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I Was Born With The Travel Bug

posted 30th September 2009    Written by: Andrea    CATEGORY: All Posts, Andrea, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1, Travel, Travel/Adventure

globesWhen I first heard of Stratejoy and the adventures of wonderful Miss Molly Hoyne, the one thing that really struck me was her year-long travel excursion. I was so jealous!

Reading through other QLC blogger posts, I’ve noticed that travel is a common theme among all of us. From Robyn taking some time to go through Europe, to Kendra moving from NYC to Montreal and back to NYC again, it seems like travel and exploring are crucial parts of the Quarterlife Crisis.

I grew up traveling up and down the east coast on family vacations and consider myself extremely lucky to have had these many opportunities. I have this theory that you can always tell when you meet a person, if they travel or not.

It’s just something about they way a person looks at the world.

I also think it has a lot to do with the mentality of Generation Y.  We are a restless bunch and it’s hard to sit still. We want to be a part of this crazy, exciting world! (I know I generalize here, so feel free to disagree with me.)

In high school, I went to Europe for two weeks and then in graduate school spent an amazing three weeks in China. Those were both trips I never in a million years thought I would take, yet I went because the opportunity presented itself. I’m the type of person that if given a chance to explore, I will take it in a heartbeat, regardless of the cost. (Probably why I am 25 years old and broke as a joke. I would rather say I saw the world then saved money. You only live once right?)

Lately, I have been feeling the itch to get up and go. Maybe not move, but take some time to see how other people live.

Sometimes I feel bad and selfish though, because I travel often for my job.  Over the past two years, I have been to a dozen states and track the cities on a map in my room. I love traveling for work, there is no way I would be able to sit still in an office or cubicle from 9-5.

While sitting at my desk at work though, daydreaming, I think about taking a three-month leave of absence from work to travel along the Mediterranean. I contemplate driving cross country with my roommate or visiting a friend in London.

I mean, when else in my life will I have the chance to go? I’m not responsible to a family, a house or elderly parents. Someday, I will look back on this point in my life and I want to be sure I lived it to the fullest.

Travel plays a huge part in my life. You could say I was born with the travel bug.

Thinking of traveling? Need help with direction or inspiration?

STA Travel
Heard of STA Travel? They are an amazing travel agency offering trips all over the globe to young people and teachers. They have this fabulous internship given to two lucky students each year. The students travel around the country (for free) documenting the journey though photos, short videos, blogs and updates. How awesome?!

Travelzoo
Travel deals galore! I subscribe to Travelzoo updates and constantly look for affordable, exotic trips. Travelzoo sends email updates once a week on flights, hotels, package deals, last minute excursions and more to the most fabulous places around the world. Try it, I’m obsessed.

Work Abroad
Great jobs are not limited to just the USA. Friends of mine have participated in working internship programs from London to Paris and Australia. Go see what it’s like to work in a different country.

Experience The World Without Leaving Home
Visit online travel communities like Lonely Planet, read the colorful Conde Naste Traveler or catch an episode or two of fun shows on the Travel Channel.

And now for some REALLY BIG NEWS!

I am going to Eastern Europe in October! I discovered a great company called TopDeck which offers some non-traditional travel excursions fro 18-30 year olds. I’ve booked a trip for twelve days through the six countries of  Germany, Czech Republic, Poland (the motherland! I can’t wait to tell my Grandma!) Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.

I am so excited because I’ve wanted to go someplace, anyplace and I chose to do this trip solo, just for me. Plus, going to Poland is on my list of things to do before in 30, so look out Poland here I come!

Andrea (new) bio.

photo credit: greg_robbins

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Are you down with G-O-D?

posted 29th September 2009    Written by: Kendra    CATEGORY: All Posts, Kendra, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1, Spirituality

RosaryI believe in God.

Not as an abstract concept, or because of 13 years of religious indoctrination via Catholic school.

Okay, maybe a little bit because of that.

But still I believe in God.

This is problematic. My friends- the hyper-educated, super liberal, scientific sort- mostly don’t. Their beliefs vary from wrestling with the belief that God is real, vague forms of agnosticism, to all out atheism.

With a few exceptions most of my nominally Christian friends do not go to church and my Jewish friends are more culturally Jewish than religiously Jewish.  A Muslim friend chose to communally break his Ramadan fast surrounded by non-Muslim friends and with a meal which among other things included pork sausages and beer. I’m not going to lie, it was delicious.

And if I sound like I’m coming from a place of judgment, I’m not. I don’t go to church regularly either, and when I discovered that Catholicism which does not frown upon alcohol consumption, most definitely frowns upon intoxication I mourned for my past sins by getting drunk.

