Post-Grad and Loving It: 2013 Was not what I expected: Part 1

It was even better!

So I’m kind of getting sick of facebook, and decided to start a blog for those who actually want to keep up with what’s going on with Patrick and me as we begin our lives together. Plus, I think this is a good way for family and friends who don’t have facebook to keep in touch! So, here we go…

Let me begin by explaining how I came to the title of this blog. When I graduated college, I didn’t want to be in the real world. I absolutely HATED post-grad. I even stayed in my college town until November after graduation. I worked part-time at a bridal store, and full-time at a bank. I knew that being a college graduate with my degree, I wasn’t living up to my potential and that there was more for me out there than the life I was living and the salary I was making, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Knoxville. I especially missed Greek life and my sisters, and I would still go to the bars with them for college specials, frequent the fraternity houses on football game days, and go out to dinners with my sisters and friends still in Knoxville. I didn’t want to grow up.

Then, my 2012 Knoxville life ended, and at the very beginning of my 2013 post-grad, everything changed. My relationship that kept me in Tennessee ended, I left Knoxville and moved back home to Fairfax, and two of my best friends and I parted ways. I had never felt so alone and uncertain for the future. Luckily, I had many friends and family stand by me and guide me along the way. They helped me become the person I am now: the happiest I have ever been with my life and myself. Sure, I made some mistakes (who doesn’t?), but my friends and family stood by me, and I could never thank them enough for that. However, after the terrible beginning to 2013, the rest of the year became even better than I could have ever imagined. God had a plan for me, whether I realized it or not. The heartbreak and sadness I went through in the beginning of the year was all worth it for the way 2013 ended up. I’d go through it again a million times over just to have the ending that it did. I landed an amazing opportunity at my job here (I am a Client Relationship Manager for a commercial payments company), met my other half and got engaged (we had known each other all of high school, but reconnected over the summer), and realized just how bright the future was beginning to look. On top of all that, my fiancé has a great and stable job as a financial controller (accountant), owns his own house that we live in, has wonderful friends and family, and is incredible to my friends, family, dogs, and especially me. When I finally let go of the college dream life I had and embraced my new one, I felt better than ever, and realized that this new life is an even better “dream life” than in college.

Now, I can honestly say I am a post-grad, and LOVING it. I love my job, live with my wonderful fiancé Patrick Laiti (no, not “Lite” like his Facebook says…it is Italian and pronounced “Lighty”), who makes me a better person, and my relationship with God, my family, and my friends is greater than ever. I can tell you all this for sure: no matter how things may seem, it always gets better. Graduating college sucks…I loved college. But, life gets even better after it…if you let it. You begin a new chapter, and you can make it whatever you want.

Now that I’ve gotten 2013 out of the way, I can’t wait to begin this blog with posts about what’s going on in Patrick’s and my life (including the major house renovations we are doing, vacations, etc.!) since those who really want to know will read this blog (I’m so over Facebook and posting about my life there for people I never even talk to anymore.) I hope this will be a way for people to keep up with us and keep in touch.

So, cheers to what will be an incredible 2014 and GOODBYE 2013!

-LG