two years!

I wanted to commemorate my 2 year anniversary of moving to Houston.

Can you believe it's been over 2 years since I finished undergrad? I've driven over 40k miles on my car, renewed a lease on the same place for two full years, and made Houston a home. I have plant pets!! I think I can confidently say I've "adulted", or at least, come to terms with being an adult.

Let me be clear - I do not have everything together. There is still great doubt, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. Making decisions, thinking about the future, managing responsibilities - yeuch. But I think part of adulting is realizing that 1) life is hard, 2) you don't know what you're doing, and 3) no one really has it all figured out. Sometimes you just gotta suck-it-up and do whatever it is you have to do. But you don't have to do it alone. You need relationships, and find friends, family, and community to support you. Otherwise it's really hard.

I have a few other lessons learned here: , but here are some more, in case you really have some free time:

1. Work is not fulfilling (for the vast majority of people). If you expected to find your full satisfaction and joy in life from your work then I would recommend you check your expectations and your priorities. I still have a hard time with this. A slow week at work makes my whole life feel unproductive and useless. But that shouldn't be the case. Jesus Christ is fulfilling, meaningful relationships are precious, and hobbies are good.
2. Find out how you're going to give. I took way too long to allocate my giving. As a steward of God's gifts, giving should be your first priority. Give, Save, Spend. Always in that order.
3. Find yourself a good credit card with cash back on the things you spend the most money on (this means knowing your budget/spending!!) and figure out how to handle your savings - Invest? Robinhood? Vanguard? Certificate of Deposit? High-interest savings account? Take a day and just Google.
4. Make the most out of short vacations. Complaining about a lack of vacation days only makes you more miserable. I know this from experience.
5. Take time to reflect. Everything moves a little faster post-grad, and it's hard to linger on sweet memories. The days are slow but the weeks are fast. And before you know it….years have flown by.
6. Take time to meet up with people regularly. Sometimes this will feel exhausting. Sometimes you really just want to bum on your couch and watch TV while eating dinner, but I promise it's worth it to take an evening a week to call an old friend or get a meal with someone.

There is no secret to successful adulting - there is only making the best of what you have. I am learning not only just to appreciate all that God has blessed me with, but be a good steward with what he's given me.

Praise the Lord!
07.07.19