Category: Season 1

A New Year, A New Direction and New Hair

posted 6th January 2010    Written by: Andrea    CATEGORY: All Posts, Andrea, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

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?

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Letting Go is the Goal

posted 5th January 2010    Written by: Kendra    CATEGORY: All Posts, Kendra, Life Lesson, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

For months now only one thought has propelled me forward: 2010.

I have wanted to put the general crappiness of 2009 in my rearview mirror since at least August.

Consequently, I’ve spent a lot of December preparing for the tweenies aka 2010.

I went through box after box of my stuff in storage and weeded out the things I no longer needed, culling from an ever dwindling amount of stuff.

I gave books and clothes to charity, stepped up my meditation practice, took several cleansing bath, enacted a solstice ritual, went belly dancing (whoops that was just for fun), saw a reiki healer (an interesting experience), and even dabbled with the thought of returning to my Catholic roots and going to confession.

Except I couldn’t figure out what to confess, `cause yep I’m just that angelic.

And now, just a handful of days into 2010 guess what? Nothing’s changed. I’ve manifested no miracles. I’m still at the same temp job, still putting in hours of ‘I thought I’d outgrown this’ retail work, still coasting on my parents couch and feeling the deep sting of disappointment that comes from yet  another round of employment rejection.

So, for 2010 I’ve made loads of private resolutions, but the one I’m willingly to publicly state is that my goal of for 2010 is to let go.

Let go of what?

Of everything. Of the person that I used to be and the person that I’d thought I’d become, of the job that I thought I’d have, of the way I believed I’d be living, of the people that I thought I’d be sharing my life with.

Because none of that is where I am right now and focusing on that, on what I wanted instead of what I have, is just making me feel worse.

So instead, I’m just going to get very still and very quiet and let life unfurl itself before me. It’s going to do so regardless.

photo credit

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Getting an Early Start on my Resolutions

posted 4th January 2010    Written by: Robyn    CATEGORY: All Posts, Quarterlife Crisis, Robyn, Season 1, Travel, Travel/Adventure

Right now I am typing this blog on my iPhone as I wait at the airport in Terminal E10 to board my flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. This is the vacation, the freedom, I’ve been looking forward to since I quit my job 3 months ago.

I am beyond excited to escape the single digit weather here in Chicago, and I am thrilled to start exploring some place new.

With this trip, I am already getting an early start on some of my New Year’s resolutions for 2010.

Robyn’s 2010 Resolutions

1. Always have something to look forward to… a new trip, a new project, etc.
2. Eat more fruits and veggies.
3. Deal with stress better. Start taking yoga classes and meditating.
4. Finish what I start, whether it be an organizing project or something I write… especially when it comes to something I write!
5. Have more “loner” time. Enjoy being by myself more.
6. Learn how to  really use my snazzy new Nikon SLR D40 camera!
7. Worry less.
8. Embrace change and growth.
9. Make more of an effort to keep in touch with old friends and distant family members.
10. Complete a triathlon.

Nothing too outrageous. I’m looking forward to 2010 and everything it may bring.

It’s hard to believe my life changed so much in just the past three months–mostly due to leaving my “9 to 5″ to do my own thing. More change is inevitible as I figure out how I want to spend my time and where I want my career to take me.

Hopefully I will gain more insight as I am hiking through the jungle, jumping off waterfalls, and laying on the beach soaking up the sun!

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Risky Business

posted 4th January 2010    Written by: Marisa    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Marisa, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

I’ve always been fascinated with people who have an extraordinary amount of self-confidence.

And it’s not the selfish narcissistic shallow, physical self-confidence that is mostly defined in our society.

For me, it’s the assurance of oneself that he or she can do anything and everything (mentally and physically). That’s the self-confidence that I envy the most, the one I’ve been searching for, for pretty much an entire year. And I found it.

Well, I didn’t find all of it, if there’s even a logical count for it all. It’s fleeting sometimes, in perhaps all aspects, but BY JOVE, I’ve got some alright.

26 years is a long time to be searching… I would have benefited with an early discovery in high school and most likely it would have helped a lot in college, but I’m grateful for what I’ve got now. This discovery or self-fulfillment may sound trivial to some and even unimportant to others, but I never realized before how important it is to have a positive belief in oneself, not just to ride the wave of encouragement or support from others. This form of confidence has to come from within.

A sensitive pride is hard to protect with so many outside influences and factors. I used to spend a lot of time not believing in certain ideas and dreams and thus quitting many activities. It was just easier to quit before I even dared to risk.

And now things are different.

I have my Quarterlife Crisis in part to thank for that. With being involved more in High Scores and Records and my job, my efforts are totally paying off because I took those risks. I start my new Logistics Specialist position tomorrow at lucy and even though I literally have NO idea what I’m getting myself into, but I’m gonna risk it. I have a feeling it’s going to involve a lot of acronyms and international shipping codes.

A new year has arrived; memories of 2009 will soon make way for 2010 and there will be plenty of opportunities to build that self-confidence for the unmarked year.

photo credit : desiree delgado

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Everyone is Born With Passion

posted 30th December 2009    Written by: Andrea    CATEGORY: All Posts, Andrea, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1, What I've Learned

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:

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

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