2014 was a busy, stressful year for my wife and I. We started condo searching in January, and 11 months and 2 failed properties later, we finally closed on a property we find to be almost perfect for us. We had quite a few hurdles to surmount, from lenders denying us loans to dealing with a realtor who wasn't as aggressive and responsive as we'd hoped.
The wedding and honeymoon were in March. We actually got engaged 2 years before the event (March 2012). Giving yourself that much time to plan the wedding is a double-edged sword. While it ensures you won't run into a time crunch like those who schedule a wedding, say, 6 months after the engagement, putting something off that long can make it feel like the big day will never arrive.
Sometimes it's better to give yourself a shorter window and be done with it. Thankfully, with help from the reception hall, the night saw no serious hiccups. But everything that had to be done in the months leading up to the wedding -- from buying wedding bands and sending out invitations to putting together a registry and seating arrangement for the reception -- was quite overwhelming.
Planning the honeymoon to Washington D.C. was also stressful in that neither my wife nor I had never traveled by plane before. Booking airfare, hotel accommodations, and a wide array of events -- not to mention carving out an itinerary for each day we were going to be there -- was not fun.
In the end, our honeymoon was both fun and memorable, being that it was a trip of many firsts. Not only was it our first time traveling by plane and outside of our home state, but we saw and touched snow for the first time as well.
Now we find ourselves getting our condo all set up. We have a handyman assisting us with repairs and already bought furniture. Though this is yet another exciting stage of the process, it is also taxing. I know that when it's all said and done, it will all have been worth it.
Indeed, 2014 was a watershed year for us. It was probably the most exciting and stressful 12 months of my life at the same time.
So what's the takeaway here?
It's that sometimes we have to endure a storm before we can see sunshine. I am grateful that 2014 gave me the opportunity to come out of my comfort zone and work toward so many life-changing milestones with my wife. It wasn't easy, but I think these experiences have helped me grow as a person.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" may sound like a tired cliche, but there is a lot of truth to it. I feel that facing our fears and overcoming said challenges has made us tougher and better equipped to handle any problems that life may throw our way in the future.
Were there any challenges you overcame in 2014 that you feel have toughened you up?
The wedding and honeymoon were in March. We actually got engaged 2 years before the event (March 2012). Giving yourself that much time to plan the wedding is a double-edged sword. While it ensures you won't run into a time crunch like those who schedule a wedding, say, 6 months after the engagement, putting something off that long can make it feel like the big day will never arrive.
Sometimes it's better to give yourself a shorter window and be done with it. Thankfully, with help from the reception hall, the night saw no serious hiccups. But everything that had to be done in the months leading up to the wedding -- from buying wedding bands and sending out invitations to putting together a registry and seating arrangement for the reception -- was quite overwhelming.
Planning the honeymoon to Washington D.C. was also stressful in that neither my wife nor I had never traveled by plane before. Booking airfare, hotel accommodations, and a wide array of events -- not to mention carving out an itinerary for each day we were going to be there -- was not fun.
In the end, our honeymoon was both fun and memorable, being that it was a trip of many firsts. Not only was it our first time traveling by plane and outside of our home state, but we saw and touched snow for the first time as well.
Now we find ourselves getting our condo all set up. We have a handyman assisting us with repairs and already bought furniture. Though this is yet another exciting stage of the process, it is also taxing. I know that when it's all said and done, it will all have been worth it.
Indeed, 2014 was a watershed year for us. It was probably the most exciting and stressful 12 months of my life at the same time.
So what's the takeaway here?
It's that sometimes we have to endure a storm before we can see sunshine. I am grateful that 2014 gave me the opportunity to come out of my comfort zone and work toward so many life-changing milestones with my wife. It wasn't easy, but I think these experiences have helped me grow as a person.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" may sound like a tired cliche, but there is a lot of truth to it. I feel that facing our fears and overcoming said challenges has made us tougher and better equipped to handle any problems that life may throw our way in the future.
Were there any challenges you overcame in 2014 that you feel have toughened you up?
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