Our culture views getting married as one of life’s big moments. There is the romanticism of two people committing to a lifelong union, the celebrations in sharing the news and special day with loved ones, and the auspicious planning of life’s journey with a partner. I anticipated all of this. What I did not realize was how getting married would affect how my mind processes everyday information.

My mind is evolving even more toward strategy and long-term planning. I have always had a strategic mind and enjoyed planning ahead. That said, the intensity, focus, and subjects of my strategic planning have changed. They have moved away from an amorphous understanding of “what I want to do in life” and a checklist of “find skill, earn degree, get job, get married. . .” to an enhanced introspection of “now that I am an educated, married, professional, how do I maintain, develop, and most enjoy both my professional and personal lives?”

I see it as not unlike a video game, if you will. My main mission has not changed, but my level quests have multiplied, take more focus and strategy to accomplish, and they are now scattered about the map in new seemingly hidden locations. My conceptualization of life is now the difference between a traditional single player, platform game and a massively multiplayer online role-playing game! As mindboggling as it all seems at first, I am excited to keep leveling up.

Today, my five-year plan consists of strategic financial planning and organization, professional development and career advancement, and navigating the San Diego housing market to secure a home of my own. I am thrilled to take a step back and see the evolution of my life and how far I have come as an individual. I am also very excited to see what I will build and how further I will evolve going forward.