Airplane Mode
A dramatic year, a dramatic person. I must have read my 2021 review at least once in three months. Most times, I see the need to edit a sentence because I got better at reading — and writing. That’s my job after all — being a Journalist. I wasn’t sure to be doing this review thing for this year but, as the mind pleases, I want to come back and read what a year it was in 2022.
I can’t be so sure it was a great one. I know not anymore. I crossed out all goals (God listens) and I wondered where on the earth I was that was the sweetest. I looked around to notice how we were all taking caution day by day but God kept me (and my family) safe. This is not to say I prayed better. In fact, I prayed lesser this year. Apart from getting busier by the day, I was in denial of grace. I got to be in my company most of times. I lost so many immaterial things. I wished I wasn’t alive even. But, he was there. Listening. And saying that he would never forsake me. I cried so much yesterday streaming P. Daniel Olawande YMR program and that was probably to make up for all I didn’t cry for earlier in the year. The good and the bad. I just knew his (God’s) spirit was with me and nothing else supersedes that.
I hear that 2023 is a year of silence and when I think about it, I get scared. I’ve got myself accustomed to writing or saying whatever got me insecure publicly but, the reverse has to be the case for the glory of God to be made manifest. Imagine coming from a place of pushing yourself out there so that more can come to you but now, it will come to you without effort; however, you must remain in silence. This is the scariest it can get but no man has fallen from obedience to the Word.
My 2022 review:
Family
What caused my long stay with my nuclear family was the ASUU strike. It lasted for eight months but, I practically stayed home for two more months — an outcome of my school’s best decision. I thought I should stay back at school but my partner (Folu) had a lot of reservations. I was also broke and would have to pack a few items to head home thinking the strike wouldn’t last for long. It did.
I tolerated quite a lot and they did the same. I can say family is not only a blood bond. It’s an understanding of a do ‘and’ die affair. The feeling that “these are the people that get me no matter what,” and that’s the most priceless thing in the world. It goes beyond the months of misunderstanding and crude mannerisms but that the primary line of thought prevails.
Love & Relationship
I had some solid friendships and a significant number of them commanded deserved reverence. Many of them propelled a greater purview of what I needed to be and how to embrace my career life.
Christianity and Religion
I had no reason to miss church (Sunday) services. The excuses such as being tired, uninterested, mentally down, etc were silly and I knew it. But, that didn’t interpret my faith. My parents would rain complaints on such days. Faith to them is going to church every Sunday. The Bible never said to neglect the Sabbath but, I understood where I was. I fed myself when I was mentally down. I allowed myself to feel.
It wasn’t a smooth spiritual journey but as long as God is in this (my) story, I’m good to live life confidently.
Career
Maybe it was time because I’m hugely favoured here. It was a tiring process at first but God did see how consistent I was. Not that some people don’t put in the work when results fail to show. I have nothing to say about that but I’m sure that if it is where God wants you to be, it doesn’t matter the period of wait, you’ll get there.
I’m a Journalist. But I started as a hustling writer seeking advice and making connections, building intentionally as though, there was no tomorrow. Where I am at this moment is only a foundation. I’m remarkably proud of what I was able to do in the different places I worked. I’m not aware if I exceeded or was behind expectations but I dared myself for everything I accomplished. Sure to get better at it!
In the end, the award, the journalism fellowship, the nonfiction entry, the price and prizes for winning, the first for things, the mind-blowing job offers, taking the step to start my data analytics study, my first dollar pay, and then the second and consistent ones — “na God dey do am no be my by my power, grace na koko, the talent na jara” (Fireboy - Airplane Mode) but “sometimes, it feels like success is a trap; and sometimes, it feels like people don’t understand; ‘cause the pressure, e plenty and the expectations high; even your day ones wey suppose get; your back sometimes day ones dey fight” (Teni - Hustle).
Like my last review, I don’t have everything covered but with all I documented as significant, it would help me remember what a year it was. I had outlined all I wanted God to do and I smashed them all but with the new no-public lifestyle, I have my 2023 goals in my private note.
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Stay blessed!
