I created this blog from my former cubicle at 2 in the morning…why was I still at work at 2 am?
Simple. I had finally found something I was excited about, and I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
This was a feeling that had been missing from my life for months…
The last time I could remember being really happy was when I was in college.
Back then I defined happiness as good grades, and grades are something you can control. The shit hit the fan when I graduated.
Me & my Dad on my graduation day.
I had an antiquated notion of what happiness is (fancy titles, a fat ass bank account) and a delusional plan as to how I was supposed to acquire these things.
I wasn’t prepared for a nearly year-long job search. I wasn’t prepared to be barely scraping by, and I wasn’t prepared to actually fight for the happiness that I wanted so bad.
I thought that if I just landed in the place, everything would be OK.
I was wrong.
Welcome.
My name is Amber J., and I am your typical twenty something. I have student loan debt and reservations about having kids.
But there is something about me that isn’t typical: I don’t want to live a life that is defined by stereotypes and the status quo.I don’t want to spend my prime years working at a job I hate, or buying crap to fill the empty spaces in my heart.
I grew up thinking that money would bring me happiness, or that having my parents approve of what I was doing would make me happy.
But, the one thing I have learned from that first harsh, hard-ass year in New York is that you have to define happiness for yourself.
Or run the risk getting lost in the shuffle, and having your life eaten up by things that you simply don’t give a shit about.
I don’t want to wake up and ask myself, “Is this it?”
And I don’t think you want to either.
What Is The Fab Life Project?
What is happiness? What does it mean to be happy?
We’ve been taught to equate happiness with a myriad of things:
- Gaining the approval of others.
- Mortgages, car payments and other financial obligations that actually take away your freedom.
But happiness is something that you have have to define for yourself, on your own terms.
- The truth is: After being brainwashed for so long, you have no idea how to do that. We cannot fathom saying out loud, “This is NOT what I want.”
- But guess what? I believe you can figure out how to do just that.
- Happiness for you might be something seemingly mundane like having fresh flowers daily, or it could be knowing that your job allows you to fundraise for kids in impoverished countries.
The Fab Life Project is about honoring, exploring, and acting on those feelings. It’s about challenging yourself to define your life on your own terms. Everything that I write, and every guest post comes from that philosophy.
Let’s Build Lives That Allow Us To Define Happiness On Our Terms:
- All of the content on this site is about challenging you to find ways to be true to yourself, and define happiness and success on your terms.
- I’m building an online community that connects people who want to build kick-ass lives for themselves. Check out the Generation Innovation Facebook Group, a space for Gen Y’ers who are chasing their dreams.
- This is a place for people who don’t want to just live for the weekend. We want to work hard on things that we actually CARE about. We believe that a feeling of joy should be with you all week long.
- The status quo is frequently debated around here because there are so many ways to build a life that really speaks to your personal truth without thinking that you HAVE to do all of the things people told you that you SHOULD do.
Connect with The Fab Life Project.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FAB LIFE PROJECT NEWSLETTER
-It’s free, it’s hot, and it’s a once-a-month shot of inspiration delivered straight to your inbox. Signing up for my mailing list means you get:
- First peak at new posts,
- Important updates
- First dibs at all of my funky fresh freebies including my new e-guide, ” 7 Ways To Be The C.E.O. Of Your Life”
What better way is there to start your day than with some inspiration?
Tweet At Me:
-Not only will I keep you in the know about all things Gen Y, I also have a thing for posting links to random music on You Tube. Can you say midday dance party? YES! Connect with me on Twitter.
Show Some Love on Facebook:
- The Fab Life is on Facebook! Check out our page.
New to the site? Get started by checking out these posts:
The Posts That Will Make You Say ‘Hot Damn!”
You Are Replaceable. Now, Go Do Cool Shit.
3 Reasons Why I Left My “Cool” Job
5 Strengths I Forgot I Had Until A Drunk Man Wandered Into My Room
The Posts That Convince You That You Can Do It
Stop Seeking Approval to Live the Life You Want
How to Trust Your Vision, Even When Others Don’t
Overcoming the Fear of Unemployment: Step 1 To Designing a New Life.
