Different Ability™ Podcast Episode 19

Tune into this week’s episode right here!

Episode Show Notes

Katey Fortun 0:00
And teachers if you’re listening to me, I’m sorry. I know you taught me all that obviously I can write. Yes, I can write in cursive. No, don’t make me read in cursive because that is an another whole topic. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. But uppercase and capital letters are my jam.

Intro 0:18
Welcome to the Different Ability™ podcast. I’m your host, Katey Fortun. The girl that says it’s not my disability, it’s my Different Ability™. We are going to dig deep every week discussing the challenges, the struggles, the successes and wins with being different. We will bring you inspiring and motivating stories and messages of people with different abilities that are living their best lives the way they were created. Are you ready? I know I am. Let’s do this.

Katey Fortun 0:55
Hey, welcome back to the Different Ability™ Podcast. This is your friend, Katey Fortun. I’m here. I’m here for it. I am ready. Today’s episode is gonna be a little different. What I did for today’s episode, is I went back to three YouTube videos that I posted the last three weeks. I took the audio from each and I’m putting it into one podcast for you. Yep, quite honestly, it’s because they were really short videos. And I didn’t want three separate short podcasts. So I put it all together. And it’s all about learning about yourself. If you saw the videos, awesome, listen in. I’ll have some tips and tricks, threw out some added bonus information, and all the fun things. But it’s going to be a good podcast episode, it’ll be a great reminder. And if you haven’t seen the videos, and after you listen to this episode, you’re like, I want to see how Katey does these videos, head on over to my YouTube channel. And just type in Katey Fortun. Don’t forget to subscribe, because then you’ll get every single video I post each week, and then go to Episode 48, 49 and 50 on YouTube. Yes, I have 50 episodes. Actually, when you’re listening to this, I believe I’ll be up to 51 It’s crazy. I’ve been doing YouTube for almost a year, when January 1 rolls around. It’ll be my one year doing YouTube videos. So go check them out. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode, where I bring a ton of information for you. The first episode you’re going to hear is about learning about yourself specifically. And it is on my YouTube channel. It is Episode 48. If you’d like to go check it out. Enjoy.

Katey Fortun – Episode 48 3:05
Hey, welcome back to motivation moments. And if you are new welcome for the first time. I’m Katey Fortun. Let’s get into this right away. Last week I talked all about self advocacy, and why it’s so important. This week, I’m going to talk about learning about yourself. Seems weird, right?

What are you talking about? Katey? Well, let me share when I was diagnosed with dyslexia, it was a big moment in my life. It’s really one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. Still, to this day. I don’t know if anything else will ever up that. That’s the moment I realized I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t dumb. I just learned different. So it’s still the ultimate best day of my entire life. Still, to this day, I’m 31 years old. And back when I was in fourth grade, still my most pivotal day in my life. Why? Well, like I said before, but also what happened then was my mom and dad, of course, the wonderful teachers at the school I went to and myself, decided to learn how I learned best. I needed to know how I learned the best so I could succeed in life. And this didn’t all happen like overnight. It was over years and years and years of things I’ve done. And sometimes they were all kind of planned. And sometimes they weren’t. So why is learning about yourself important? Well, it should be pretty simple, right? Because you need to know the things you’re really good at your strengths and the areas of improvement. Those are so very important. All of that is important to make you succeed in life. And I’m not just talking to the kids right now. I’m literally talking to parents, teachers, educators, random people, anyone that’s listening. I’m talking to you, learning about yourself, how you learn how you do things differently is important. 1,000,000% important. And stay with me though, the next few weeks, I’m going to break it down in different little categories of things that I did personally, that helped me succeed in learning how I learned a different.

