3 Months Into It

Today I celebrate my 3 months working at my first job. I've managed to learn a great deal about my industry, clients and myself surprisingly. I would have never imagined enjoying working as much as I do and I'm slowly shaking off the college mentality one day at a time. What I mean is that I'm starting to realize that this place I come in every day at 8:30 a.m. and work for 8 hours at--- is my job. It's my career. It's now the most prevalent part of my life. I'm reminded of that quote: "Live to Work, Don't Work to Live." It has become increasingly more important to me over these last 3 months to learn as much as I can about the direction I want to maneuver my career-- perfecting the craft that is investor relations. I've found that my priorities have shifted dramatically in every facet of my life too. I guess they sort of have to when you have rent to worry about, bills to pay, taxes to file, a 401K to manage and credit score to maintain. Life has become less about constantly satisfying the minimalist of whims that urge a sporadic Tuesday night outting, spending binge or dinner soiree-- rather it's about finding that balance between those things of high importance and maintaining one's life in order. It's been about tapping into interests that are often subsided for unbeknownst reasons and allowing yourself to fall into new interests that time now permits you to explore. It's surprising how you realize how much the things you once enjoyed were left out of your life when you graduate from college and you seem to have a lot of spare time to "kill." I would have always thought that college would be the appropriate avenue to explore those things, but for some reason it always seemed like there was never enough time for it in college. Maybe it was just me.

I like the responsibility and routine that has come with "growing up." It hasn't been monotonous because there are days that broken up by gatherings with friends or free events in the city. For instance, last night myself, CM, CD, Nicori and Beatrice all went to Bryant Park to watch Casablanca on this giant screen they set up in the park. We sat and sipped on some wine, while watching the classic movie amidst the back drop of midtown Manhattan. It was cool to be sitting there experiencing that...it was certainly one of those New York experiences that I could see myself reading about in a magazine and wishing I'd lived in New York to do. You know how you sometimes say that about things or places? "If I lived there...or if I had this...I would do this." Like before I got a car I said that I would wash it every week no matter what. I got car and probably washed it once every 2 months depending on how dirty it looked.

And up until now its seemed like I've been living paycheck-to-paycheck with little to no money to spare before the next paycheck was deposited, but in reality I've had my fair share of entertainment and luxury these past 3 months. I have, however, begun establishing myself and thought that about how it's taken 3 months to finally get my feet grounded. In all fairness though, it really hasn't been like I haven't had my "feed grounded" it's more that I've been keen on inhaling (there's no better adjective to describe it)--- on inhaling what this city has to offer as if it were to escape me or I was going to be shaken from a dream.

The 3 months have zooooomed by and it's incredible how fast time goes when you find yourself buzzing around the city. I'm finally eligble for my company's health insurance plan and in two weeks I'm about to sign my first lease for my first apartment in the city. Making my residence here official-- or at least until I opt for getting a New York driver's license.

Through it all, I've managed to do this massive transition on my own accord. It's been an immense learning experience and had someone told me that this is what I would be doing after graduating college...I'd find it pretty hard to believe or think it possible to somehow survive. That's the thing about our preceptions....it seems like we often project the possibility of things to come as being one way based solely on our experience with an entirely unrelated event-- leading us to assume that we know what to expect, when in reality our expectations never correlate with the reality of the situation -- be it good or bad.

To the friends I've managed to stay in touch with these past 3 months. You've proven me wrong on so many accounts that it feels fantastic to know that the time vested in those friendships over the years have not been for nothing. I've managed to speak to the majority of you, if not all of you, on many occassions often being the one to receive the call rather than being the one to place the call. I've also been in great company these last 3 months having a few of you come crash at my place.

I've been through a lot of good these last 3 months and that's pretty damn refreshing to say. Cheers.