“There are no “wrong” paths / choices. Each path or choice leads to opportunities,” Red Bra Guest Natalie Kelley.
We literally soar to new heights with our Red Bra Guest highlight in Episode 67 on The Red Bra Project. Meet the oh so inspirational, kind and awesome Natalie Kelley!
Natalie joins us in our live episode from Cincinnati, Ohio where she calls home and loves it. Originally a Tennessee girl, in our chat Natalie shares with us the part of her story that drew her to Cincinnati was Sporty’s which is a national flight shop, flight school, resource hub and so much more.
Natalie grew up with an aviation background with her dad who was a pilot in the Navy and her uncle Robert who was a general aviation pilot, so he flew as a hobby. Typically single – engine, war – bird type of planes. Natalie’s uncle is really who gave her a first good introduction to the amazing world of aviation at about the age of eight. Natalie knew in one of the very first times she went up in the air with her uncle that flying was supposed to be a part of her path. She enjoyed it and loved the fact that her uncle did it as well. Spoiler alert: her Uncle Robert self – taught himself aeronautics, yeah, REALLY!!
Then as it usually does, life happens. Before she knew it, she was married, had her first baby and then her other children and 16 years fast forward Natalie felt like for her personally – something was missing. It was a rough patch within her family walls and as they were working through challenges, Natalie went looking for a bucket list that she remembered writing. She was in her pajamas, sitting on the floor and found her typed (nope, that’s not a typo: typed) bucket list dated back to 1999. As she was looking at it she noted the items that were accomplished and felt really, really great about it. She also noticed one item that really stood out though. It was not yet accomplished. It read, “Earn my Private Pilot’s License” as she read those words she said it just clicked. “It seemed like emotionally I really needed something for myself and the timing of it was just perfect. I called that day and scheduled my first flight lesson. I think maybe it was about a week later when I walked in for my lesson and ever since then, I was hooked,” reminisced Natalie.
In Natalie’s life at that moment, as a stay at home mom she shares with us how responsible you feel about your kid’s decisions. Then when one starts to struggle, it can be easy to feel like you messed up, like a failure. In which during this time, she was feeling the weight and stress of what was happening in her family. She knew she had to find something else for herself and shift her focus a bit. “Any other day, I don’t know if I would have taken the initiative to do it,” Natalie said.
Flying has changed Natalie’s life totally. She was so involved in her children’s life and juggling it all, but wasn’t completely fulfilled. To listen to Natalie connect her path and dots that led her to finding and reading her bucket list of over 17 years prior to becoming a licensed Pilot and the owner of flyGIRL is so powerful. She shares with us that she was ready to put any other thing that may have been in her life extra curricular wise on the side and focus on flying.
“One of the things I feel really strongly about is reaching women who aren’t just college aged. But woman who may feel stuck or like this is just who I am, I’m a mom and this is my path in life. I don’t want women to limit themselves and think that other things are not possible. Even if it’s a dream you had when you were eight years old. There’s a chance, you know be open to trying these things. If it’s on your list or on your mind, go for it. You can have many different parts of you that you haven’t explored yet. I was 43 or 44 when I started towards my pilot’s license,” Natalie shared.
Setting the fear aside, Natalie kept reminding herself to keep going, to keep pushing through to keep doing this for herself. She shares they popped up a lot, the limiting beliefs. But every single time, she kept telling herself she could do it, she had no excuse to not do it. She wanted this and enough so to push through all of the naysayers. She shares that even if you start something and discover you don’t like it, so what, you can always go a different direction, just try it.
We also discussed the changes that come with personal growth. As many will be able to relate, it can be tough for some friendships to last when one another change and grow. Natalie shares that friendships are similar to seasons. They are a part of your life at the time it is best and then when it is time to let go, while it may hurt and be tough, sometimes you need to cherish those memories and friendships for that time and move forward with the people who are currently supporting you at the time.
Natalie shares the various degrees of what attending flight school may look like. This is most definitely worth tuning in for if you are considering becoming a pilot. From a variety of schedules to financial to selected ratings to accompany the pilot’s license. A common theme we hear from may of the guests we have had on The Red Bra Project who are in the aviation industry is the incredible unwavering support everyone has for one another. It is an amazing community to be a part of that we often hear!
After Natalie earned her pilot’s license she also found her confidence and a fresh, exciting and rewarding feeling when she pushed her own boundaries. She felt like she was ready to do the next thing. She shares with us that age should NOT be a deterrent, financial status should not be a deterrent and that you have the ability to figure out exactly what you want to do at any age.
Natalie’s next thing at the time was to inspire other women and girls to open their hearts and minds to discovering their potential. Natalie launched flyGIRL and self- funded the first $5,000 flyGIRL scholarship to help finance a portion of the cost to send another woman to pilot training. That is where flyGIRL started and it has blossomed from there touching and inspiring many. Natalie keeps a super resourceful library on her website for pilots and those who may be just curious to learn more. Natalie continues to award scholarships throughout the year supported by product sales and donations that help to fund the programs. BTW – the flyGIRL apparel is toooo cute not to take a peak at! Scholarships are often posted on flyGIRL’s social media sites, so make sure to connect with Natalie and keep an eye out. There is always at least (1) scholarship awarded and many years more than one depending on funds.
“I hope that people realize it was scary almost everyday. Starting flying, starting flyGIRL. I never felt like I had all of the answers or 100% had all of the answers or knew exactly where my path was going to go and that as OK. Maybe you want to start singing or your own baking company or something. If you are interested, just start it and see where it goes, we only have (1) life right here,” shared Natalie.
Natalie also hosts her own podcast, Cockpits & Cocktails. Omgeee, isn’t that name perfect?! It is an awesome way to learn more about flying, pilot life and the incredibly supportive aviation industry.
Natalie’s Red Bra Moment:
Gosh, well my whole flight training! We laugh, well YES!!!
I think with the flyGIRL thing, the flight training was something I did and people weren’t’ watching it all of the time. But putting myself out there as flyGIRL Kelley with all of the selfies and putting myself out there was scary. You know I’m not 20 something, I’m 40 something. It was kinda scary because I knew it could be criticized and it could be taken the wrong way. What were other 40 year old moms going to think about me? It is still hard, you do get lots of criticism from family sometimes, from close friends sometimes. I just have to keep reminding myself that they don’t really know exactly how I feel. There is something in me telling me I have to do this and I don’t need to explain it to them. I don’t have to convince the world that they need to like what I am doing or that they think I’m doing it the right way. I have a really good friend who said, Natalie, not everyone is going to like you and I hate that because I want to be liked, lol, but it’s true!
You have to keep reminding yourself that this is something I feel called to do and just can NOT do it.
Holy WOW, you all — that as a POWERFUL Red Bra Moment!!! Whether you are thinking about becoming a pilot or a singer or a landscape artist, Natalie’s Red Bra Moment is one to keep close to your heart and mind as you are navigating your own journey.
Loving what you have read so far?
Please share Natalie’s story with someone who needs it in their life. Thank you so much Natalie for sharing your inspiring story with us and sharing your feelings about putting yourself out there and the meaning behind why you can NOT show up. We know it is going to motivate & support many people out there who NEED your guidance in their life.
Here’s where to connect with the inspiring Natalie Kelley:
@flygirlkelley on IG, Twitter, LinkedIn & FB
#flygirlkelley
Episode 67 – on The Red Bra Project YT Channel
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