Kate Gladen's journey to resilience began with the tragic loss of her sister, Nicole Fitz Simons. Nicole was an emerging talent in sports journalism whose life was abruptly cut short in a motorbike accident in Thailand. Struck by this personal tragedy, Kate and her family founded the Nicole Fitz Simons Foundation to advocate for travel safety among young Australian tourists, focusing on the importance of awareness regarding road safety in foreign lands.
The loss of young lives due to preventable incidents, such as the recent deaths of tourists due to methanol poisoning, highlights the urgent need for improved safety awareness. Kate emphasizes that travelers must understand the realities of traveling in risky environments, noting alarming statistics that indicate travelers in Southeast Asia face dramatically higher odds of road accidents. Through her advocacy and foundation's initiatives, Kate aims to reduce the risks travelers face and ensure that people are informed before they embark on their journeys.
In her new book, "Okay Now What", Kate dives into the essence of resilience, urging readers to transform their responses to adversity into personal growth. She offers practical advice to parents steering their children through challenges and emphasizes the importance of recognizing shared experiences of hardship seen through social media. Kate's philosophy champions the idea that individuals must take responsibility for their reactions and work towards creating positive outcomes in their lives.
In a heartfelt interview, Kate Gladen shared her journey of resilience forged from personal tragedy—losing her sister, Nicole Fitz Simons, in a motorbike accident while on holiday in Thailand at the young age of 20. Nicole, a rising sports journalist, was known for her bright personality and talent. This devastating loss prompted the creation of the Nicole Fitz Simons Foundation, dedicated to ensuring safety for young travelers abroad. Kate emphasizes the importance of awareness regarding travel risks, particularly road safety statistics in Southeast Asia compared to Australia, where statistically, travelers face significantly lower risks. The recent tragic deaths of tourists due to methanol poisoning in Los Angeles hit close to home for Kate, who remarked on the need for heightened awareness and responsibility among young travelers. She believes that by sharing the lessons learned from personal loss, families can be empowered to approach travel with a consciousness that may save lives. Kate urges parents to instill resilience in their children, reminding them that adversity shapes one’s character, and facing challenges helps strengthen their ability to cope. In her new book, "Okay Now What", Kate combines her experiences with practical advice on building resilience in young people today. She stresses that while social media can create a false sense of isolation, everyone experiences hardships. Through her foundation's work and her personal advocacy, Kate aims to help others transform their pain into purpose, ensuring that her sister's legacy lives on as a beacon of hope and awareness.I wish I had a sister that died whilst holidaying in Thailand in 2012. Then I could sell a book about it and everyone would call me Author!