So next week, you’re going to hear about why I write in all caps. Yeah, I had an epiphany one day, and it was kind of mind blowing. So I’m really excited for you to listen to that one next week. And the week after, it’s a little bit more obvious. It’s why I love audiobooks, versus reading physical books, there’s more to it. Obviously, you’re like Katey are dyslexic, of course, you’re going to love to listen to books over reading them. But there’s a reason I learned early on how many times it takes me to read something to fully comprehend, it fully and completely comprehend it. It was really mind blowing as well. So those are a couple. I don’t want to give too much away. But learning about yourself, and how you learn or how you do anything is so important. Because then it flips back to last week, self advocacy, you knowing about yourself and how you learn and how you do things, how you move, whatever that is, allows you to advocate for yourself better. Gives you the confidence that you want, and that you need to advocate for yourself. To stand up for yourself in any situation, it all intertwines. So thank you again. And as always my friend, Less Hate, Let’s Go Motivate. And let’s change the world for the better. We can do it. But it starts with you. Starts with me. Starts with each and every one of us. Have a great day. See ya.

Ad 7:12
Hey, friend, have you heard about the free challenge I’m running? You haven’t? Well, let me tell you about it. It is the positivity challenge of 2020. Let’s be real. 2020 has, uh, has been pretty hard, right? Not super positive. There’s a lot of negativity in the world today. So I decided to create this free challenge for anyone. You, your spouse, your significant other, your mom, your dad, your grandparents, your kids, teachers, educators, anyone can take this challenge. It is completely free. And it’s ongoing. You can sign up anytime. It’s five days. So the day you sign up, you will get an email in your inbox, that email will have a video and a PDF download or printable PDF, that you can participate in this challenge. I’ve already had people participate in it’s been so much fun. I’m still doing it. I already did the full week. I’m doing it every single week to keep myself positive, to practice positivity. We’re all in this together my friend. And 2020 doesn’t have to end on a negative note. Let’s keep positivity going, within ourselves and the people around us. If you want to sign up, head on down to my show notes, and there’s a link in the show notes or head on over to my Instagram or Facebook page. I have information over there as well. It is completely free. It’s actually a lot of fun. I look forward to you joining. If you have any questions, as always reach out. Thank You, Thank You Thank You! Now go sign up!

Katey Fortun 9:02
What did you think of the first part of this episode? It was pretty good, right? I thought so. Are you ready for the second part? I know I am. Listen up. Enjoy.

Katey Fortun – Episode 49 9:17
Hey, welcome back. It is your girl Katey Fortun with Motivation Moment. I am so excited for you to be here today. Thank you. And if you are new, welcome my friends. And if you are not welcome back. I appreciate you watching these every single week and sharing them with people that you think may need something I talked about. Or just a good laugh at my bloopers at the end. Because videos are not easy to record. And I do make mistakes. Your girl Kate is not perfect, at all!

All right, so last week we talked about how learning about yourself, your strengths and your areas of improvement are super important. And then I’ve teased a little, just a little. And if you haven’t watched it, stop this now go listen, come back, or just watch it, whatever. But I tease a little about the upcoming weeks. So here we are. Today, I want to talk about why I still write in all capitals, like all uppercase letters. That is how I write every single day, all day long. If you asked me to write my name in lowercase letters, I actually have to try really, really hard to write it in lowercase. Because I am super good, super fast at writing in uppercase letters, all caps. I’m an all cap girl. It’s like I’m yelling myself all the time when I’m writing.

Anyways, but where did that start? So for the people that don’t know, there’s probably a lot of people that don’t know. But my background is in interior design. And I went to UW Stout, I say it all the time. This is not an ad, yet. Stout reach out to me, I’d love to set something up together. So I can get more people to go to your college because it’s great. I digress. So I went to Stout in my background, and my major was interior design. And we had to take many, many classes, as we all know. So in college, I had to take an arch graphics class, I believe that’s what it’s called. But I can’t remember. I think that’s what it’s called. But that class, we had to learn how to write. Sounds crazy, right? It kind of is. So we literally had to learn how to write. If you’ve ever looked at old architectural plans, if you haven’t, go over on Google and just Google it and check it out. But look at how the hand lettering is on those plans. We had to learn how to write in all capitals. There were so many different things that we had to learn. It was crazy. I could get into this and it would take all day. So I’ll spare you that information. But what they wanted us to do was to write like that in all of our classes, because we need to as interior designers, not decorator, I’m a designer, okay? Like architect, designer, decorators. Okay, keep that clear. Okay. So seriously, it’s, it’s, it’s a sore topic for us designers. Okay?

