Say it with me… A-MA-ZING. Everyone knows the sounds of Bob Marley, but not too many of us know and understand the brilliant and powerful life that he led. The film “MARLEY”, directed by Kevin MacDonald debuted in select theaters and OnDemand on 4/20 (No, this was not intentional!) and it was truly inspiring to say the least. The movie begins with a brief tour of the Elmina Castle in Ghana where slaves were sent around the world, setting the stage for Bob Marleys life story of justice and peace. The rest of the movie chronicles his childhood, entire career, love life and the man himself- what he believed, what he stood for and even his death. I watched it twice and walked away feeling like I needed to insert a huge amount of discipline into my life and quickly find a channel to begin my own quest of justice and peace in the world. Bob was THE definition of fierce and a true prophet. Go find $6.99 and order this now! Jah Bless!
doing life fiercely.
my name is katrina fludd and i'm trying not to be a natural disaster.
inspiration therapy
yes folks- the chaos ensues, however i feel like I’m in a new space, which is great! I did some cleaning in necessary areas and determined to remain focused on making this year pivotal for me. Iv’e always journaled- ask my aunt. In one of my first diaries I wrote about my “frist” boyfriend. haha! Journaling gives me a space to be me and make sense of myself. I had really gotten away from writing and picked it up again recently, and I’m glad I did.
I was able to get some clarity, a renewed spirit and I feel like I have new eyes! With these new eyes, I want to focus. focus. focus. I want to focus on achieving balance in all of those areas I mentioned in my previous, frantic post. lol. Not only will this require reflection, but it will require me going out and testing waters around my passions.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that my passion lies in and around bringing together people around understanding differences for the purpose of creating value for themselves and society at large.
I studied business and entrepreneurship as the scientific or methodological foundation to make this happen so it’s time to exercise that. So I’m adding a page to this blog! It’s time to start creating a unique voice around my views on diversity, inclusion etc. and creating what will hopefully be the foundation of a fruitful career and life.
I’ll continue with this page as well though as there are many branches to this crazy tree! I want to hear your thoughts though! How do you renew yourself? Do you journal? Let me know!
-Katrina
Quarter Life Crisis! Need Balance Now!
From the last post, “From Barbies to Business” it may seem as though my focus now is reflecting on my life so that I can navig
ate my career to achieve a lifestyle that I created in my head while playing with Barbies. Yes.This is true, but I realize that there are all these other things in my life that are demanding attention as well. To be honest it’s stressing me out. I understand the basic idea of “balance” and how necessary it is in one’s life to be happy and healthy which is all I want. I don’t however, understand how to do it?? So I’ve managed to compartmentalize my life and ask questions for each:
Spiritually- How will I practice my spirituality in a way that I am comfortable with, serves me and helps me keep
up my best self?
Financially- How do I stand in my truth about my financial resources and manage them to meet my life goals?
Physically- How do I create discipline in my life around attaining real physical goals?
Emotionally- How do I manage my words and actions when things piss me off so that I don’t harm relationships or my well-being?
Sexually- How do I continue to grow in this area without letting it rule my relationships?
Professionally- How do I keep from becoming complacent while maintaining focus on my overall goals? Wait. What are my overall goals?
Socially- How do I balance and give attention to the real feelings I have about interacting with certain others and participating in a society that often pisses me off without losing my mind?
Politically- How do I voice my opinions and give in a real way to the “democratic” society I am a part of, but not give in to the unfortunate drama that the media, large business and government conduct?
I was hesitant to write this post for fear of being deemed “crazy”- but I know I’m not the only one who feels this way and didn’t I say that I would approach life fiercely? Here is where the rubber hits the road. Now to answer these questions.
I guess I’ll start by breaking it down, area by area. I know there is not right or wrong answer but some sort of balance is neccesary to keep this boat from tipping over.
But I ask, am I the only one? Are you asking yourself these questions? Is this that “25-year-old, quarter life crisis” I’ve heard about? Geez, help me out!
-Katrina
From Barbies to Business: How a Childhood Pastime is Currently Shaping my Career
Well this year has been a whirlwind to say the least. I started this blog during the onset of turning 25 and starting a new year and given the space between posts already, you can see I’ve been busy! To fuel my writing and aid in my growth, I think I’ll allow content to stream from my interests and passions. Not only will this help me narrow down my passions but will hopefully also offer a unique perspective on certain topics.
There are two topics that come to mind. On one hand, I find myself in frequent reflection mode nowadays, recalling my upbringing and past experiences that are filled with all sorts of things that directly correlate to who I am evolving into. On the other hand, I find myself having constant “thought orgasms” about all things pertaining to diversity and inclusion. If you ask anyone that knows me, it seems to be a button that just stays pushed in my head and I am completely fascinated with anything about the spectrum of race, gender, sexuality, religion etc.
