"You Inspire Me" the female protagonist extending into September interview 3

• Hey Bri! Long time no speak. We met whilst we were both travelling and working in NZ a whopping eight years ago now! We were working as fundraisers and team leaders for not-for-profit organisations. How do you think the work that we did shaped your time in NZ?

 Fundraising was my everything! It’s what enabled me to go to NZ in the first place. It’s where I met the people with whom I had the best memories made. Lifelong friends to this day kind of relationships. My year in NZ was absolutely one of my favorite years of my entire life, and our work was the centerpiece of it all.

• Would you recommend other people in their 20’s to travel around Australasia with the working holiday visas and how do you feel your experience there shaped who you are today?

Absolutely!! I honestly tell anyone I meet in their 20s when we get on a similar topic. I tell them how easy it is to get, how flexible the visa itself is, and what a life changing experience it would be. Your 20s is the time to do it as well. Now that I’m 33 I’ve realized how different my body feels compared to when I was in my mid 20’s over there My experience in Australia & New Zealand shaped a lot of who I am and my worldview. I got a view of the US from an outside perspective. I got to see how other countries that are at least somewhat similar to the US operate. It opened my eyes to different politics, cultures, wildlife, everything! The fact that both NZ & Aus are heavily multicultural introduced me to some people I likely never would’ve met had I stayed in Indiana or even the US my whole life. It also introduced me to some of my favorite food (Thai ). Aside from world views and perspectives, I had relationships and friendships with people from all over the world. Backpacking in Aus/NZ doesn’t mean you just get to meet Australians and New Zealanders (both of which are amazing ppl btw), but I got to meet and become friends with people from almost every continent. Visiting places is mandatory I think everyone should do it. Living somewhere though, that’s a bit different. To live and work in a different country for any least one full year can introduce you to and teach you beautiful things.

• What was one of the most stand out memories you have from your whole time travelling, what did you take from the experience, for example living out of a backpack at points and not necessarily having a fixed address?

 A standout memory…oh man I love this one. When I was in NZ, there was a travel trip for fundraising coming up that December (around Christmas time). It was around the entire South Island which I’d only barely been to and I knew it was too gorgeous not to see. I begged our manager to let me go and luckily my performance earned me a spot on the trip! I was stoked. I hit my daily and weekly PB on that trip. I was with an amazing and incredibly special group of super fun individuals which of course MADE the trip. We rented a car and stayed in airbnbs. Made food together. Fundraised in a different city every couple days. Met new people, saw new places. It was gorgeous. Especially Queenstown and Milford Sound. We partied and had fun. To top it off, we (me, Sally, Rocky and DJ) stayed at Kat’s house in Wanaka and I had my first “hangi”. That next day was Christmas Eve. We spent Christmas Eve hiking up Roy’s Peak in Wanaka with camping gear on our backs. Insane hike. Stunning. We got our tent up at the top of the mountain. It was so windy and cold . I remember waking up in the middle of the night and we didn’t have a cover over the tent. I saw the most beautiful stars. Then we all woke up Christmas morning to the view from the top. It was breathtaking. What a Christmas! As for backpacking, it really teaches you how little you actually need to survive and even be happy.

• I hear the work you do now is in a similar field. Can you tell me a bit about how you’ve found the strength and resilience to work in an industry with a high turnover of staff and what do you gain from your work, asides from financial gains ?

Yes! I’m now managing an office in San Diego, California! I honestly wasn’t planning to continue in the industry. When I moved back to the US, I was just gonna work some sales job at AT&T in Tennessee where my mom lives. Michelle our old manager actually contacted my current manager who she worked with in NZ (fundraising is such a small world ) because he was in a US based company and they needed managers. I didn’t even know fundraising was around in the US! I was hesitant but he’s very convincing and definitely sold me on the idea of living in San Diego. This was also a huge step up from my last position. I was managing an office in Sydney but I was a Trainee Field Manager and there was a lot less to oversee as a whole. I took the job because it was an advanced position, it was salaried, had benefits, and was in San Diego. I figured if I were burnt out, I could always just go back to Tennessee so why not give it a go. This December will be 5yrs with this company! I of course still do get burnt out from time to time, but I use all the PTO days I’m offered and I try to make sure my time outside of work is fulfilling as well with hobbies and time spent with friends/my pets/my partner. Also, yes, there is a lot of turnover. I feel quite safe in my job which I think is important. I need that security. I feel pretty supported here. Theo turnover does take place in my office though and when it’s good it’s GREAT. So having fun, young, passionate, silly humans you get to work around definitely makes the job enjoyable.