Anyways, so we had to write in all caps. All right. So I loved it. I was writing all caps. I loved every second of it. And I never quit. I saw a lot of my classmates, they would write normal, and other people would write normal and I wouldn’t I just kept writing in all caps. It never hit me until recently, like, maybe a couple years ago, that I was like, why do I still write in all caps? Like it is so natural to me. Like I said before, I literally have to think about how to write my letters in lowercase letters. If I have to, for some reason, always capitals. And actually fun fact. That is why my logo, the Katey Fortun logo is the way it is it’s my handwriting. And it’s all in caps. How I write. There’s a little fun fact for you. So I’ll get to it. I’m sorry. I’m so talking today.

All right. Writing in caps, why do I still write in caps? It hit me one day, I honestly think I was like laying in bed or something. And I was thinking about it. Why am I wearing caps? No one else I remember. Not too many. There’s a few. So write in all capital letters, day to day. I mean, it hit me. I’m like, Oh my gosh, capital letters don’t flip on themselves, l ike lowercase letters do.

Let me explain. I’m dyslexic. We all should know that by now. But if you’re new, I’m dyslexic. And when you’re talking about “b”s, “p”s, “9”s, “6”s, “q”s in lowercase, flip. When I read, and I read a book, it flips on me. I don’t know it does it. It just doesn’t. That’s why it’s so hard to read. And there’s other letters too. But those are like they’re really flippy ones. And I thought about it and I’m likean uppercase B, an uppercase P, an uppercase Q do not look the same at all! I’m like, WHAT?! That is such a crazy thing. I have been writing in uppercase letters because I just always have but I didn’t even realize subconsciously it is easier for me to read in all capital letters, my friend. I’m not kidding, I’m not kidding with you right now!

I read so much faster, and so much easier when it’s an uppercase or capital letters. And I’ve been writing like that for years! Since I was in college, probably in 2008, I would say is when I started writing in capital letters, and I’ve always done it. And here’s another fun fact, I catch that my dad actually writes in a lot of uppercase letters, not all of them, but he does as well. I’m like, Oh my gosh, go listen to a previous episode about my dad and I. But he’s also dyslexic as never been diagnosed, but we know he is. So I’m like, what, it just never hit me. And so that’s something that I’ve learned about myself, and actually just hit me only a few years ago. But that is why, and I, I sometimes I’ll just type things out and uppercase letters. No, I’m not yelling at you. It is just so much easier for me to read it. Because nothing’s flipping as much. It’s not perfect. But it’s not flipping around and messing me up all the time.

How crazy is that? So there’s a little fun fact for the day, I guess, that I write in all capital letters. I thought it was because I took this arch graphics class. And I really liked writing that way. But then underlying, I realized, oh my gosh, it’s because I can read it and understand it so much better. Crazy. I mean, for real.

So that is why learning about how you learn or what you do things, your strengths, and your areas of improvement is so important. I am never going to go back to those lowercase letters. And teachers. If you’re listening to me, I’m sorry. I know you taught me all that. Obviously I can write. Yes, I can write in cursive. No, don’t make me read in cursive because that is an another whole topic. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. But uppercase and capital letters are my jam. And that is what I do all the time. So I will write you a handwritten note. If you’re ever on my podcast, by the way, you’ll be getting handwritten note from me. But if I write your handwritten note, you will notice all uppercase.

