Remember Andrea from our Season 1 Bloggers? It’s been two years since she was in the blogger spotlight and she’s back to check in and update us on what (and where! and who!) the last two years have brought her. 

I’m going to be totally honest here, it’s so crazy to think its been two years since I met Molly and was introduced to the world of Stratejoy. As part of the Season 1 Stratejoy bloggers I’ve had the opportunity to listen and watch as three more groups of amazing ladies grow and change right before my eyes. Some have new homes, new jobs, new directions, new lovers and even new babies!

As for me? Well, its been two years and while some things have changed, others have remained the same. I left off closing one  door and waiting for another one to open. Part of me is still the same Andrea I was in 2009 and part of me is still trying to figure it all out. But you know what? I’m ok with that. Life is full of changes and I’ve learned to embrace those as they come.

Today, I’m sitting here writing this update from Austin, Texas. Gone are the nights I spent gallivanting around Washington, DC and jet-setting across the country for my job. Yes, I really did move to a totally different environment where people walk slower, talk funny and enjoy the sunshine. What I do know is that that coming here was one of the best decisions I could have made and it’s only getting better. Living in DC was perfect for that chapter of my life and now Austin is the best place I could possibly be for this chapter.

In May of this year I became an entrepreneur. I still work full-time (damn you, student loans!) and also teach as an adjunct of PR and Digital Marketing, but somehow managed to find time to launch a business on the side. I hope to find the courage to take the jump and pursue my business full time in 2012. I’m about 80% sure I’m going to go for it. Ok maybe more like 90%.

My business, BrandKit, guides college students and recent grads toward discovering their inner spark. I work with young professionals as a mentor and show them ways to stand out from the competition with branded resumes and portfolios.If you’re interested, I’m looking for guest bloggers too!

I love living in one of the greatest startup capitals of the world and I’m now a full-fledged member of the Gen Y Entrepreneurs Club. Running my own business is challenging, but exhilarating at the same time and there nothing else I would rather be doing with my life right now. My tech, geekiness is really shining through now!

I also took up yoga this year, started riding my little blue bike everywhere and shop at thrift stores for vintage home decor when I have the time. I look forward to home-made breakfast tacos, sunsets over the lake and meeting some of the most innovative, adventurous minds out there at random Austin happy hours.

On one hand, life looks and feels totally different. On the other, my brain and perception of life are still very much the same. I often find myself thinking “Is this really as good as it gets?” or ” Where will I go next?” (which will most likely be Europe if I have my way and can convince The One to move across the pond) And, I don’t consider myself a grown-up yet, because I still struggle with finances and have fears about pursuing my passion.

Through the past two years I’ve worked really hard at calming my brain and coping with life as it comes. I can proudly say I handle situations much better than I used to and don’t feel like I’m moving a million miles an hour. The South, The One (Yes can freely admit now I moved to Austin to be with him and yes we do live together!), some inspiring female entrepreneurs I look up to and a bit of therapy have helped get me to where I am today. I still believe that Happiness is not geographic, and that it’s the people you’re surrounded by, not where you are. 

It’s important that I also say thank you to all of the people I’ve met or crossed paths with over these last two years. I’m grateful to have met a whole crew of amazing people, most of which were because of Molly and Stratejoy. Many times when I meet someone for the first time in person, I feel as if we are already friends.

Some of these ladies are now part of my inner circle and I know we will remain close for a very long time to come. We help keep each other motivated and sane. I see now that in life you really do need others to help get you to where you are supposed to be. We aren’t meant to do it all alone.

If your find yourself heading south, please reach out to me! My home in Austin is your home and there are plenty of cute cafes and shops I can take you to if you come through town for a visit.

There are big things in store for the future, deep down I can feel it. I not sure exactly what will happen tomorrow or later this year, but the possibility is what keeps me going.

Pax et Bonum

“Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
–Robert Frost

Writing for Stratejoy has been one of the best learning experiences of my life. Deep down I am a writer, it’s what I’ve always done…The past 6 months have helped me become an even better writer. This journey has helped me to find my inner voice, which for a writer, is sometimes difficult to do.

Stratejoy has helped me live a better life.

It has truly helped me to focus, sort out things in my head and most of all, find direction. Looking back, I have come to accept that life changes at a rapid pace. Things are so different now then they were six months ago and honestly, that is great!

Before, I would have developed massive anxiety about change and now, I welcome it…. I almost look forward to it. Change is all about one door closing and another presenting itself- be it an obvious door, a hidden door or some type of masked camouflage door. It all depends on how you look at it.