• (If you’re happy to share), where do you live now and how does it compare to your time backpacking?

I live in San Diego California. It’s crazy that it’s a real place. Yes, it’s definitely expensive. However I feel it’s worth it. We have everything here. Beautiful beaches. Mexico is half an hour away. You could surf in the morning and snowboard that afternoon as the mountains are only 2-3 hours away. The Mexican food is amazing. The weather is PERFECT. ALL THE TIME. It’s weird. I always wanted to live in California when I was growing up. If I can’t live in Australia or New Zealand, San Diego is probably the closest I can get to it

• After having such rich and vivid experiences travelling some people struggle to commit and settle down after. Do you consider yourself to be a drifter through life since backpacking or have you managed to get your teeth into something and commit?

 I definitely feel a bit more settled now. It took me a while I’ll admit haha. But after 2-3yrs here I felt like it was home. I still of course have a fierce love for traveling and do it when I can. I don’t know if I’d be able to live somewhere else again but if the opportunity presented itself, Id definitely consider it. For now I try to travel to places I haven’t been when I can. I was fortunate enough to see our old coworkers and a couple of my best friends get married in the UK! I took my best friend as my +1 and we made a trip out of it going to Ireland Scotland and London

• What does a day in the life of Bri look life?

Wake up, get ready for work, head to site and do my thing. Fundraising, meetings, trainings, admin etc. I get home, take my dog Honey out, sometimes to the dog park around the corner. Get into my comfy clothes, sit on my awesome couch, and my boyfriend usually cooks us dinner each night. He’s great in the kitchen too so I’m very appreciative. We watch a lot of Marvel or Star Wars together but we like to watch stuff together and eat. I have tea every night, probably 3 or more cups. Love my sleepytime. Cuddle with the dog or cat. Go to bed. On weekends you’ll find me hiking with the dog, being lazy at home, or hangin at the beach!

• When we were working together you were always very smiley and optimistic, we used to practice daily positive mantras together, (do you remember)? Who is it that inspires you to be so positive?

Of course I remember! I’ve thought about this question for days honestly, and it’s the hardest for me to answer. I truly don’t know if it was a specific person who inspires me to be positive. I think back and I’ve been quite a grateful person for as long as I can remember. I really dislike being upset. I know…who doesn’t but I mean i reeeeally hate when something outside of my control is controlling how I’m feeling and walking through life. I think practicing gratitude is the best thing you can do for your mindset and ability to be content or happy. We should get the most we can out of each day and being upset is just being miserable when you really don’t HAVE to be. I suppose a book that did inspire this way of thinking is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

• Who would you say your biggest female role model is, either from famous figures or someone closer to home?

 Cliche perhaps, but, my mom. She is a badass and taught me to be one. I look up to all strong women. I think it’s important for us to be strong both physically and mentally. I think women are incredibly emotionally intelligent and I love being around them. My mom’s been through a lot and has gone through a lot of changes. She’s really focusing on herself and is creating the life she wants without having to depend on anyone. She’s gotten her house in order in many ways. She’s also hilarious and I wish I could be as funny. I love her and anytime I need advice she’s my go-to.

• In a job that requires a lot of mental load, such as handling different personalities, reaching targets, managing expectations and so forth how do you switch off from work and what do you like to do in your spare time?

 It’s very important to switch off. It’s actually very difficult for me. I try to be the “watcher of my thoughts” and if I find myself thinking or daydreaming or worrying about work outside of work hours, I end it then and there. It brings anxiety into your evening and when I’m at home that’s my place of peace. So those evening walks with the dog are great. She literally reminds me to stop and smell the flowers. Plus walking and being outside are great for your mental health, even if it’s just a short walk. I’m really into marvel as I mentioned earlier and I do spend quite a bit of time watching marvel movies I love movies and television though. Not “trash tv” but I love the art of good media. Don’t get me wrong sometimes switching off means putting something ridiculous and funny on which I also do. Aside from TV, my ACTUAL favorite way of switching off is being outside and hiking with my dog. It makes me feel good and I know she loves it which makes me even happier.