Love, Gratitude, and Adventure

posted 24th July 2011    Written by: Juliana    CATEGORY: All Posts, Juliana, Season 4

I can’t believe how fast six months have flown by.  It seems like just a little while ago that I was jumping up and down while listening to a voicemail from Molly welcoming me to this season…and now, here I am, about to answer interview questions from my fellow Season 4 contributors. If I think about it too much, it’ll make my head spin a bit, so I’m just going to dive right in.

What are you most proud of from the last 6 months?

I’ve spent a LOT of time in the last few months getting to know myself better, and getting clearer about my values and goals. As a result, I am really proud of how my sense of self has grown and solidified. I have always seemed to be a fairly confident person, but it was often a “fake it ’til you make it” strategy. These days, I feel a sense of inner confidence that is stable and not dependent on the reactions of others. It’s that little seed of self-knowledge and self-assurance that enables me to stick with my goals even if they seem a little wacky to others.

What is your favorite meal memory?

Oh, man. This question is WAY too hard for a person like me to answer with one meal. I love  food. I mean, I LOVE food, and I love the whole experience of a meal, from the atmosphere to the appetizers to the after-dinner mints. So, I know I can’t pick one meal as my favorite. A particularly fabulous memory is from the first time I took G. to one of my favorite places, Asheville, NC. We met several of my dear friends for tapas at Zambra and had a long, lingering dinner sharing bites, laughter, and lots of wine. I don’t remember what we ate (though everything there is fabulous) as much as I remember feeling full of joy and satisfaction.

What’s the best piece of advice you have for someone struggling with a QLC?  Spend time with yourself when you’re going through it. Really think about what you need and want, and what makes you happy. If you aren’t sure about the “big stuff”, just spend time doing things that delight you and they will point the way.  Journaling helps a ton, too (and guided journaling is awesome if you don’t know what questions to ask yourself!)

Post a picture of your happy self over the last six months – Where were you, what were you doing and who were you with? This picture is from last weekend, when I was playing a house concert for some buddies in Virginia. I’m cuddling with my trusty guitar, Josephine. I put 3000 miles on my car in two weeks, playing shows and visiting friends all up and down the East Coast. My friend Steve took this shot before I played in his backyard to some people I usually only get to see once a year. I like this picture because it reminds me of the things that make me happiest.

What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? Once, after some kids at school had said some mean things to me, my mom told me not to take it personally, and to “consider the source.”  I’ve carried those words with me in so many situations and I can’t even begin to tell you how often it pops into my head…and not just in negative situations. When someone is reacting to a situation in a way I can’t understand, I try to consider the source: What kind of person is this? Where are they coming from? What might their motivation be for reacting this way?  And a bonus tip – it works both ways. When I have a super emotional (and possibly irrational) reaction to something, I take a few minutes to consider my own motivation.

What’s your killer music mix? Give me some old New Orleans soul, some Motown, some Ray Charles and a dash of Bonnie Raitt and I will be shaking my butt around the house all day long.

Three biggest obsessions right now…Learning to cook nutritious stuff that my body likes, working on my first book, and re-watching every season of the X-Files.

What has happened in your time as a Stratejoy blogger that you would never have imagined for yourself in January?  I never imagined that I would spend a month in Nashville and love it. I was scared to take that step in my career for a long time, and even more scared that I’d hate the city once I spent time there, but now we’re talking about moving there one day. That’s something I couldn’t have predicted.

What’s something you learned from each of the other ladies of Season 4?

I think what I’ve learned from each of my fellow bloggers has to do with what I’ve watched them learn about themselves over these past few months…

Katharine:  Bold adventure is an incredible way to meet yourself.

Bri: Opening yourself up to love creates radical, beautiful changes.

Laura: Even someone who is capable of doing it all doesn’t have to do it all alone.

Amanda: Surrendering to the big stuff doesn’t mean giving up your identity.

Dee: Zest for life and joy are totally contagious and worth spreading around.

I’m humbled and honored to be in such awesome company.

What’s your Dream Job? Facilitator of creative inspiration, emotional catharsis, and uncontrollable giggles.

Dream Vacation? Following Anthony Bourdain around on some cultural and culinary adventures.

Dream Home? Lots of windows, views of the Blue Ridge, a big deck with a pool, an open space for entertaining, and one helluva kitchen.

What’s currently turning you on? The way my hubs supports my dreams and keeps pushing me to go for it. Rrrar.

How are you going to change the world? I hope I can change the world by inspiring people, one relationship at a time. I’d like to remind everyone I meet of their own creative force and their ability to use it.

[photo credit]

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Comments (1)

One Response to “Love, Gratitude, and Adventure”

  • Katie [blogs] Says:
    July 24th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    I also am in awe that your 6 months are over with Stratejoy, girl! The awesome thing though is that every ending is a new beginning. I can't wait to see where life takes you. And you had better keep me posted on all of the happenings of your life. :)

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