The biggest lesson I have learned through my Joy Plan and writing for Stratejoy, is to be true to yourself. No one can tell you what to do and no one else, but yourself, can make decisions. At the end of the day your life is really up to you.

I’ll be the first to admit though, this can be a huge struggle. I am still struggling with the concept, each and everyday, but it’s a good struggle. It’s a learning process, a Quarterlife Crisis process.

Everyday I remind myself that this is my life.

Think about that idea and for the next few days I invite you to listen to yourself. Take some time to really reflect, you are the only person who knows YOU best. We all have ups and downs, decisions to make, paths to choose. Go with your heart and don’t think about anyone else. The doors are open for you and you only.

As for me, when the next door or path presents itself, I know I’ll be ready. For now though, I’m still here listening, writing, reflecting and waiting.

I’m doing my best to live life for me.

On a final note, I did want to say thank you to everyone at Stratejoy, especially Molly, for inviting me to be part of such a wonderful group of gutsy girls. This is my last post for Stratejoy for now. I am so sad to know I won’t have the opportunity to write at least once a week about my chaotic, fun, crazy life! (No, that is not even a joke!)

I will be writing random updates here and there though, so no worries, I’m not gone forever. I may even make my own personal blog live!

I’d like to welcome and and wish a very good friend of mine, Kelly, good luck as part of Season 2 Stratejoy Bloggers. You will all love her, I am sure. We come from the same hometown and have very recently become friends… actually as a result of both of our Quarterlife Crisis adventures.

Check back to read about her QLC. She’s quite daring and has a special someone in Texas… just like me!

These past 6 months have been an adventure and it was amazing to share, especially with all of you.

Pax et Bonun
(Peace & Goodness)

Andrea

[Andrea, I loved having you as part of the team.  Your wit, you sparkle, your zest for life...  All obvious, all inspiring.  You've got a lot of big changes ahead of you and it was incredible to be part of the journey as you started to "figure things out for yourself".  Believe me when I say this- YOU have made a difference in our lives! Thank You.  Love, Molly]

photo credit : aunto

Looking back, I feel like I have been about 20 different versions of myself over the past 7 years. It’s hard to know whether or not I will become another 20 different version in the coming 7 years….

I hope not.

I would like to think that maybe, just maybe, I’m starting to figure out this thing called life and have less anxiety and fear. Someday, I hope to wake up and say “I’m not living a Quarter Life Crisis anymore!”

Um, that day is not going to be tomorrow or the next day, but, it’s a goal nonetheless.

I’ve learned a lot in the past 7 years, hell I have learned a lot about myself in the past 6 months! It’s made much of my past clear and gives me hope for the future.

If I had kept a journal of all the things I learned, I would be able to tell 18-year-old girls some of those amazing life lessons. I think though, that part of living 18-25 is making mistakes and learning from them on your own.

That’s why its called LIFE- right? Your time to learn through living and being.

However, if I were to look back on my 18-year-old self, I would give the following personal advice:

• Don’t worry about numbers. Grades and income and money don’t matter as much as society makes you think it does.
• Keep your close friends close to you. Get rid of the useless ones, they will only cause you more stress.
• Boys will come and go, but family will always be there.
• Stop keeping so much crap. You will move a lot and its annoying to have so much “stuff.”
• Don’t be afraid of the future. You can NOT control everything and that’s OK.
• Write everyday.
• Say “I Love You” and really  mean it.
• When you get stuck at a crossroads and don’t know what to do, help someone in need.
• Remember to talk to your grandmothers more. They are especially wise.
• Don’t be so afraid of the unknown. Change can be a good thing.
• Be true to yourself, not the person you think everyone else thinks you should or could be.
• Spend more time with your sisters. You will miss them when they get their own lives.
• Who cares about social norms? You don’t have to do what every else is doing.
• Save money and stop buying useless things and gifts for people. Make memories instead.
• You are very lucky to have an unbroken family. Try to remember this when they get on your nerves.
• Embrace your faults. It will only make you stronger once you admit you are NOT always right.
• Get rid of the attitude. You are no better than anyone else. Confidence is cool but cockiness is not.
• Learn how to listen.
• Be patient.
• SLOW DOWN

What would you write to your 18-year-old self?  What valuable lessons have you learned over the past 5 or so years of your life that you wish you could go back and tell yourself?

