It’s A Grind.

I’ve talked about our big move this year and the travel that we have coming up, but to make these things a reality has not been a walk in the park. We have had to work very hard this year to make sure everything fit within our budget and that was not always glamorous. Erik and I are both working two jobs right now so we can save and also pay for the travel we have planned this year. We are working at the same restaurant together part-time 3-4 days per week. Goals and dreams take hard work and sacrifice. There are certain weeks that Erik and I only see each other for an hour each morning because our schedules are not always matching up. It has definitely been an adjustment and at times it can be frustrating but to think about the bigger picture is what pushes me along. We have dreams for our life and goals we want to accomplish so if we have to grind it out early in life, that is the sacrifice we are willing to make. I’ve talked recently about the amazing opportunities that have come our way, and that has been exciting news to share but that also comes with stress and hard work.

For the past five years, Erik and I have worked two jobs, squeeze in date nights when we can, and keep setting new exciting goals for our future. Visiting Sweden is on our bucket list so we could not be more thrilled to check such a large item off early in our lives. Another item we will be able to check off is getting a tattoo internationally. We are doing the damn thing and diving in to the experience! We are planning to get a traditional Swedish tattoo and already have an appointment scheduled. I always knew Erik and I were similar in many ways but one thing that makes us very compatible is making the most out of every moment in our lives. When we have an afternoon together we plan a date, do something spontaneous, or just lay together to catch up on life. We work hard for the things that we have and we embrace every new opportunity that we can.

I would never want to come across as living a stress-free glamorous life with all types of travel being thrown at me. There is no one that hates spending money more than me. Okay… maybe my mom but I had to get it from someone. It stresses me out, I want to save every dollar I possibly can so oftentimes I have to convince that voice in my head it will be okay. If we are making extra money working at a restaurant, we want to put that money towards unforgettable experiences. There are many days I want to quit the restaurant. So many times, I am exhausted and just want to stay home. I get up at 5:30AM to workout, I work from 8-4 at my full-time job, then I go to the restaurant to work until 10PM. I have to remind myself that this will not be forever. This alleviates stress and gives us the freedom to splurge on Bucket List experiences. For anyone that has moved to a different state or even town, it can be hard to meet new people and find friends you can call your own. The great part about working in the restaurant is the amount of people we meet on a daily basis. This job has gotten me out of the house, outside of my comfort zone, and interacting with a ton of new people everyday. Not everyone is going to be a great friend but I am putting myself in a situation to meet new people, otherwise I would sit on the couch at home with our dog. Time is fleeting and we cannot get it back so take control and grab as many new experiences as you can. My great-grandmother lived a fortunate life full of travel, dinner parties, dancing, and true love. She lived until she was 102 and during that time I loved hearing all her stories from her life. She would tell me about going dancing with my grandfather or traveling the world and experiencing life together. If I have grandchildren later on in life, I want to share those types of experiences with them. I will tell them about our trip to Sweden and share all the memories that are close to my heart. So in order to do that… Erik and I have to live our lives fearlessly!

This is not only a reminder to others but also to myself, that a life worth living takes hard work and sacrifice. I absolutely would rather stay home and not work a second job but in the grand scheme of things, it is worth it. When I am exhausted and want to quit, I have to remind myself that this feeling is temporary. Build a life you want to share, jump outside of the monotony, and let your hair down! If it’s not travel, do something on a whim that leaves an imprint on your soul and every time you think about it, it brings a smile to your face. Dance in the rain. Take class to learn something new. Paint a picture. Just do something different that gets you out of your daily routine. Erik and I sat down to think of small date ideas that would be achievable any day of the week. Once we both had a list, we wrote each idea down on a different popsicle stick and put them in a jar. Whenever we have a little time together we can pick a popsicle stick out of the jar and we have to do whatever is written down. It can be as simple as “Play video games together” or “Build a fort in the living room”. This has been a great way to turn the television off and have mini dates together throughout the week or whenever we have free time. We do our best to be intentional about the time we have together, to make each day count. There’s no time like the present. Create your bucket list, start taking chances, and get outside of your comfort zone. Start making stories that you will want to share for years to come, it might just take a little bit more work but all good things do.

“Dream big, stay positive, work hard, and enjoy the journey.” -Urijah Faber