Stratejoy: A Recap and What’s to Come (Part 1 of 2)

As many of you know, throughout the month of June, I completed the Stratejoy – Joy Equation. What many of you don’t know? Is that It.Changed.My.Life.

In completing this course, I realized many things. First is this: I’m probably one of the few 20-somethings in the world that can say honestly and truly that I love my job. More importantly, though, is this: My version of success is not based around having a job that I love.

When I chose my college degree and career, I had other ideas in mind of what I really wanted to do, but pushed them aside to pursue what I thought would make me the most money, and therefore make me the happiest. Hah. Now that I’ve stepped out of that ridiculous mindset, I’m pulling those old other ideas out from the back of my mind. Now when I think about what I really want? I allow myself to consider my options, regardless of money, or what other people will think.

Sure, I love my job, and I’m certainly happy to have one in the current state of this country, but what about everything else? What about all the other aspects of life that I want? What else do I want?

I spent some time, with amazing guidance from Molly, coming up with my own set of core values to focus on. These are the things I’ve decided are most important to me, and will help me reach my version of success:

• Balance – Between work, friends, family, and significant other.
• Commitment – To self and to someone else.
• Creativity – To spend time with myself, focusing on my passions
• Connection – With people and places, new and old
• Faith – In figuring out what I believe in, and trusting that “what’s meant to be will be”
• Independence – To not rely so heavily on others to survive, and trusting myself.
• Inspiration – To seek out that which inspires me, while also encouraging and inspiring others
• Love – To others and myself. Unconditionally.

I’m hoping that by changing my focus, I can find a balance in this crazy life I lead. I want to travel and meet new people. I want to spend time taking pictures, and creating pretty things. I want to figure out what it is I believe in, regardless of what I’ve been told to believe. Most importantly, though, I want a family. I know, you’re thinking, “Lindsey, you have a HUGE family, and you spend time with them constantly!” I know!! And I love every second of that! But I want my own family. I want to get married, preferably to Justin, but I guess that’s in his hands for now, and DUH I WANT BABIES!! You all know this about me already, I don’t have to tell you!!

If you know me at all, you know that if I could really truly do anything I wanted, I’d be a stay at home mom and cuddle with my babies for the rest of my life. But I’m also being realistic. I know that at least now, it would be extremely hard to do this, financially. Plus, I’d probably get bored and forget how to act like an adult, and speak only in high pitched baby talk, and then you’d all get real annoyed with me. So instead, I have come up with an alternative plan:

I want to be a teacher.

to be continued…