Archive

My Six Months of Love

posted 30th January 2011    Written by: Lindsey    CATEGORY: All Posts, Life Lesson, Lindsey, Season 3

I spent this evening practicing new hoop tricks on the bow of a sailboat in George Town, Bahamas. Six months ago, I lived with my parents and I was miserably freaking out about my life. What is there to say, besides the requisite, Me-oh-my, how time flies! How time (and hours of soul-searching, Joy-Planning, Gusty-Girl-workshopping, journaling, meditating, writing, etc, etc, etc) changes everything!

In six months I’ve experienced so many twists and turns and ups and downs that it’s sometimes hard to see where I even started. My roadmap is a bit schizophrenic. But when I back up, I remember, the crushingly painful feeling of being in an ultimate crisis – asking myself, “what on EARTH is happening to my LIFE?” That is how I felt when I started writing for Stratejoy. That was rock-bottom-QLC stuff right there.

But through my weekly posts here, I have been open and accountable with my dreams, my goals, my intentions, my inspirations as well as my fears and doubts. Writing each of my posts was amazing therapy in itself, because I was diving into my QLC head-on, confronting myself, and through it all, I had the amazing Stratejoy community to share and interact with.

I’m a long way from having a clue about my life. And despite all my 5 year plans and life-plotting, I’m sure I’ll still be questioning life then too. But maybe that’s it…

…The greatest lesson of all: The only thing that I know, is that I don’t know anything.

No matter how much we plan, things will go differently. No matter what expectations for the future live in our minds, remember, they are expectations and whatever comes won’t be exactly so. It’s the beauty of life, that we’re not privy to the future. The surprises, those twists and turns that brought you to this page, right now, reading these worlds, they are what make life beautiful.

I hope that every single one of you can overcome the stress of your QLC, and come out of it a better, stronger, more vibrant woman. Remember – it’s hard to face it, that you aren’t satisfied with your life – but when you do, do it with guts and celebrate the fact that you’re making change in your life. Big, amazing, awesome things are in your future. I just know it!

I have several quotes that I have been living by lately, so I’ll leave you with them:

And That’s All!

I’m so grateful to everyone here for writing, for reading, for commenting, for being here. I’m excited to hear what our Season IV bloggers have in store for us in the next six months!

My internet is sketchy for a while because the only time I get a connection is when my boat pulls into a harbor. Since I’m sailing from the Bahamas down to Mexico over the next month, harbors will be scarce. I do attempt to maintain a travel-ish blog, if you’re into that kinda thing.

Thank you for being here. So much. xoxo!

[Note from the Coach: You know what I love about your journey, Linds?  That you don't have everything (anything!) figured out quite yet- but instead of moping at home- you went out there and made one of your BIG LIFE DREAMS happen!  I mean, seriously, you wrote that you wanted to sail around the world, and then.... What?  3 months later?  You're hooping on beaches in the Bahamas.  And while some might call you crazy- I think you're absolutely stunning in your bravery.  Keep following that playful heart, my dear, and I promise life will sort itself out.

Thank you for sharing all the craziness that has been your reality with us.  I know there are tons of Tribe sisters who are not only living vicariously through your adventures, but also, and more importantly- embarking on their own adventure.  Because if you can do it, why can't we?   And that?  That is what true inspiration means.  Thank you, thank for being here with your gorgeous and wise words.  Let's play again soon, sweetness.   XOXO, Molly]

divider

Welcome to the Quarterlife

posted 27th January 2011    Written by: Marian    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Job/Career/Work, Life Lesson, Marian, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, What I've Learned

Regardless of the fact that I make my living on the internet (or maybe because I do), I’ve always been hesitant about sharing my life online. Sure, I do the obligatory Facebook albums and try to “be myself” by swearing up a storm, but I have never ever ever actually shared my Big Bad Fears with complete strangers.

And then Stratejoy came along. Looking back, I definitely started tentatively. I was so used to blogging to help people, to teach things, to build up My Brand. And that’s when something funny happened… I slowly (s-l-o-w-l-y) started opening up. Sharing things I didn’t particularly want to share. Being more honest with myself – and with you – than I’ve ever been. And you guys were awesome. Like, I knew the Stratejoy community was absurdly cool, but this cool? Nuh-uh.

