eff the brand

As someone obsessed with branding, I can tell you first hand that it isn’t always an easy road. 

Define your values. Define your purpose. Define your niche. Define your specialties.

I’m so tired of defining.

I’m tired of being “anastasia f. warren, strategic communicator & writer” I’m tired of being a coffee drinker, blogger, goal-seeker…. insert one million other things I’ve decided to brand myself as here.

I’m so tired of defining.

I’m so tired of branding, of being “perfect” online and on paper.

I’m just so tired.

I was sitting today on my lunch break, and I started thinking about how I got to where I am. All the roads I took that led me to where I am right here, right now. The obligations I have gotten involved with here, my website and brand, my different hobbies. 

How did I get here?

Out of all the different roads I could have taken, this is where I ended up. 

And it wasn’t a bad thought session, it’s not something I’m sad about — it was more of a pondering. 

I was driving home, talking to my mom about my different things I’m dealing with, and she said, “this weekend, just be Stasia.” and I realized that’s all I wanted to be. 

I just want to be Stasia. That’s it. That’s all. 

I don’t want to be some perfect professional anymore, I don’t want to only think about my resume and the next thing I can do. I don’t want to only go certain places or apply for certain jobs because that’s what it seems like I should do or what people expect me to do. I don’t want to define myself over and over and over again… because I always fall short, searching for something I can’t find. 

I don't want to be expected to do anything at all — not in my social, physical, professional lives.

Because, I just want to be me.

I want to be Stasia.

And to be honest, I need to rediscover who that is.

It’s not about quitting everything, or re-doing goals. It’s about continuing, evaluating what’s making me happy, setting boundaries, and taking opportunities that come. It's about not caring what others think and doing what makes ME the happiest.

It’s about allowing myself to be drawn to certain things without preconceived notions of who I am. 

It’s about letting go of so many things, and embracing the ones that make me smile.

That’s it, that’s all, that’s probably off brand. 

And to that I say, eff that.