P.S.- My best friend I look exactly the same today and for that we are super proud!!

I was inspired by Kendra’s post in August about giving it all away and made it a goal to downsize my life before the turn of the new year.

It wasn’t easy, but I spent a weekend and went through my entire room. I was able to get rid of clothes, shoes, bags, belts, jewelry- so much that I hadn’t actually used. I was shocked at all the extra material ‘things’ I had in my possession. It made me realize that I don’t actually need, or want ‘things.’

I had 8 bags of unused ‘things’ just sitting around cluttering my life. It felt so good to get rid of them. I donated it all to Goodwill so I hope ‘things’ that were of no use to me, may be able to help someone else.

It made me see that things sort of tie you down. They hold you back and usually remind you of the past. I want to change my mentality where I hold on to things. It’s time to grow up, move on and get rid of the stuff.

I’ve always been envious of people who didn’t need things to keep them happy. I want to be one of those people.

I’m learning that people and places make me happy, memories make me happy- not things. One day I will only have a small pile of things. A pile so small that if I want to pack up and move or visit an exotic country I wouldn’t need many things. I won’t feel so attached to material possessions.

I won’t even miss them!

I have a simple strategy to figure out what can stay and what can go: every few weeks I look around at my ‘things’ and take a few of them I haven’t used in months and put them in a bag. Then, I put that bag in the trunk of my car (or someplace where I won’t see it everyday.) If a few more months go by and I still don’t realize these things are gone, they get donated to Goodwill or sold online or unloaded through this nifty network of people giving things away called Freecycle.

Try it sometime. It’s worked for me. Memories will always be there, you don’t need ‘things’ to remind you of the good times (or the bad!). Take some time this month and start your 2010 off right.

Downsize your life and keep what really matters.

Six months ago, when I first started writing for Stratejoy I made a list of 30 things to do before I’m 30. I constantly consult it and through my time with Stratejoy, I have inched my way closer and closer to completing this list.

In 2009, I completed 4 things from last list and in 2010 I hope to do even more. Right off the bat, only a few days into the new year, I crossed off one of my most challenging things.

I cut my hair.

I have had long blond hair my entire life. I consider it almost like a superpower, because so few 20-somethings have long blond hair these days. Yesterday, I cut my hair off. I have never, ever had short hair and now I do. It’s like a piece of me is gone, its the strangest feeling!

In the car driving to the appointment I was freaking out, per usual when it comes to some sort of change in my life. (Over the past 6 months I’ve learned to handle most situations that give me anxiety, yes, but really what girl doesn’t freak out about her hair?)

The one thing that kept me focused was knowing no matter how it turned out, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Change does not equal the end of the world.

People tend to associate change with terms like “scary” or “unknown.”  It doesn’t have to be that way. Change can be a good thing, and it usually is. Change is only what you make of it.

I have a feeling 2010 its going to be a great year of change. For me, I started it off with a physical change and my hair! I’m also applying for a Doctoral program, so that will most definitely be a mental challenge and change. Finally, even though I won’t officially be part of Stratejoy in the coming year, I hope to continue to write on my own, practice reflection and yoga and work my way through this Quarterlife Crisis in my own spiritual way.

My theme for 2010 is Keep Calm and Carry On.

Happy New Year QuarterLifers! What changes lie ahead for you?

What is your passion? If you had to write a phrase explaining yours, what would it be?

While spending an amazing family weekend with my mom and sister in NYC, we talked a lot about the past and pondered over the future. I was still trying to come up with a topic for my Personal Statement and I think I may have found it.

I’m going to write about passion.

My passion is to mentor others, just as special people in my life have been a mentor figure for me.

I have this theory that everyone is born with passion. The challenge in life  is to discover that passion, and then really conquer it. I see too many people living passion-less lives. We only get one shot at life so why not try to find our passion in the time we’ve got, right?

If you are having a hard time figuring out your potentials passion try this excercise. Get out a piece of paper and try to fill in the blanks:

• You would do XXX as a job, even if you never got paid
• If you could wake up everyday and have XXX be your job, you’d be the happiest person alive
• When you look back on your life 10 years from now, you want to know that you did XXX
• People know you as the person who loves XXX
• At your very core, you are XXX
• You feel you were born to do XXX

Its ok if you aren’t living your passion at this exact moment, just as long as you are aware that YOU have one and there is potential to achieve that dream someday.

It’s a tricky question, isn’t it?

