en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1444088 Comments by Lindsey http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/08/marian-6-months-later/#IDComment184771504 Marian, congratulations on your fresh start. It is a bummer that things didn't work out quite as you expected, but on the bright side, you now have this whole new opportunity to explore on this solo journey. Unplanned & unexpected adventures tend to have the best outcomes, in my experience. And though you may question your "running around" as a mask for "running away" - I vote you choose not to worry about this. Whatever your reasons for running, it doesn't really matter, if along the way you are learning, having fun & playing as much as possible. Good luck overcoming this low point, and here's to a speedy return to optimism & clarity & happy times in your world! Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:45:51 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/08/marian-6-months-later/#IDComment184771504 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/05/life-after-stratejoy-an-alumni-visit/#IDComment151767617 Katie! So good to see you back on Stratejoy. I often wonder how all the past bloggers are faring... and it sounds like awesome for you! Keep on rockin' the self-discovery & happiness in your world :] Fri, 13 May 2011 16:18:32 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/05/life-after-stratejoy-an-alumni-visit/#IDComment151767617 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/04/reclaiming-a-broken-life/#IDComment139147254 Oh, Katharine, so many times I have encountered this feeling of "running away" from a life I completely fucked up, only to realize that the words "running away" make it seem even worse. I've traveled for any & every reason, it seems. And the glamour of living abroad & experiencing culture firsthand is just the tip of the iceberg. Somedays life SUCKS living out of the country - you eat a bad cheeseburger and can't walk for 3 days, all your money gets stolen, and you get a gun pulled on you in your hotel room - but in the end these crazy experiences give you a lens to look at your life, and realize how in the face of {even more? self-inflicted? day-to-day?} adversity, you are a strong woman & you prevail. One of my very best friends just lost her mother, and any remaining semblance of home & family continues to evaporate as the days go by. She wants to travel and run away and I see nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, that "clean slate" that comes with being surrounded by fresh new faces gives a whole new perspective on who you are. And as you slowly build real relationship with your travel companions or TEFL coworkers, you're slate will never be clean. You are still the same person, you've just removed all the distractions of your "other life" and there is time to make sense of all those feelings you carry around. Or something. Good luck, girl. Yay, Prague! Fri, 1 Apr 2011 16:45:03 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/04/reclaiming-a-broken-life/#IDComment139147254 http://www.katieblogs.com/2011/03/hello-future.html#IDComment138757454 Congratulations Katie! Yeahhhh girl =] Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:33:31 +0000 http://www.katieblogs.com/2011/03/hello-future.html#IDComment138757454 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/making-life-more-vacation-like/#IDComment138726159 I crafted my life as an eternal vacation for the past few years and I'm trying to discover how/if I fit back in to "normal" society. Permanent vacation is amazing... my values of Bliss, Authenticity, Health, Intellect are nurtured on a daily basis. But I also crave professional growth and financial stability - which no matter how hard I tried in vacation mode, I just COULDN'T do it. So coming from the complete opposite side of the fence, I guess the grass is always greener, eh? I highly encourage you to explore vacation mode, and I'll be dabbling in business, maybe we'll meet halfway? Growing professionally and savoring daily life at the same time... that's where I'm headed =] Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:27:37 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/making-life-more-vacation-like/#IDComment138726159 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/can-i-be-honest-im-terrified/#IDComment138499134 Omg Amanda, I love this. You are so brave in your honesty! Thank you for this =] Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:30:52 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/can-i-be-honest-im-terrified/#IDComment138499134 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/5-reasons-why-the-quarterlife-crisis-is-good-for-you/#IDComment138286900 My QLC forced me to look at my life in a totally new way. I focus on living with eyes of gratitude & moving with purpose through my life. I allow time for self-discovery, and also to give myself a break and live in the moment... And when I spiral down into my dark place, I have a reference point in my goals, that helps bring things into perspective. I didn't have that before I took time to figure out what my goals were. Thank you, QLC :) Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:48:08 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/5-reasons-why-the-quarterlife-crisis-is-good-for-you/#IDComment138286900 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/that-one-time-when-i-was-lost-and-how-i-got-found/#IDComment136566404 Thank you Molly! You rock. Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:32:43 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/that-one-time-when-i-was-lost-and-how-i-got-found/#IDComment136566404 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/learning-the-hard-way/#IDComment136071938 Maybe the hard way is the only way to really understand. At least sometimes. Have fun in Prague, girl. It's so beautiful there! Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:29:47 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/learning-the-hard-way/#IDComment136071938 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/all-the-worlds-a-balance-beam/#IDComment134041950 Hell yes to everyones comments on this! I love the responses =] I am a total planner junkie - I definitely agree that "my best life involves one hell of a penciled in day planner!" But sometimes, after months of endless running around I get that burnout and I give myself recovery / un-planned time to live out dreamy goals. Focus on my health, take a trip, learn a new instrument... because I feel like these things are just as important as my career. I guess for me, balance, is a few months of crazy work (usually with an unfortunate backslide in spirituality or health), and then a few months of self-care and dreamseeking. And I know when I crave that full planner, it's time to be planning, and when I need adventure, I should go & get it. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:16:08 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/all-the-worlds-a-balance-beam/#IDComment134041950 http://www.katieblogs.com/2011/03/dance-of-balance-spontaneity-versus.html#IDComment133998862 That is totally the balance I'm trying to discover in my life. First there was super-structure of goals & clearly laid-out plans while at school. Now I feel like I've so completely rebelled from any structure that it's hard for me to be productive at all. That's why I like to hear that the idea that the concept of "career" is changing for our generation... that working on multiple smaller projects/jobs will likely become the norm. That way I can jump from crazy routine... to crazy spontaneity... (the kind that lands you living on sailboats in the tropics and shit) So your weekends are complete spontaneity, right? Gotta balance that routine out somehow, girl! =] Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:16:22 +0000 http://www.katieblogs.com/2011/03/dance-of-balance-spontaneity-versus.html#IDComment133998862 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/haters-gonna-hate-lovers-gonna-love/#IDComment133980907 I'm also an "all-in" kinda girl and it totally bites me in the butt. A lot. And I worry that there is something wrong with me. This post reminds me that however much drama the L-word can bring... that there is so much goodness possible. Yay for Mr. A! Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:16:27 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/03/haters-gonna-hate-lovers-gonna-love/#IDComment133980907 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/ten-years-later-from-high-school-to-right-now/#IDComment130646838 Who would imagine all the negativity that being 20-smething and confused could bring? Stay positive, girl, because despite all the external factors I can't help but feel that so many 20-somethings are feeling the gap between their expectations and their reality. I know I'm there... Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:59:45 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/ten-years-later-from-high-school-to-right-now/#IDComment130646838 http://gratefulsparrow.com/2011/02/practicetrust/#IDComment130090222 TRUST. Much needed on the money front for me. Right now, I'm trusting that I can find a job to get back on financial track. I'm trusting that I can make it out to Cali before this and have a grand ol' time. And I'm trusting that we will meet up now that I'm gonna be living on the west coast (SF baby!) Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:47:37 +0000 http://gratefulsparrow.com/2011/02/practicetrust/#IDComment130090222 http://www.thislifeofmine.net/2011/02/by-letting-go-i-moved-forward.html#IDComment130088864 "Live in the present." - I tell myself that all the time. But why do we hold onto all this stuff that reminds us of the past? Do those memories make us who we are? Of course not. This stuff... it's so freeing to get rid of. Congratulations :) Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:39:25 +0000 http://www.thislifeofmine.net/2011/02/by-letting-go-i-moved-forward.html#IDComment130088864 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/why-i-cried-on-my-honeymoon/#IDComment126334856 Ah! Feb 2011! Now! Yay! Congratulations on the big change. Risks are scary, yes, but it feels so good to know you can look back and see what strength and courage you took to move forward. Sun, 6 Feb 2011 18:19:50 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/why-i-cried-on-my-honeymoon/#IDComment126334856 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/recipe-for-winding-up-where-i-am-at-this-very-minute/#IDComment126334419 Umm, love this! So creative and I so relate. I'm from a small town and have definitely lived a similar version of all of this. Post-college I'm trapped in limbo... return to small-town, community, nature-connected, grow-my-veggies and practice-yoga-on-my-front-porch life ... or experience culture, music , "Joy Stuff" as you called it. I STILL don't know whats gonna happen (daily: I'm moving to NYC! no, I'm going to travel FOREVER! no, I'm moving to a cabin in the woods!) Lookin' forward to hearing about your figuring it out :) Sun, 6 Feb 2011 18:16:36 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/recipe-for-winding-up-where-i-am-at-this-very-minute/#IDComment126334419 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/life-is-messy/#IDComment126333475 Istanbul - must visit! I recommend it to everyone. Haven't been to Asia yet so I can only give wishlisty advice there. But for ski areas in the Rockies, endless advice for Big Sky, Tahoe & Steamboat, CO. And Hawaii too :) Sun, 6 Feb 2011 18:09:22 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/life-is-messy/#IDComment126333475 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/disparate-paths-and-an-introduction/#IDComment125954865 Game journalist, entrepreneur, QLC rocker, momma to be? Excited to read your journey Amanda! Welcome :) Fri, 4 Feb 2011 17:43:03 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/disparate-paths-and-an-introduction/#IDComment125954865 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/my-quarter-life-crisis/#IDComment125954123 So excited to read your posts these next 6 months. I loved your guest post a few weeks back and am looking forward to reading about your entrepreneurial journey. My road is still covered in at least 2 feet of snow, but I'm stoked to hear that it gets paved up ahead ;) Fri, 4 Feb 2011 17:38:54 +0000 http://www.stratejoy.com/2011/02/my-quarter-life-crisis/#IDComment125954123