Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Patti O’Leary

We recently had the chance to connect with Patti O’Leary and have shared our conversation below.

Patti, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Recently my I was chosen by Story Summit as a “break-out new writer voice” for my current novel-in-progress “King’s Hill”. Story Summit published the first few pages of my novel in their newsletter and I received a lot of great comments and feedback from other writers. “King’s Hill” is my first attempt at writing a classic haunted house kind of story, and I was very proud to be chosen.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a dual-career person, as many people are these days. I have always worked in movie and television production at various studios here in Hollywood. My “day job” is absolutely a career and one that I’m very proud of. I’ve been in the business 25+ years. My other job – although it’s not a paid job at this point – is writing. I am a writer of fiction novels and one poetry book. I am self-published (on Amazon) to this point, but I am currently working on a horror novel titled “King’s Hill” that I’m very excited about. It’s my first time writing in the horror genre and though it’s been a bit daunting it’s also exciting to be doing this. I’ve had this story in my head for a long time and it’s great to finally be writing it.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling strong and powerful was when I first started riding horses – and very quickly realized and was told that I had a natural affinity for it.. I was very young and at first taking riding lessons was something I did for fun because my friends rode,, but the more I rode (which was a lot) the stronger and more powerful I felt – and was. Riding horses takes physical and mental strength and dedication and ability – the ability to fall, get stepped on, get bitten or kicked by an animal that weighs 1,000 pounds or more – and then get up and get back on the horse – that takes a certain kind of person and a certain kind of grit, and mindset and yes, also an absolute and unshakeable love for the horse and the sport, which is truly a lifestyle. I rode and went to horse shows and cleaned stalls and hung out in the barn and I’ve never regretted one moment of it, never was bitter about a fall or felt like it was too hard to do. Kids who ride horses, and I mean as sport, not just for fun horse rental rides – kids who take riding lessons and own horses and dedicate themselves to it are strong and powerful. I have so many horses in my life, and have owned two great horses, and all of them have taught me so much. They’ve given me strength, power and taught me lessons of empathy and compassion and responsibility. Can’t imagine my life without horses in it.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could talk to the little girl I once was, I would say “You are going to be okay. Your life is going to be magical and you are going to go places and do wonderful things and meet amazing people and you are going to be strong and successful; you are going to be more than okay, so try to believe in yourself more than you’ve been taught to do.”

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that love and kindness really matter to me, that I always want to believe in the good in this world and in humanity. Compassion, empathy, kindness, joy and gratitude are very important to me.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I don’t know that’s it’s a story really. I just hope people say – she loved her friends and family, she loved her animals, she loved this planet and she was grateful for her life. She tried to be the best friend, family, animal-Mommy that she could. She cared deeply and gave her heart to things and people that she loved the most. She had faith, and belief in magic and God.

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• Other: https://storysummit.substack.com/p/where-memory-and-madness-intertwine?utm_source=substack&publication_id=3867626&post_id=161977313&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=false&r=5246g1&triedRedirect=true