It takes some serious thought. Maybe too much thought for the time you have set aside to read this Stratejoy blog, but think about it later today, tomorrow or over the next few days and see what you come up with. Write it on a little piece of paper and tuck it in your wallet. Go back and look at it from time to time.

Then, share it with me. I told you my passion and I’d love to hear yours.

Everyone is born with passion, what is yours?

photo credit : faithful chant

I love words. Ask anyone who has known me for more than 5 minutes.

Because of this love, I am obsessed with an awesome technology tool called Wordle. It lets you take tons of words and organize them, customize a font and create an amazing pieces of artwork.

It’s been almost 6 months now that Stratejoy has been publishing blog posts by fabulous QuarterLifers like myself, and I wanted to see what we have been talking about. I took all of our blogposts and submitted the words to Wordle. I was really excited to see what our most popular topics would be!

Take a look at the surprise I found when Wordle created this piece:

Whats the first thing you see?

I see “Always, Think, Happy”

I kinda like that mantra. It reminds of Finding Nemo when the fish Dori repeats, “Just Keep Swimming” to little Nemo. If I just “Always Think Happy” maybe this time of crisis won’t seem so chaotic.

It’s worth a shot!

The main topic of all of our blogs during the past 6 months of crisis has been Happiness. Every form of the word from Happy, to Happiest, to Happiness, to Happier. See a pattern here? I wonder if happiness, and the path to finding what that is, could be the key to life.  Something to think about….

If you look closely you’ll also find  “Living, Grateful, Confidence, Family, Time, Life, Bliss.” All positive words! I’m really proud us gutsy girl bloggers- Way to go! Nice use of words if I do say so myself.

Keep it up, we are all in this together.

Always

Think

Happy

That’s what my adviser said as he handed me my Master of Arts diploma in 2007. “Two down, one to go.” It took me a minute to realize what he was talking about, but eventually my blond head understood.

He was giving me the go ahead to pursue my dream of obtaining a Ph.D. He was giving me confidence and his support.

From reading this blog you know I have many goals in life, but this one is a biggie.

Probably one of the biggest right up there next to getting married. They are on par, as far as seriousness and grown-upness goes.

Both are incredibly time consuming, expensive and they both change your name. One day, I could be Dr. Andrea Michnik. (Until I do get married, if and when that happens, and then my name will change AGAIN…. it’s so weird to think about!)

I am applying to become a Ed.D candidate for the Fall of 2010 and so excited at the possibility of going back to school! I’m not insanely book smart, or obsessed with research, but I do love school. A whole lot.  Someday I’d like to teach and help students discover how to get the most out of their college years.

In a few weeks I will take the MAT (instead of the GRE) and prepare my personal statement for my application. I am having some trouble deciding what to write that will express the most about me. I need to impress people I have never met in 800 words or less. I have to convince them that I am thrilled to become a student and that this program is a good match for me.

I want them to know about my quirks, my serious side, my interest in journalism, media and technology. I want them to see that even though I have no formal background in education, I have always acted as a mentor or teaching in some form throughout much of my semi-adult life. I want them to know I am different than most doctoral candidates; I’m not pursing this degree to inflate my ego.

The program I am apply for is under the department of Education, focusing on Curriculum and Instruction. However, like I said, I don’t have a education degree. I’ve never even taken a class on education or instruction. My background is in journalism, media, marketing and public relations.

How do you promote yourself on paper in less that 800 words?

Its a tough challenge and I’m not sure how to go about starting something like this task. I haven’t a clue how to do it. I’ve spent hours one rainy night at Borders looking up ‘Personal Statement’ examples in college prep books. I even started making a list of topics I could write about. It’s hard.

This personal statement could make or break my acceptance into the program. Its very stressful!

As a writer, I want to make sure this piece is perfect and explains who I am and my goals clearly. Every time I try to write it though, my computer screen just stares back at me. I’ve hit a mental road block.

So this is where you, the Stratejoy Tribe, come into play.  I need your help!  Seriously.

What do you do when you don’t know where to begin?

All tips and suggestions are welcome!

photo credit : m00by

Every Thanksgiving holiday, right before dinner,  I make everyone in attendance write on a little slip of paper what they are thankful for that year. It’s a silly little game I like to play, because we put them all in a dish and pass it around reading each one out loud.

The fun part is trying to figure out who wrote what.

Sometimes its really easy, sometimes its really hard. Sometimes they are random things like a favorite food, “Uncle Ken’s Cheesecake” and other times philosophical, ”I’m thankful for the world.”  (Um, that was what I wrote when I was 9, I’m strange, I know.)

