2019 — The year of recovery
When the year started, I wanted to make a change in my life. I wanted to become better at living because all I knew was surviving. In 2018, when the school of life handed me my report card, there was a big red F on it. I failed and deservedly so. I was coasting through life with vague ideas of what I wanted. My convictions weren’t solid and my career felt stagnated. You see, failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The beauty of it is that you’re given an opportunity to reassess the mistakes you made and an opportunity to not repeat them. You learn by participating in the difficult task of trying again and again until you become good at it. So I counted my losses and asked myself how I could become a good student of life.
This year was about me experiencing new activities, learning more, traveling more, changing my job and rediscovering myself. I believe with each year comes an opportunity for rediscovery. I gained this clarity in 2019.
In the first quarter, I participated in was taking part in the Lagos marathon. I found myself running (mostly walking) the 42km route for the marathon. At the end of the day, I was nursing sore hips and blistered toes. It was worth it. What was important was the experience of it all.
As the year went by, I went on activity after activity in an attempt to see what would stick. I joined a backpackers crew and I went on a couple of trips with them. These activities really helped me confront the caveman in me. Being a recluse, I’m averse to social activities. The backpackers crew really helped with that.
After a few months of activities, I slowed down. I found myself losing focus on what I really wanted. I wanted out of my job. It was a source of discomfort to me. I had developed my skills to a point where they weren’t relevant for the kind of industry I was in. So I hit pause on the flex game and began applying for jobs in companies I felt needed my services. While I was doing that, I got an invitation to travel across Nigeria for a few weeks. I couldn’t refuse. It was exactly what I needed.
I find peace in taking road trips and that’s what I did. A road trip to Taraba state from Lagos. The longest stretch I had ever taken in my life. I visited Gembu town with Fu’ad. I must say that the Mambilla plateau has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. That trip changed my life. I saw a different part of life that I had never ever seen. Beauty is said to be a pathway to the divine. And this place was indeed divine. As beautiful as the trip was, I found myself wrestling a masquerade one fine morning in Gembu. I was more amused than scared. Maybe I’ll write about that experience another day.
When we got back from the trip, my mind was set. I had to experience life’s beauty. I continued applying for jobs and made sure that this time, I chose what was best for me. A job that had my well-being at heart. And with that intent came Cowrywise. I made a switch from an FMCG company to a digital one. Clearly one of my highest points in recent years.
2019 came with it’s challenges. One of which was consistency. In the past, I did well with this but somehow, 2019 was different. From not completing the illustration challenge I set out to do to not finishing the courses I started, this was a bad year for consistency.
In 2020 I have five aspects I plan to improve on in my life:
- Spiritual life
- Physical/health
- Career
- Finances
- Romantic life
These fiveaspects of my life that need improvement require discipline and proper time management. I’ve attempted managing them before(except romantic) successfully and found myself happier than when I was coasting without any plan or goal. So for my next trick, I’m going to be highly disciplined in 2020 and not give into the instant gratification monkey in my brain. Man don dey old and it won’t be beautiful growing into a person who gives in to their impulses without thought. God help me.
I’m grateful for conversations I’ve had with friends like Ope, Fuad, Jide, Nana, Firdaus, Diamond, Tobe and my mum to name a few. Those conversations gave me life. I’m also grateful for my victory over bad habits this year. I’m grateful for clarity. I got clarity this year. My mind doesn’t feel foggy anymore and this feeling comes with peace. I’ve felt the most peace I’ve ever felt in a very long time. I’m grateful for family, my fuel. They give me so much to live for. I’m also grateful for my colleagues, those ones are my second family. I’m so grateful our paths crossed in this life. I’m grateful for 2019. It’s easily one of the best years of the last 10 years.
To 2020 where the vision is clear and the victory is ours. I’m coming for everything I can lay my hands on In shaa Allah. Let’s get it!