Combining these two things should add for very interesting content, don’t you think?
Fresh off the brain press are the following: Why did I choose to study business? Why do I understand business the way i do now? What will I do with this perspective and knowledge?
In answering this question, I recall my favorite childhood pastime: BARBIES.
I would sit quietly for hours in the corner of the den between the sofa and a 3 shelf bookcase that my mother gave me. This was no ordinary bookshelf. This in fact, was a 3 story mansion for a wealthy family of Barbie dolls. I never said a word, but in my head, there was an elaborate, soap opera- like plot at play.
The mother looked like me- Theresa was the name on the box I believe. She had light brown skin like me and dark brown hair. She was married to my MC Hammer doll, who had sparkly purple parachute pants. They had about 6 children. There were two teenagers, two middle school aged, a toddler and a newborn.
They had a 57’ Chevrolet convertible, a convertible red Ferrari, a limousine, a pink mobile camper, and 2 Jeeps. Snazzy huh?
She ( I forgot what I named her) was a “business woman”. I never actually defined what this meant at the time, but she had a pink, roll top desk that I would relocate around the house so that she could “go to work”, and make lots of money. This was her career and she had all the time she needed to pamper herself and take care of her family.
So you see- business was a “lifestyle” for me. It meant happiness, wealth, and freedom to live life as one pleases. As I made my decision for college, this is what I had in mind.
After two degrees in business, I am at the threshold of finally beginning to put the pieces together to hopefully create for myself a similar lifestyle to my plastic princesses. It’s so funny to me that my current career path is connected to playing with Barbies- what is your career connected to in your life?
-Katrina
Better Late than Never? First Year of Fierceness- The Resolutions.
Yes, it’s February. Yes this is my “2012 Resolutions” post. I know there is some unwritten rule that says you have to spit out your resolutions in early January or else it’s pointless and people don’t take them seriously anyway. Well, I plan to- and I took this month and did lots of reflecting and thinking, so now I’m ready to resolve. 2011 was a huge transitional year for me. It was my first full year working a full time job and officially being an adult. It kicked my ass to say the least. I learned alot, and after turning 25, I’m ready to kick it up a notch. These are the things I want to focus on to help me grow.
- Renounce my membership of Broke Phi Broke Inc.
- Recoup from Love
- Strengthen Relationships
- Practice Discipline
- Grateful Journal
- Commit to Health
To help me actually keep up with these resolutions, you’ll see these as reoccurring themes I write about. Let me explain them a little more though:
Renounce my membership of Broke Phi Broke Inc:
The whole reason I went to study business, specifically Entrepreneurship- is because I wanted to be wealthy. I now know how money is made, I know how to maintain it- but for some reason I am having trouble applying the same processes, procedures and discipline that I would apply to an organization to my own life. No bueno. My motto for my financial self this year is ”Don’t buy things. Buy Freedom.” No every time I am about to swipe the debit card, I’ll repeat that in my head and hopefully make better financial decisions.
Recoup from Love:
I just came out of a very tumultuous relationship. It came out of nowhere and while it taught me so much about myself, it really tested my ideas about love, commitment, monogamy etc. I have to unpack all of that relationship (and others) so that I can move forward and hopefully experience more fruitful relationships.
Strengthen Relationships:
Speaking of relationships, we all know that family and friends, but we never take the time and map out exactly how these people fit in your life and measure how you are managing those relationships. Until now, it’s been fairly easy to manage- a phone call here, an email or chat there and that was good. Now that I’m older and my peers are just as busy as I am, in order to have fulfilling and healthy relationships, I have to be more deliberate in how I function within them.
Practice Discipline:
It’s so funny that I attended schools where this was a main component in the overall learning and yet I just do not have it. Discipline, that is. I want to identify something that I need to do and practice doing it. Seems simple, but it’s something I definitely want to get better at; whether it’s eating certain foods , practicing yoga or.. oh I know! Writing this blog! Either way- discipline and I have many dates planned.
Keep a Grateful Journal:
I’m definitely in “hustle” mode in terms of my career and lifestyle. This means that I am constantly functioning on “what’s next” or “what else do I want/need”. I know that I will never attain all of what life has to offer if I am constantly seeking. Instead, I want to practice being more balanced and reflecting often on what I already have. I already have a journal. I am going to decorate it and even if I write one sentence or word in it a day- I know that time taken to just think about all that I have will do wonders for me.
Commit to Health:
Iv’e been seeing a new homeopathic doctor whom I LOVE. It’s gotten me to take my health more seriously and move from thinking of being healthy as a “those people” thing and embrace it in my own way. I see my immediate family struggle so much with everything from diabetes to weight and everything else in the book. I owe it to myself and them to be accountable to my physical well being. This means diet,exercise and just a overall rise in consciousness about what I put in and on my body.
