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Brad Pitt Opens Up On Life Post-Divorce - and Shows Us How To Overcome Heartbreak
Celebrities

Brad Pitt Opens Up On Life Post-Divorce - and Shows Us How To Overcome Heartbreak

When we think about Brad Pitt, what comes to mind is likely one of his iconic film roles - Achilles in Troy, perhaps, or Tyler Durden in Fight Club, or Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds. He's been lauded as a fan favorite as well as a critical darling.RELATED: Why Gwyneth Paltrow Will Never Forget The Moment Brad Pitt Stood Up for Her"He's one of the last remaining big-screen movie stars," Quentin Tarantino told GQ about Pitt. "It's just a different breed of man. And frankly, I don't think you can describe exactly what that is because it's like describing starshine."From his public presence as one of the biggest movie stars in the world, it would be hard to guess that he is privately introspective and actively working to improve his life. But, like so many of us, he's on a journey of self-improvement and self-discovery. Prompted by his divorce from Angelina Jolie in 2016, Pitt is completely retooling his life.Brad Pitt Talks About Getting Sober Post-divorceAccording to Pitt, before the divorce, he was drinking, smoking cigarettes, and consuming cannabis to cope with the stresses of stardom. "I spent most of the '90s hiding out and smoking pot," he admitted to the New York Times. "I was too uncomfortable with all the attention."His struggles with managing his substance use prompted him in 2016 to turn to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He spent the next eighteen months attending meetings and adopting the organization's policy of cutting out all alcohol and drugs.RELATED: Jennifer Aniston's Biggest Regret From Her Marriage to Brad Pitt Is a Lesson for Us All"I had a really cool men’s group here that was really private and selective, so it was safe," he told GQ. "Because I’d seen things of other people who had been recorded while they were spilling their guts, and that’s just atrocious to me."Pitt also quit smoking during this time, replacing cigarettes with nicotine-flavored gum. "I don’t have that ability to do just one or two a day,' he explained. 'It’s not in my makeup. I’m all in. And I’m going to drive into the ground. I’ve lost my privileges."Brad Pitt Opens Up About Heartbreak and HappinessPitt's romantic life has been a long and winding road. His first high-profile relationship came when he lived with Juliette Lewis from 1990 to 1993. He then briefly dated Jitka Pohlodek from 1993 to 1994. Gwyneth Paltrow came next, from 1994 to 1997. After that, in 1998, he and Jennifer Aniston started dating and were married in 2000.The marriage lasted until 2005 when Pitt met co-star Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The couple had their first child a year later, only marrying in 2014. Sadly, the marriage wasn't destined to last. Jolie filed for divorce just two years later. The couple was fully divorced by 2019.RELATED: How Brad Pitt Focused on Sobriety and Self-Improvement After Split From Angelina JolieMusing about life and heartbreak, Pitt told GQ, "I always felt very alone in my life. Alone growing up as a kid, alone even out here, and it’s really not till recently that I have had a greater embrace of my friends and family. What’s that line, it was either Rilke or Einstein, believe it or not, but it was something about when you can walk with the paradox, when you carry real pain and real joy simultaneously, this is maturity, this is growth.""I think all our hearts are broken," he added.What We Can Learn From Brad Pitt's DivorcePitt kept himself busy throughout the divorce proceedings and continues to keep busy during the pandemic. His production company, Plan B Entertainment, is currently producing a screen adaptation of Miriam Toews's Women Talking. This is just the most recent thought-provoking project the production company is working on. Pitt also stars in Bullet Train, which is currently in theaters"I'm one of those creatures that speaks through art," Pitt told GQ. "I just want to always make. If I'm not making, I'm dying in some way."RELATED: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s Reunion Has People Talking but for the Wrong ReasonThere's a lot that we can take away from Brad Pitt's post-divorce strategy. It can be jarring to end a relationship and suddenly start thinking of life in terms of "me" instead of "we" - but Pitt has handled it beautifully, opting to work on improving himself with Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Focusing on self-care and self-improvement is an excellent way to get through a divorce (or breakup).Having a realistic mindset is also crucial to navigating the end of a marriage. Pitt recognizes that his heartbreak is real, but it isn't unique. We all carry some form of heartbreak in our lives. It's just a part of being human. The trick, as Pitt pointed out, is learning to carry that heartbreak while also making room for happiness in our lives.Lastly, having a clear purpose will always help you get through a tough situation. Pitt's a self-proclaimed "maker," but purpose can come in many forms. Feeling useful and fulfilled, even if it's not through a paying job, will help you keep your head above water when things get hard.All in all, Brad Pitt seems to be thriving despite a difficult transition in his life. We could all hope to do the same.KEEP READING: Brad Pitt is Still Fighting the Ghost of Tyler Durden