My relationship with religion is best described as nebulous and I chafe under the mantle of being called religious. I mean, I’m pro-choice, pro-contraception, pro-gay marriage and yes, I believe in evolution and the separation of church and state.

But I also believe in God. And yet, because nobody around me really does and people tend to talk in negative tones about religion and spirituality I tend to be shy about my beliefs. Instead of something that links me to others, something within which I can find much needed solace, it’s one more thing that seems to set me apart in hidden shame.

This is silly, because I’m happiest and my life seems to go most serendipitously when I feel personally connected to God. Incidentally, this year of acutely painful transitions (which I now call, in hindsight, the dark ages) is the most disconnected I’ve felt from God in my adult life.  Coincidence?  Maybe. But for me, faith makes me happier, healthier and more connected and I’m not going to throw that out just to satisfy someone else’s idea of who I should be and what I should believe.

I am not here to proselytize to anyone, not least of all because I don’t think God needs me as a PR person.

I am not worried that without a belief in God your soul is hell bent on eternal damnation or any of the things that turn so many people (including myself) off to so many of the world’s organized religions. If agnosticism or all out atheism works for you then keep on rocking, but if like me you’re struggling a bit and you find yourself to be a bit of a closet believer,  I guess I’m here to say it’s okay to have faith.

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photo credit: calliope

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Doing it for Yourself

posted 28th September 2009    Written by: Robyn    CATEGORY: All Posts, Events, Quarterlife Crisis, Robyn, Season 1

Chicago TriI spent last Sunday morning watching the 2009 Chicago Triathlon.  My best friend, Julie, was cheering on her boyfriend, and I decided to tag along since I have always been interested in participating in the race.

Each year registration comes and goes, and I either make an excuse or push it to the back of my mind until it is too late.

Julie and I stood at the finish line, waiting for Brian to run by for nearly an hour.  We saw hundreds of people finish—all exhausted and completely thrilled with themselves and what they had just accomplished.  We watched with amazement as Brian crossed the finish line, and we pushed through crowds to meet him on the other side to congratulate him.

He was sweaty, exhausted… and completely glowing with life and fulfillment.

I walked away from downtown Chicago toward my condo in Lincoln Park—completely inspired. When I got home, I stretched and put on my running shoes (barely broken in since I got them for Christmas!) and went for a run.  Okay, it was a two mile run, and I had to stop in the middle to walk because I am so out of shape, but it was a start.

I think the moral of this story is to push yourself.

Don’t pass up opportunities that excite you because of your excuses. I’m busy/I’m tired/I’m out of shape/I don’t have anyone to do it with me/etc.  These are all excuses I have used to get out of lots of things—None of them legit and none of them that hold any real truth.

I am busy, but so is everyone else—busier than me most likely.  I’m not too busy to train, because I can always make time to walk to meet a friend instead of taking a cab.  I can always bike to work instead of taking the bus.  I can always go to bed earlier and wake up earlier to fit in a work out.  All these things would most definitely benefit me in the long run whether I actually ended up running the triathlon or not.

The worst of these excuses is: “I don’t have anyone to do it with me.”  Obviously it is easier to try something new and challenging with a friend so there’s that extra built-in support system to push you and motivate you and take that risk with you, but in the end, you can’t rely on someone else to always get you to where you want to be.

I think this is a lesson that was taught to me by my friend, Rich.  He wanted to travel Europe after college graduation.  He planned out the whole itinerary for his three-month journey, hoping that someone would come along.  He invited his roommates, his fraternity brothers and anyone he could think of so he wouldn’t have to go alone.  People gave him excuses or delayed their answer until it was too late for Rich to even book the flight he wanted.

He left a month later on his own and had the time of his life.  He ended up getting a work visa in London, finding a job as a bartender, and living abroad for six months, having the time of his life.  He met lifelong friends.  He sucked in the whole experience.  He realized he had put the trip on hold for nothing. If he had waited around for someone else to finally commit to traveling with him, he would have been relying on someone else to call his shots, I doubt he would have ever gotten to do what he really wanted to do.

I have an entire year ahead of me to prepare for next summer’s triathlon.

Of course, I’ll asked my friends if they want to join me and train with me, but in the end…it’s what I want, and I’m going to do it and take on the challenge myself either way.

robyn-bio1

photo credit: heyerin

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It’s not a Crisis, it’s a Rite of Passage…

posted 25th September 2009    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Molly, Quarterlife Crisis

Christine Hassler Header

About a month ago, Andrea, Marisa and I participated in a coaching call with the cool, calm & collected Christine Hassler.  Christine is a life coach, speaker & author focused on the 20something experience- so needless to say, I was excited to get her take on the world!  I’ve used her two books as references in my own life and in my coaching & teaching, so it was a thrill to get an hour of her time.