I know. I know. These may seem cliche or nothing big to some, but they are things that I have identified as important steps for me to achieve what I want out of my life. I’ll also use them as guides for my writing- which should be interesting. So there you have it- my 2012 resolutions. Better late than never…
Stop Chasing- Every Little Thing Is Gonna’ Be Alright
Because I’m in a reflective space where I’m looking at my life and doing what many of my peers are doing at this time- that is wanting to know what our purpose is and how to fulfill it-I’ve recently had an epiphany that I would like to share.
I’ve realized that we are way too hard on ourselves. Chances are if you’re reading this blog- you have a computer or have access to one, and it’s probably your own. I’ve been to college and graduate school, I seriously need to stop beating myself up about a “next step”. That’s not to say I shouldn’t be goal oriented and continuing to achieve new things- but the amount of stress and anxiety gained by worrying about what I am not doing or what I do not have is completely unnecessary. Many of my friends and I have lofty goals of changing the world- like really changing the world, and personally I know we will, we just need to pump our breaks.. at least for a second.
In this HBR article entitled “The Leaders We Need Now”, the author begins to get at why our generation is so frenzied. She writes:
“A [Baby] Boomer approaches a Gen X manager. “Great news! You’ve won the promotion!” The Boomer waits for obvious signs of delight, then adds, “Of course, you’ll have to relocate to Topeka.” Dead silence.
No thanks,” the Xer flatly replies.
Even worse, after considering her options, the young manager quit. A talented, promising Gen Xer simply opted out of the hierarchy.”
Simply put- we do what we want because we can. We aren’t tied to traditional nonsensical ideas of what success should be, but at the same time we are struggling to define it for ourselves.
It’s so easy to scroll through Facebook or other social networking sites and see what others present of their lives and think “ oh- I need to step my game up”; but the reality is that in our own ways, our games are already stepped up and it’s ok to say that. I think it’s safe to say we (meaning lots of 21-29 r old people in the U.S) have accomplished a lot in both our personal and professional lives. Also, in order to get to the “next step” whatever that may be, it will probably require you to stop and truly sit in your current situation in order to take advantage of whatever opportunity that may arise. You’ve heard this before folks.
Not only is this conundrum in the space of career. I feel like my peers (myself included) are trying to do everything right now. Find a job, more education, find a house, find a car, find parties, find spotlight, find more shoes, join this organization, more watches, more clothes… it’s absolutely ridiculous. With this new year I am challenging myself and you) to stop wanting and to start living. I have everything I need and I need to stop acting like I don’t.
I have a loving family, great friends, crazy memories and experiences under my belt, a wealth of opportunity, enough material possessions, great health and so much more. On that note, I’ll leave you with good ole’ Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds” and will soon follow with my resolutions for this year (yes it’s the 10th- i don’t care! and yes, I will take them seriously!)
Bob Marley- Three Little Birds
-Katrina
the motto: do life fiercely.
Why hello there! I have just started my 25th year and brought in 2012 with a bang. Up until now I feel like i have experienced lots of things that have prepared me to live a happy and successful life on all levels. Everything from a loving family, to amazing friendships, minimal hardships, epic experiences and one of a kind educational and professional experiences.
As I pass my quarter life mark, and reflect on 2011, I realize that things get a lot more complicated from here on out and I have two choices. I can stumble through life, giving into fear and barely grasping onto who i am personally, socially, emotionally, intellectually, financially, professionally etc. or I can go fiercely into every moment allowing myself to be truly happy- striking balance with the ups and downs of life until the wheels fall off.
If you look around now and even throughout history, you’ll see that the happiest, most successful and brilliant people let go of fear and attempt to make sense of the things around them in order to move forward. They embrace music, creativity, and wealth while rolling with the punches of pain, hardships and misery. I feel at the beginning of this new year and quarter life mark that I’m at a pivotal and crucial point where i need to unpack experiences I have had thus far and use the lessons and knowledge gained in order erase fear and do life fiercely. I have lots of things to talk about, so what better way to do it than a blog. My friends have been nudging me, so I think it’s time.
If you’ve read this post and thought “woo hoo! me too!” then i look forward to posting and sharing thoughts. If you’ve read this post and thought “what is she talking about?” then maybe this will be mindless entertainment for you. Either way, here you’ll find my thoughts, ideas and opinions about a modge podge of things such as love, beauty, success, society, psychology, sexuality, spirituality and all those things that make life great.
With that said, Happy New Year! I’ll leave you with a quote from Socrates that was nicely explained in a random motivational article i found here: “The unexamined life is not worth living”. So let’s begin!