Every time I admitted a dirty secret or talked about my life and where it’s headed in a way that wasn’t comfortable, you guys shared your stories, cheered me on and pretty much blew me away with all  the support.

And here’s what I learned in the six months here: We are sooo all in this together.

How many of us know 20-30somethings who really and truly know their path? That aren’t riddled with guilt or anxiety about choosing one “life option” over another?

Maybe it’s because I’m surrounded with people similar to myself, but because of Stratejoy, I see it everywhere now: People just want to be happy. Authentically. We hunt for that perfect job because we want to be passionate. We get married and have babies because we think these things will fulfill us. Not that they don’t, I can’t wait to have some crazy kids running around the joint, but my point is that this entire Life thing is this amazing shared experience and the whole, what-the-hell-do-I-do-with-it is even more shared.

Boyfriend Sam and I go around in circles having the same conversations: What should I do with my life? Should I study? Should I get a real job? Should we travel? Should we settle? Knowing that this older, more mature, more experienced guy was going through the same things as me has been a huge weight off my shoulders. We could be 28 or 88 and it wouldn’t make a damn difference.

Knowing that the women (and men) who read this site feel just as lost, but also just as passionate about the journey, is one of the most uplifting and comforting experiences of my professional life.

You guys are wonderful. This site is wonderful.

But six months after starting, it’s suddenly over. I have no freaking idea how that happened. I have no clue how six months of my life just flew by.

Granted, the past six months have been a bit of a whirlwind. Last April I was single and living with my parents in Connecticut. Now it’s summer in New Zealand (in January) and I’m living with the love of my life on a completely new adventure.

I’m also completely in the middle of my quarterlife crisis. Six months ago I really didn’t understand what that meant. Now I still may have no idea what I’m doing, but there are two HUGE things I’ve learned about dealing the QLC:

  1. Do something. You don’t have to know what The Big Life Plan is, but taking one little step at a time is perfectly okay. Just make a decision. Today. Do something. Go somewhere.
  2. You are not alone. Really, you’re not. That girl you graduated with who seems crazy successful or that relative who’s super passionate about x,  y or z? They’re probably just as confused and wound up as you are. And at the end of the day? You have this amazing community to fall back on.

These six months may be over, but you can be sure I’ll be sticking around.

[Note from the Coach: Marian, you are a force to be reckoned with and I mean that in the very best way possible.... I absolutely adored having you share a slice of the real Marian without worrying about teaching or clients or the uberforces of Social Media judging you.  We got YOU.  And I am so, so grateful for that.  I always forget that you're 23 because of your wisdom, your ability to push convention, and the gorgeous faith you have that things will work out.

Thank you, gorgeous girl, for being here.  For showing up on the good days and bad.  For sharing fancy Italian veggies and prosecco with me and introducing me to your beau on the streets of NYC.  For being such a pr0Stratejoy force and  making me feel like we're doing something right over here.  I'm such a fan of you and seriously can't wait to see where your journey leads.  Wherever that may be!  Kisses to you and mutual wise laughter at all the assholes in the world.   Love, Molly]

[photo credit:  sakanami]

divider

Live Deliberately

posted 6th January 2009    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Molly

I admit it: I love the New Year, just as much as I love peanut butter, little kids in snowsuits & new magazines delivered to my mailbox. Hear me? I love the New Year a whole big bunch.

It’s the thrill of a clean slate, a brand new journal & of course, a handful of resolutions. I’ve spent several snow days hemming and hawing over just what I’d like to accomplish in 2009. One of my favorite things to do is come up with a theme for the year: 2007 was “Life’s an Adventure” & 2008 was “Big Dreams, Bright Eyes”. Cliche? Perhaps. But they hold hard fought meaning for me and for the year ahead.

So what does the future hold?

My theme for this year is “Live Deliberately”. It’s an anthem for conscious choice about the life I live each day and the ideals that are expressed. What do I want to express, you ask? Courage, Creativity, Authenticity, Vitality, Connection, and of course, Joy. I want my values to be reflected in the way I spend my time, the interactions I have with others & the message I share with the world.

Read more…

divider