I started this blog four years ago. It marked the beginning of a major change in a my life that took longer than expected, but happened.
I left California and moved to Poland. I left behind job at Stanford University, my friends, familiar lifestyle and excellent climate because it was time to move.
Staying in one place for too long leads to stagnation, at least in the formative years of your adult life. Maybe when I’m older I’ll be happy in one place, but while I’m 33 years young I want to use the energy I have to push myself.
The past two years in Poland have stretched my comfort level in different ways. Some things have been great and some things have sucked, but i’m better for it, and I know it would have been impossible to grow this way while working an 8-5 job a few miles from my birthplace.
What’s in store for the next few years? I’m slowly coming to realize my life vision. Living in Poland has helped me to see that I can do a lot more good here in the near future than I possibly could back in America. Being both Polish and American gives me insights into this culture that are unique and valuable. Being a native English speaker in Poland is also a valauble asset, while knowing Polish in America isn’t valuable outside of niche professions and contact with other Poles.
I’ve been participating in the Leadership School of the Freedom Institute in Warsaw for several months. The institute is a think-tank focused on ensuring Poland’s economic and military security. The leadership school is a way to train a new generation of young Poles who are and will be assuming positions in society from national politics and local governments, to business and social organizations.
My favorite speaker so far has been Charles Crawford, the former British ambassador to Poland, who led an awesome workshop on public speaking, speechwriting and presentations. As one of the exercises I delivered a speech at the end of the course which was a great success. I surprised myself.
I’ve started collaborating with the institute to help it grow, since I see the potential it has to influence public life at a crucial time in Poland’s history.
While having freedom and time for ourselves is important, working for causes bigger than us is necessary as well. This is especially true when we can accomplish much more working with others than we could alone.
