3 Years: Reflecting On My Career and Life in London

How has it been three years since I graduated uni and moved to London already? On one hand, it felt like a really long time but I also don't feel like it has been that long. 
I thought I would make this post after I had a session with Dr Neruna Ramlakhan about sleep. One of her tips was to think about the things that you are thankful for that day and that got me thinking about all the things that I should be thankful for in my day to day life. I was having a really tough time and I felt that that exercise really lifted my mood and I also want to write down what I've achieved in the past three years too. 
I know that I am guilty of spending a lot of time lamenting over what my life should be, what I have yet to achieve and not appreciate life for what it is. For me, this post will just be a slight reminder of how far I have come in a short space of time and hopefully, I come back and read this on my next difficult day. (So, hi future Wanischa). 
- CAREER - In November 2015, I moved to London with no job (granted my boyfriend's family had put me up in their house for months. I literally can not thank them enough, this journey wouldn't have even started without their support back then and the continuous support now). 
Somehow with my move, the stars had aligned and I received a job offer to start an internship in my dream career. I was quite a nervous wreck during my six-month internship because the permanent job offer wasn't guaranteed and I was so close to burning out at the end. After I moved out of my boyfriend's parents house. I was renting a room in Battersea that cost about 65% of my monthly income. I was barely able to afford travelling to work and buy food.
Things became a little bit easier when my internship became permanent, despite how I felt when I finally left that job after over a year and a half. I am super grateful for all the opportunities that I was given at that place. All my ideas were welcomed and implemented. I had opportunities to learn and grow professionally and personally. I had an amazing manager that was supportive and understanding. Most importantly, I've met life-long friends there too. Sometimes, the feeling of bitterness masked some of the wonderful experiences I had at that job. 
Nonetheless, one of the best decision I have ever made was to leave that job as I had already outgrown it. In my new job, I've finally made it into the company that I aspired to see behind the closed door. I was impressed and excited to see how different company runs. I was able to focus my attention on the aspect of marketing that I am most interested in and grow in that area. 
The highlight of my career has to be when I finally more than double my salary from when I started 3 years ago. It feels refreshing to not have to worry about whether or not you can afford to pay tube fare that day. 
- LIFE -  When you didn't grow up in London and don't have many friends. Sometimes, big cities can feel really lonely. I moved into a flat in Battersea with 2 strangers, which I honestly found very difficult since I really wanted a quiet space of my own where I can just turn off at the end of the day. After a year of living there. I, unfortunately, didn't get on with one of my newer flatmates and that pushed me to find a new place to live. 
With my permanent position and salary increase. I was able to afford to rent a studio where I finally had my sanctuary. I loved that place, even if I can literally cook my dinner from my bed. The main thing was I didn't have to share it with anyone. 
At the end of 2017, my boyfriend and I started to look for our own place. We spent our weekend visiting different places and seen some awful flats at extortionate prices. Just before Christmas of 2017, we finally found our flat and started the process of buying it. Throughout the process, we didn't get much time to appreciate the excitement of it as we were both quite worried about something coming up to jeopardise the process like the mortgage not coming through or the surveyor finding something seriously wrong with the place. 
We only managed to relax and believe that we were buying a flat when we actually got our keys at the end of March 2018. Even now, I still can't believe my luck and how far my life has come as I sit in our own flat. Since moving in, I have had my ups and downs when I seriously questioned myself and my sanity when I was unhappy because I couldn't understand why I am not fully happy, despite that the fact that I have everything I have ever wanted. Until I realised that I don't spend enough time appreciating my life, instead, I criticised myself for not doing enough to progress myself and for not having the perfect 'Instagrammable' life. 
Now that I have been in London for a few years, I have friends that recently just moved to London and now I feel like I have gathered a few close friends that I see occasionally and I feel like that's enough.  
Every once in a while, I need to take a step back and track my progress. Even if it's just a small step and appreciate the inner struggle I went through. 
What was the best thing that happened to you in the last 3 years?

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