my father, who told me to “think steak, not hamburgers.” For years I didn’t understand those words, but eventually came to realize what that prophetic man was talking about. Although both slabs of meat come from the same animal, one is cooked with delicacy and detail while the other is derived from convenience. What I came to understand from his advice was that the best things in life come from time, patience, and perseverance versus convenience; and that it’s important to be a person who thinks bigger and doesn’t get caught up in the small things.
Can an old dog learn new tricks? Of course! I recently moved to Alaska and had to get creative with exercising outdoors being that it's the middle of winter and the temperature is usually below zero. Because of this, my dogs and I started “skijoring”; a winter activity that’s a cross between dogsledding and cross-country skiing. It’s a learning process but it’s been a fun one.
Why is it important to bring people together? Bringing people together is important because it's the building block of communities and the foundation of cultures. And I’ve come to see it as an art.
Since I’ve become an event planner/project manager, I’ve found that the most successful events, and the most impactful projects, are the ones that have a natural ability to pull people together.
What has been your best investment? My best investment has been my health. When I was younger it became evident to me that living healthily was the most important thing I could invest in, and it's a decision I continue to make on a daily basis. In my opinion, the only things I have control of are my integrity and my health, and it's those things that will keep me balanced and successful in this life.
What do you want for your next birthday? I’d love an unlimited gift card to REI or a trip to Fiji. When you live in Alaska, a place like REI becomes your go-to store for everything, and you secretly dream of escaping to a place like Fiji when you have to spend hours shoveling your driveway.