And guess what?  We have the call recorded for you to listen in on! Apologies for me speaking on my cell phone, apparently that is not the thing to do on a recorded conference call…  But if you can get over my gurgles & clicks- this recording is well worth the 50 minutes.  Wise word, shared experiences & inspiration!  Plus Marisa gives us the scoop on her new drumming gig!

(Love Note to Christine–  Stratejoy hearts you and your sunny spirit and your spot on advice.  Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with our tribe!)

Why should you listen?  Here’s a quick recap of the call.

After gently explaining to us that the Quarterlife Crisis is becoming less of a crisis*, more of a Rite of Passage, Christine invited us to tell her about the biggest question we’re facing in our lives right now.

So, what’s the big question keeping us all up at night?

Andrea: “Nobody explains to you what to do after you’ve been in the working world for a while.  How do you know when it’s time to go?  How do you know when it’s time for your next adventure?”

Marisa: “How do you balance wanting to be happy with being realistic?  How do you find balance with work and doing the things you love?”

Molly: “And as a 20something entrepreneur trying to make it in this economy, I’ve got about a thousand questions keeping me up at night!  They seem to all fit under the broad umbrella of — How do I have faith that things will work out?”

I’m not going to tell you how we explored the answers, you’ll have to listen!

Favorite Thoughts from this Call

These don’t make nearly as much sense taken out of context, but I did want to leave you with some wise words from Christine…

*My QLC was definitely a crisis.  It was all hells broken loose/I have no idea what to do with my life/perhaps I shall move to a cabin in the woods type of 6 months.  However, after that first crazy period of crying jags/wine drinking/trying to convince myself I did really want to become a Director of Sales/beating myself up over my college major switcharoo,  I think it mellowed out into a Rite of Passage…  A Rite of Passage I’m still on 3 years later for that matter!

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Shit Comes in Threes

posted 24th September 2009    Written by: Marisa    CATEGORY: All Posts, Job/Career/Work, Marisa, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

mac-russian-red_300I make music playlists to document my life and how I feel at that time.  It started last summer when I made mixed CDs for some birthdays and play ists for some of the shows that I wanted to remember always. I sigh every time I heard them.

I have a new playlist for these two past weeks:  Shit. Shit. Shit.

A lot of things started to happen at once.  And not really any positive or fantastical events took place.  Things kind of imploded.

My unemployment insurance ended. Yup, the recent funemployment gravy train ran dry for a couple of days.  Yet thankfully and most wonderfully so (thanks Obama!), there’s a federal extension given to people now.  However, the road to this qualification was scary.  I had to wait for a certain letter, on a certain day to then file again with even more info/paperwork to see if funemployment Marisa could continue life in Portland.

And I didn’t want to go “there”.

By “there”, I mean the “there” where I imagine moving back in with my Mother, moving back to Reno and moving back into a craptastic time where high school never ends and people don’t grow. *shudder.

And to continue with the lovely theme of shit, shit, shit here, I met a boy. Shit, I know.

He kind of threw a wrench into everything.  We first met a couple of months ago through friends and after having an awesome meeting where I felt we clicked, he didn’t ask for my number.  This was okay at the time; I wasn’t too concerned since I only met him once, but out of nowhere he came to the Lost Gospel show just to see me.  He even got my digits.

So we’ve been hanging out since then (and here comes the shit part), he just won’t touch me.  No holding of hands, no light touches with the arms and playful flirting, and no kisses.  I’ve even initiated and was somewhat awkwardly rejected, yet he still wants to go out for romantical dinners and pry into my life.  He still wants to spend time with me he says.  I’m utterly confused.

And of course things come in threes-my most recent opportunity to become part of a band and record has dissolved. Long story short, one of my friends had the opportunity to move and play with a pretty amazing band in NYC (which is total yay! but still…), so that’s that.

Positivity, rationality, where are you guys? I had to search & have some faith, but here’s my bounce back from the bad threes.  1.  Signed, sealed and delivered, I received my extension-whew! 2.  I’m going to get real with this guy and lay it out, want to be with me? Yes or No. And 3.  I may not be recording anything right now, but it was a huge step for me to bypass every traditional fiber in my body and accept that, yes, I do want to be in a band and succeed.

Good!  Now to make a new playlist for the upcoming weeks…

I think I’ll title it Russian Red.  It’s the new lipstick I bought from MAC.  I’m going Russian Red all this week and next.  MFNW is next week and not only is the music aplenty, so are the beautiful boys.  Le sigh.  Russian Red it is.

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