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I couldn’t tell you the first time I heard Marianne Williamson’s famous quote, ‘Our Deepest Fear’, but I can tell you it changed my life forever.  Inspiration is a funny thing, you never know where you will find it, but when you do, it has the power to change the course of one’s life.

I was born the 4th of 5 children in a very traditional loving family.  I was blessed with lots of love, faith, and guidance that would lead any child to a happy and successful life.  As a child, I always played it safe.  I grew up observing my older siblings, learning from their mistakes, and committed to doing my best to make my parents proud.  I made sure not to create waves, to always fit in whenever possible, and learn to put others before myself.  (Seriously though, can you imagine the chaos of a family with 5 kids where no one would confirm or follow direction... ha ha.. trust me, someone had to make it easy on my parents.)

When I look back now, it is amazing that these words from a total stranger changed the way I live my life:

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.’

Don’t get me wrong, I still pride myself on making my parents proud, I continue to learn from my siblings, yet, today, I am comfortable making waves, I am proud to voice my opinion, and I choose to take the path less traveled.

I believe the first step of my journey that would eventually lead me to JAI started after I finished university and moved to Italy.  Upon my arrival at 20 years of age, I got off the plane with all the money I had saved, found a phone book, booked a pension, and the next day went out looking for a job.  Not only did I not have a job waiting, no one even knew I was coming, but something inside me told me there was a world out there that I needed to explore.  A world of experiences that would help shape the man I was destined to become.

For the next 13 years, I lived throughout Europe and Africa, working, exploring, and  learning about the people of the world.  I would live in each city for about 3-6 months, once I had exhausted the museums, the local culture, and of course the night life, I would jump on a plane, train, or automobile and head off to the next exotic destination. 

My journey to becoming the curator and treasure hunter of JAI really started when I stepped off that plane in Italy.  I was soon approached and offered a modeling job.  Who would have thought that someone would want to pay to take pictures of me.  I soon found myself walking runways throughout Europe, shooting for magazines from around the world, and featured in commercials for products and countries I never knew existed. 

My ability to smile, opened the doors, but it was my curiosity of the culture, my appreciation of the art, and my gratitude of the work that allowed me to become a successful model.

During these 13 years, I would take time off to explore the more remote destinations while living in the countries.  To the angst of my agents, modeling was but a vehicle that allowed me to experience the world, a gift from God, to explore and become. 

Each country I called home, I’d submerge myself in the culture and the daily life of the people.  While in Italy, I put myself in an Italian University and studied Architectural History, language, and Religion.  While living in Africa, I became a foster parent to a street child for three years and learned the importance of unconditional love.  Each destination provided another lesson.

My career as a model opened doors to a world that I couldn't have dreamed of.  It introduced me to designers, artists, philanthropist and most importantly to everyday people who lived, loved, and smiled the same way you and I do.  It taught me the power of listening, observing, sharing, and inspiring.  

My parents gave me security and belief in myself, Marianne Williamson gave me the courage to listen to the voice within, and my travels gave me the inspiration to share the stories of people from around the world. 

I hope to pass on the love of exploration & people to my 7 month old daughter Olive and will share with her the below quote from Albert Einstein in the hopes that it may free her mind:

‘The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.  The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in place that no one has ever been before’

Safe Travels,

Scott Grimes

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