Angelina Jolie - To Be Of Use (Inspirational Speech)
Self-Development

Angelina Jolie - To Be Of Use (Inspirational Speech)

Angelina Jolie Receives The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award At The 2013 Governors Awards and gives a heartfelt speech on how to be of use. Transcript: Thank you so much. It's quite overwhelming. Thank you to the members of the Academy for this honor. My dear friends who are here tonight. Jenna... and George for your kind words to my hero Louis Zamperini to the cast of ‘Blood and Honey’ and most of all, to my family, my love. Your support and your guidance make everything that I do possible. Mad, I’m not gonna cry, I promise. I won’t embarrass you. You and your brothers and your sisters are my happiness. And there is no a greater honor in this world than being your mom. I’m very humble to be here tonight among so many extraordinary artists. My mother loved art. She loved film. She supported any crazy thing I did, but whenever it had meaning, she made a point of telling me, ‘That is what film is for’. And she never had a career as an artist, she never had the opportunity to express herself beyond her theater class, but she wanted more than for herself. She wanted for Jamie and My mother loved art. She loved film. She supported any crazy thing I did, but whenever it had meaning, she made a point of telling me, ‘That is what film is for’. And she never had a career as an artist, she never had the opportunity to express herself beyond her theater class, but she wanted more than for herself. She wanted for Jamie and I to know what it is to have a life as artists. And she gave us that chance. She drove me to every audition, and she’d wait in the car for hours, always make me feel really good all the times I didn’t get the job. And when I did, we would jump up and down and scream and yell like little girls. She wasn’t really the best critic, since she never had anything unkind to say, but she did give me love and confidence, and above all, she was very clear that nothing would mean anything if I didn’t live a life of use to others. And I didn’t know what that meant for a long time. I came into this business young and worried about my own experiences and my own pain and it was only when I began to travel and look and live beyond my home, that I understand my responsibility to others. And when I met survivors of war and famine and rape, I learned what life is like for most people in this world and how fortunate I was to have food to eat, a roof over my head, a safe place to live and the joy of having my family safe and healthy. And I realized how sheltered I had been. And I was determined never to be that way again. We are all, everyone in this room so fortunate. I have never understood why some people are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had, to have this path in life and why across the world, there is a woman just like me, with the same abilities and the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches. Only she sits in a refugee camp and she has no voice. She worries about what her children will eat, how to keep them safe, and if they’ll ever be allowed to return home. I don’t know why this is my life and that’s hers. I don’t understand that but I will do as my mother asked, and I will do the best I can with this life, to be of use. And to stand here today means that I did as she asked. And if she were alive, she would be very proud. So thank you for that. And when I met survivors of war and famine and rape, I learned what life is like for most people in this world and how fortunate I was to have food to eat, a roof over my head, a safe place to live and the joy of having my family safe and healthy. And I realized how sheltered I had been. And I was determined never to be that way again. We are all, everyone in this room so fortunate. I have never understood why some people are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had, to have this path in life and why across the world, there is a woman just like me, with the same abilities and the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches. Only she sits in a refugee camp and she has no voice. She worries about what her children will eat, how to keep them safe, and if they’ll ever be allowed to return home. I don’t know why this is my life and that’s hers. I don’t understand that but I will do as my mother asked, and I will do the best I can with this life, to be of use. And to stand here today means that I did as she asked. And if she were alive, she would be very proud. So thank you for that. Check out: Top 20 Inspiring Angelina Jolie Quotes