So learn about yourself. Learn about how you do things differently and own it. Because it’s awesome. This is me owning that I write in capital letters. Because I’m dyslexic. But dyslexia doesn’t have me! Alright, my friend, Less Hate, Let’s Go Motivate and get out there and learn about you. Learn about the things that you are super awesome at and things that you may struggle with. Because that will make you a better you. Have a great day. See ya.

Katey Fortun 17:49
Well, how did you like Episode 49? Isn’t that interesting? Writing in all caps is easier for me to write and read. I didn’t say it in that episode, but it is easier for me to write as well. And to spell words out. It’s pretty incredible. If you ask me, honestly, it’s pretty awesome. That is why learning about ourselves is so important. I know that writing in capital letters is easier for me to comprehend the things I’m writing and reading. If I didn’t know that, I’d still be back at square one probably having more difficulty. So hey, learn about yourself. It’s the time it’s never too late. All right, next little episode clip, Episode 50 on YouTube. So go check it out if you want to watch it, but also listen here. It’s all about why I love listening to audio versus reading a book. Yes, it may seem pretty obvious, but listen in. There’s a lot more to learn in this little episode. I hope you enjoy it.

Katey Fortun – Episode 50 19:06
Hey, everyone. It’s your girl Katey Fortun with Motivation Moment. I hope you’re doing great today. I’m excited to be here with you today. All right, the last few weeks, I have been talking about self advocacy, why learning about yourself is so important, and also why I write in caps, that was last week, so check it out. And this week, I want to talk about something that’s a little bit more obvious. Specifically because I’m dyslexic and I understand people are like, well, that makes sense, Katey, but there is more info. Okay?

So why do I love listening to audiobooks versus reading? Why do I love podcasts versus I don’t even know what the other flip of that would be? Why do I love audio? Why do I like hearing things? Let me share with you. When I was in middle school I believe it was middle school English class. No, it was Middle School reading class, I got to tell a story. I’m derailing this whole thing, this whole idea right now hold, pause, listen to this crazy story. And then we’ll get back to it. I mean, it all really goes together.

All right. Have you ever? Have you ever, been in a reading class, and specifically to my friends that are dyslexic, or have struggles reading? Does your teacher ever stand in front of the room saying, Okay, guys, we’re gonna read this book today and these chapters, and each person is going to read a different paragraph. And we’re gonna go start here with Sally. And then we’re going to end over here with Bob. Yeah, it wasn’t even in the generation of Sally’s and Bob’s, but whatever. Stay with me, did you like me count every single person in front of you, and then count every single paragraph to then sit there and read and read and read and read and read that paragraph to try to know every word in it, so you didn’t look silly reading in front of your peers, because you were not a good reader? I did. Every single time. And reading class was such a scary class for me. I, I’m sorry. I love my reading teacher. I love her. So if you’re watching, I love you. Okay? love you! But I did not like the class. It was, I would sweat through that class. I was scared to be in that class every single day. It’s terrible. It’s terrible. Think about it. But think about it. I’m reading one paragraph over and over and over again until it’s my turn. And then like, I read it, and then I can breathe, right? I can breathe over again. And then goes on to the next person. I didn’t listen to anyone in front of me. No one in front of me. I didn’t know what was going on. in that chapter. It was terrifying. And I probably didn’t learn tons of stuff, because of what I did.

So okay, that’s my little side story. I’m gonna do a different segment on that, because that is a great topic. Great topic. Okay. So in my reading class, one time, one of my classes I can’t remember, I decided.. You remember when teachers would give you a sheet of paper, and it had like, some story or something on it, and then we read through it, and then we’d have to talk about it in class? What did you learn? What did you see? What happened here, there, whatever? Do you remember that? Okay, well, if you don’t, it happened to me. And I remember one year, I decided to take a sheet of paper, whether it was at home or in school, I don’t know all the details. But I remember reading that over and over again. So I was like, Okay Katey, I’m going to do a test on myself. I want to see how many times it takes me to completely understand and comprehend everything on that sheet of paper. I just, I’m going to pause because I want you all to guess, think of a number. How many times do you think it takes me to read something to comprehend it fully? How many times? Think about right now ready? Think, how many times 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10? How many times? All right, I learned with doing that exercise for myself, that it takes me four times, not one, not two, not three, four times to completely comprehend everything on that page. And to be able to speak about what I learned on that page. Four times it takes me to read it. Four!