The Posts That Will Make You Think
You Will Never “Get Over” Fear
Forget a 5-Year Plan.
I can deal with aging, but I can’t dig an “average” existence
One lifetime, multiple careers
Question EVERYTHING. Or the way you avoid the complacent life.
Feeling inspired to share your story on The Fab Life Project? Fabulous. Check out all of the ways you can guest post.
Contact Me:
E-mail: amber[at]thefablifeproject.com
Twitter: @amberjadams
Hey Amber, found your blog from a post on Brazen Careerist. I have the same aspirations as you do and hope to learn more and be inspired. Thank you
Dang, this is a powerful testimony! I love the premise behind this. I’ll definitely be keeping tabs.
Thanks Bethany!
I’m juggling a full time job and a degree, currently exam time (EEK!) so I barely have time to leave insightful comments. But just wanted to say that I AM reading and it’s awesome, girl! Even if it’s on my iPhone on my way to work! X
Seeing this comment this morning on my phone, made me smile! What a great way to start my day! I appreciate the support!
Hey I stumbled upon your site by accident! You are awesome. I really like what you are doing here. Adding to my Reader =)
Thanks Nicole!
I’m going to have to check out your site!
Amber,
I found your blog after reading an article on FastCompany magazine after reading a tweet from some I guy I don’t know referencing the article on the unrealistic expectations of milennials for the work+life balance. I found the content of your blog to be very encouraging. I am your age and actually live in Tennessee. I have fought my way to the point where I am halfway to my financial goal and have an office. Today was a very big day for me because when I arrived to work there was a name plate outside of my office with MY name on it.
At 25 years old and working in a very special facility like the one I’m currently working in were most of the 40-something managers work out of a cubicle and only a very select few have their own office, it really rang to me today how our generation’s tenacity and acceptance of “you can do you wantever you want” has really resounded in some of us. I’m glad to see someone vocalizing their feelings and encouraging others. I wish you the best of success with your writing career and this blog, I promise to continue reading and cherishing your insight!
Regards,
Peter
Thanks Peter!
I love to hear about fellow Gen Y’ers who are kicking ass and taking names!
Hi! Don’t know how I found your blog, but it’s great! I have a feeling I’m slightly older than you (I’m almost 30!), but I’m a Tennessee girl, too! I’d love to work at a magazine in NYC, but I’m in Memphis. Good luck on your future. I will add you to my blogroll. Continue to be fabulous!
Yay for Tennessee girls with ambition!! Remember, age is nothing but a number. You can totally accomplish anything you put your mind to. Go forth and be fabulous!
Thank you for that! And hey, PB&J is better than nothing at all! I spend a lot of time eating ham sandwiches now, so it’s not something that will come as a shock
You are doing something important
I just stumbled across this site today, and clearly, someone is speaking to me.
I want to move to New York, and I want to write, and the thought doesn’t go away. (It sinks down for a minute, but always resurfaces.) But I always make excuses for why it won’t work. (Ranging from, “I hate cold weather,” to “I have no money.”) Hearing about how you did exactly what you wanted to do (and in the recession; you’re a G!) gives me some serious inspiration.
Thank you for sharing this.
YOU CAN DO IT!
In fact, let me say that one more time, YOU CAN DO IT!!!
It’s not easy. It is cold. There will be a lot of times when you won’t have money, and you will think, “Dang, PB&J, again?” But the thing you will have plenty of?
Pride in yourself for chasing after your goals.
Thanks so much for sharing your sentiments with me. It lets me know that I really am doing something important here. Go forth and be fabulous.
Hot dang Ambi! This is some high quality info. Reading this was a real eye opener darn- it! I want my happiness now! Forget later… NOOOOOW! Ok, now that the theatrics are out of the way, I liked it Amber. I like this fresh idea, this project. This summons me if you will. I’ll definitely keep checking in to see what my best bud is writing. YEEEEHEEEEE! ( You know I had to end with theatrics too.. come on now, there is a little thing called parallelism here..lol)
Thanks Alex!
I always aim to write things that are eye-opening. I’m really, really passionate about young people/professionals building the type of lifestyles they want.
Awesome!!!