Happy 2022, loves.

This is the fourth consecutive year of writing a review and I still don’t know how to start, haha.

But hey, how are you? Relax, we made it.

Traveled the world, read 50 books, x23 my income… all these things I did not do but I’m grateful to have lived the best of my 22 years on earth in 12months.

Of Love, Enjoyment & Self-improvement.

Love.

2021 felt like a year of awakening for me in my relationships. I think the first pandemic year made me realize how fickle life is. Losing people dear to you makes you appreciate and savor every moment. I fell more in love with my friends and family, got to spend more time with them, travelled together and said so many I-Love-Yous.

In my 2020 review, I wrote about wanting to find love in 2021 but I immediately changed my mind when the year began. Love is sweet but you see peace of mind? Way sweeter!

I intentionally avoided getting into talking stages because I had zero energy to keep up, so, this is an open apology to people I aired. x

The older we get the more intentional we have to be with friendships –relationships generally. Find people who genuinely love you and hold them tight!

I got to do nice things for people; friends, family, random strangers, a lot in 2021. Receiving gifts is my love language and getting to speak it fluently last year passes as my biggest win.

• I got really nice gifts too!

Here’s to winning and falling more in love with the people that make my life magical.

Enjoyment.

The best part of my 2021 was defining my enjoyment however I wanted to. On some days it was treating myself to a bottle of wine and onion flavored Pringles (the best flavour by the way), on others, it was a road trip.

I organized my first ever ‘birthday week’ where I celebrated my amazing self for 8 days! I know I’m extra but going all out the way I did made my 22nd birthday feel like a big life pivot, a catalyst I needed to embrace adulthood.

I spent the my birthday weekend at IITA resort with some cool kids who are now medical doctors!

I did a lot of eating out, solo dates and partying. I was very intentional about experiencing nice things, people & places.

I was working a couple of jobs whilst still being a medical student (it’s not everyday you see a superhuman like me) so I compulsorily took days off for my mental health & I hope to do same in the new year.

I finally got on a power bike this year too, thanks to my biker friend, Damola. If you follow my socials, you’d know that I’ve always wanted to get on one. It was a dream come true for an adrenaline junkie like me.

I went from not attending a wedding in two years to attending a couple in 2021, haha. Shout out to my women, Susan and Wumi, may you live happily in love forever!

I got to rock with my favorite naija duo, Show Dem Camp at Palmwine Fest! I’m still so giddy from the experience –my first concert experience, haha. I got selfies with Tec, Ghost & Funbi (yay, me!).

I spent my December outdoors mostly (we outside gang!). From restaurants, to the beach, picnic dates, solo dates, and just vibing with random people. It was refreshing to be outside considering how COVID-19 ruined my detty plans in 2020.

I could go on and on about how much fun I had in 2021. Man, I lived life to the fullest.

It’s important we create our own pattern of enjoyment as we grow older. Have fun on your own terms, take care of your mind and body, too.

Self-improvement.

Even though I decided to take the back seat this year, the plan was to never stop learning, to strive to be better and to embrace personal growth in whatever form it comes in.

I started the year by turning down a job offer even though I was quarter-to jobless. My internship at Helium Health was coming to an end at the time but trust God to come through for me, as usual. Towards the beginning of March, I got jobs off recommendations from the good people at Helium Health and the ride has been smooth ever since.

I’m building Pharmarun with some other amazing people, marketing Awabike and a couple of local brands that I love.

I tasted earning in a foreign currency for the most of 2021 & I hope 2022 would be better financially.

A paper I wrote with people I really admire got published in an international journal, read here. Also, shout out to my friend for gifting me a mug with the paper printed on it!

I finally followed through with aligning my teeth with dental braces thanks to my brother, who’s a medical doctor and a dentist on Twitter, TK, for pushing me.

Some FAQs I get about my braces;

• Do they hurt? — not anymore. The pain lasted for about a couple of weeks after I got them.
• How much did they cost? — I got mine installed in a teaching hospital and I didn’t spend more than N300,000. It’s more expensive in private dental clinics though.
• How long will I wear them for? — my orthodontist said 2 years but it could be for less or more.

One of my resolutions for 2021 was to learn to swim & I did –still learning. Shout out to my trainer, Hussy, for not giving up on me!

I also took a couple of marketing courses, exercised, volunteered, had COVID-19, learnt more French and did well at school.

What I learned

Always acknowledge low points and work on them.

Having money is important.

Be selfish and aggressive with my growth.

Always put myself first.

Spend more time with people I love.

Be deliberate with choosing happiness.

What about 2022?

I plan to travel & exercise more. My goals are streamlined to career growth, enjoyment, and my academics. Hopefully I’ll look into investment options and eat all the Nigerian soups I lay my hands on (don’t ask questions).

At the beginning of 2021, I told my friends that I wanted to enjoy my life, which I did.

2022 is for babygirling and working really hard, amen?

Cheers to moving in faith, doing it afraid, making mistakes, never giving up and finding comfort in relationships.

I hope you find joy and love and everything nice this year because I will ✨