Now imagine being in a classroom, where many of the other students don’t have to read something four times to understand it. How stressful and scary is that for the person like me, sitting in the classroom, trying to understand something as quickly as possible? But mind you, I am not the fastest reader already. So I’m trying to read, everyone else’s done around me. And I have no idea what’s going on on the page. That’s real. It’s exactly what happened to me. Pretty much my entire life. This is even after I knew I’m dyslexic! It doesn’t go away you guys. Dyslexia is not curable. We need to learn about ourselves, to be able to teach ourselves the things that we need. Now, how did I overcome that? Haven’t I’m not gonna lie, I haven’t. But a tip and trick that I do something that I know works so well for me, is audio. Learning through listening. Okay? So same page, we’re going back to that story, piece of paper, if I heard someone read it, or if I heard it on an audio like an audiobook or whatever, I would know it instantly. I could tell you everything about that page and everything on that page from listening to it one time. So that is another thing I learned about myself, that I am so much more successful with audio!

Now I understand, you can’t have audio all the time, you just can’t. But in the real world right now, there’s so many things that you can get in the world we’re living in today, all the technology today, there’s so many more avenues for me to be able to listen to things to completely understand them. And I love that about this world. A lot of people knock on technology. Technology is so significant in my life, because it makes my life a little bit easier. The right things, the right tools, and tricks make my life easier. But I wouldn’t have known that unless I tested myself and practice and tried and learned about myself.

So there you have it, learning about yourself is so important. So very important, it will change your entire life. Till next time, my friends, Less Hate, Let’s Go Motivate. If you want to reach out and talk to me about any of the things I’ve talked about. Any of my past episodes, my informations below. You are not alone, my friend, please subscribe to this YouTube channel you will get every week, the updated videos. And don’t forget I have videos come out on Friday, just to make you laugh, and sometimes learn things. Sometimes I tell jokes, tell embarrassing stories about myself. But mostly it’s for random facts and things I’ve learned. And just to make you laugh, but you would get that right away when you subscribe. Thank you so much for being here. I look forward to next week. Have a wonderful week.

Katey Fortun 26:38
Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode. I hope you enjoyed when I put all three episodes together for you. So you could listen to him all the way through. And again, if you want to see them on YouTube, the way I recorded them, please feel free to go over to my YouTube channel. Search Katey Fortun. Don’t forget to subscribe, and watch episode 48 49 and 50. And while you’re over there, just watch all of them. Have a wonderful day. Thank you so much. And wait. Stay tuned. Next week is a very special episode. I can’t wait for you to listen in. Have a great day. See ya.

Outro 27:23
Wow, can you believe it? It’s already done. Another episode is complete. Thank you so much for listening today. And if you want more, head on over to kateyfortun.com/ podcast. There you will find a link to all of the Different Ability™ podcast episodes. Along with where you can join the exclusive Different Ability™ podcast Facebook group. Lastly, if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or family member. And I would love it if you left a five star review. The more reviews and ratings we get the more incredible stories we can share each week. And remember, it’s not your disability, it’s your Different Ability™. Are you ready to share it with the world?

Links to the YouTube Videos

YouTube Episode 48: https://youtu.be/dSikdMCcOLc

YouTube Episode 49: https://youtu.be/4I_TxDsIhhg

YouTube Episode 50: https://youtu.be/hcoZNbk9eGM

Head over to my website to check out other podcast episodes and updates: https://kateyfortun.com/podcast