The Meaning Behind "26 to forever"

I thought I would take a step away from wedding plans and explain the title of my blog.  Many have assumed it was connected to the engagement happening just before my 26th birthday and while they were partially correct there is a little more to the connection. 

Someone told me just before my birthday that when they had turned 26 they thought they had done it all and lived life. I think this was more in reference to their longing to be 26 again but that got me thinking, at 26 I feel like my life is just beginning.

Don't get me wrong I've done some pretty amazing things and had some great experiences in my 26 years but for the last few years, at least, it's felt like I was just waiting for my life to begin. I had a great job and I worked with great people but the rest of my life left something to be desired. My social life had become compartmentalized into weekends and I felt like I was in a long distance relationship, not just with Nick but with all of my friends.  I only had one friend within a 100 mile radius I felt like I could call on a random night to go grab dinner or ice cream and while she is a fantastic friend we both had busy work schedules and walked the fine line of being too needy of one another.  I really just felt like my life was in limbo waiting for the next big thing to just happen.  So when I was offered the new job in St. Louis, I made a pact with myself to stop letting life just pass me by and to make 26 more than just an entrance into my late twenties but a year of new beginnings. I also set some goals for myself that I had intended to blog about to keep myself accountable to my pact. 

Little did I know at the time Nick had been making plans of his own (see his most recent post on his "2-by-4 Moment" and "The Pickle" http://theotherviewofido.blogspot.com/). While I'm thrilled with the change in direction and re-prioritization of some of my goals I do not want to lose sight of my original pact .  My hope for this blog is that it can serve dual purposes, keeping everyone updated on wedding planning and details, but to also serve as a place to hold myself accountable to my personal commitment to myself. 

"26 to forever" really is about new beginnings:  The beginning of a new life together with Nick and the new beginnings of  personal commitments to myself.  So for those of you that check in regularly for the hope of more wedding details I hope you will indulge with me and enjoy my personal journey as well.