This year was especially tough, because my grandmother on my dad’s side recently became very ill. She doesn’t have a disease and she’s not hurt, she’s just getting old. It’s probably one of her last Thanksgivings and I don’t deal well with death. It’s my biggest fear.

I haven’t really had many people close to me pass on, and this is just sad because its happening slowly. I know she’s had an amazing life but I am worried at how her passing will affect other people, especially my dad. I worry about him a lot.

My grandma, Gramma Lou, always talks about the crazy things I do with my life. To be honest, I do most of them because of her and my dad, to prove to them there are so many opportunities out there and it’s not crazy to try and seize them all.

This past year I’ve had so many opportunities; I’m entirely thankful for each and everyone.

• I am thankful for the opportunity to travel and see new places.

• I am thankful for the opportunity to work with my own clients and start my very small consulting business.

• I am thankful for the opportunity to see someone I love, my boyfriend, whenever I can afford a plane ticket thanks to a very understanding bossman.

• I am thankful for the opportunity to learn more about myself and my anxiety with the help of a trained counseling professional.

• I am thankful for the opportunity to expand my writing skills through guest blogging on corporate and industry blogs. (I am also ridiculously thankful for the opportunity to work with the people at Stratejoy and hope to meet them in real life someday soon!)

• I am thankful for the opportunity to go back to school and learn more  (Keep your fingers crossed I am applying for a Doctoral Program for Fall 2010 admission!)

I’m not an overly spiritual person, however, the way I pray to whoever is upstairs is by giving thanks. I never “ask” for things, I just say thanks. It is my way of recognizing that I am blessed with opportunity. When I feel like good things have happened to me, I give a nod to the powers that be, who allowed me the chance to have such opportunity.

Life would be very different without opportunity.

Of course, I am always grateful for people, relationships and friendships. I’ve seen in the past year how important people are in a person’s quest for happiness and joy. That is a given, every day of my life. But, this year is special and when I really sat and thought about it, none of it would have been possibly without opportunity.

I am the person I am today because of opportunity.

In my last post I talked about an amazing book I read while traveling on my Eastern Europe Adventure called, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

I wanted to share some insight and ideas from the book about happiness and the search for the Good Life.

Seemed very appropriate for those of us living through a Quarter Life Crisis, since travel and moving are re-occurring themes.

Excerpts from The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World

1. “We create our own happiness and the first step in creating is imagining.”
2. People who live in Iceland have the right mentality, in that no matter how bleak life seems, things will always work out. I like that theory.
3. Some cultures are collectivist, while some (like America) are individualistic. Collectivist are happier than individualists cultures. Go figure.
4. “Happiness and unhappiness are not opposite sides of the coin. They are two different coins.” Think about that the next time you are unhappy.
5. Happiness is a choice.
6. “Helping others makes us feel good.”  As humans we are programed to help others, it makes us happy. So maybe if you are unhappy, try helping someone in need.
7. “People are not likely to be happy if they don’t have control over their lives.”
8. I think this line was written specifically for me, ” Happy people have no reason to think; they live rather than question living.” Thinking about happiness makes us LESS happy.
9. “Add up all the pleasurable aspects of your life, then subtract the unpleasant ones. The result is your overall happiness.”
10. “The worlds happiest nations tend to be the most ethnically homogeneous.”
11. Americans hate unpredictability, while some cultures thrive off it and are happy because of it.
12. Love is higher than happiness.
13. Ambition may sabotage happiness. If you constantly are striving to reach some extraordinary level of happiness, you will strive your entire life.
14. “America’s current fixation with finding happiness coincides with an era of unprecedented material prosperity.”
15. We as Americans are less happy than we were 50 years ago. Which is ironic because compared to many countries we have access to different things that could make us happy, where most cultures do not.
16. Some Americans move because they think it will make them happier, however, people give themselves permission to be different in different geographic regions so moving may not necessarily be the answer.
17. “We may be fairly happy now but there’s always tomorrow and the prospect of a happier place. We can’t love a place or a person though if we have one foot out the door.”

*Spoiler Alert: If you plan on reading this book DO NOT read the next paragraph!!

In the Epilogue of the book, Weiner summarizes and says: “Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude.”

I want to know what is your happiest geographic place and why? Are you there right now? Why or why not? What do you think about geography, travel and happiness?

photo credit : pearlsofjannah