It's Day 365 of 365. Just yesterday we were celebrating the new year, 2023. I was preparing to go back to Kano to continue the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corp for graduates in Nigeria.
Today, I'm done with NYSC, moved to a different city, got a place of my own and started a whole new phase of life.
It's strange and funny. The other day was just February. I turned 26 and wrote about how I felt about my age. Now, I'm almost a month away from turning 27 and I'm excited.
Like every other person, I had made plans for the year. I am here to announce that I failed woefully. I didn't tick half of the things on my list but I did other things that mattered to me.
I want to extend my gratitude to you who have read my love letters and stayed with my inconsistent a$$. I promise to do better next year.
The year had been all about discovery. And I'm not sure I would have appreciated it if it went any other way. I made mistakes and stupid decisions. But I have forgiven myself because I too deserve the grace I extend to others.
I didn't write like I would have loved to, didn't get published in magazines like I would have loved to, and didn't get active on social media like I would have wanted. To be honest I do not like social media that much and I was afraid of being judged by my content so I played safe. But is there safety in hiding?
2023 was great for me and I will be sharing the lessons I learnt below.
Plans are not carved on stone.
Your plans are there to give you a sense of direction. So don't make them rigid. Life is unpredictable and your plans should be able to flow with it.
Be flexible and ready to make changes whenever it's necessary. If you fail, pick yourself up and try again.
Ideas are fleeting.
Permit me to share this__around October or November, an idea came to me. I want to get good with video editing and content so I decided to start doing a video every day sharing what stood out for me that day or any random thing I think my friends will find valuable.
However, I decided to leave it and start in 2024 so I can do it for 365 days. Soon after, Temi Otedola started her “What if I recorded every day of my life” series. No idea is yours and unless you back it with actions, it's dead on arrival. Ideas can come to many people at once, it is the way you interpret them and act on them that makes yours unique.
Do it afraid.
For the greater part of the year I lived in fear. I was afraid I could die any day. I was scared my writing was not good enough or that I didn't know enough to share as content. I was afraid of putting myself out there on social media.
This fear has ruled me for years. I laugh when people tell me I'm doing well for myself. I know I could do so much more if I save myself from fear. But I have realised we will always be afraid so it's best to do it afraid. Ooh, what if this..? Do it and find out.
You are more powerful than you think.
I discovered a lot of things about myself this year and I realised I'm more powerful than I give myself credit for. The times I permitted myself to move were great and I know I have the power to do greater things.
Being a person who has an interest in a lot of things, I didn't know which one to focus my attention on. But 2023 gave me clarity to some extent and showed me that all I need is practice to perfect my skills. I have the power to be whomever I want to be.
Don't assume what others know.
I have always thought that the things I know are common knowledge. It turns out they weren't based on my interactions with others. NYSC showed me shege but also I learnt to share more and support others towards achieving their goals. Maybe I'm more of a support person than the one who is in the spotlight (I'm still discovering myself).
Those that I interacted with found value in my words. When people pay attention to hear you speak, come to you for solutions or tell you how much clarity they have from speaking with you, then you are something right. So I will be doing less assuming in 2024 and putting content I think others will find valuable out there.
You will make mistakes, forgive yourself and move on. Don't dwell so much on your mistakes, pick the lessons and work in doing better. Otherwise, you will get stuck.
Don't just be yourself, show up as your best self.
I stole this one from Korty eo. This year I didn't show up like I would have loved to. So I hope to show up not just as myself but as my best self. I will create content and do things that matter and mean something to me.
Sometimes we are afraid that people may not like what we share but trust me your audience will find you (or you will find them, either way, there must be a find😅). Whatever that is true to you, do it. You will attract your audience.
Always write things down
Ideas are fleeting. If you don't hold them they will run. So write things that are important to you down. You can use e-notebooks or apps. Also, there are so many things and our mind may not remember them at once.
I have learnt to document my journey and it's something I want to be intentional about next year. Take pictures, do videos. They will help you remember.
Lastly, I hope that while reflecting on the past year you do not beat yourself up for your mistakes. You are human and that's what we are good at__making mistakes.
Don't hold on to loss, pain, hurt, mistakes and the things that didn't serve you this year. Free your palms so that new things can come. Breathe! Remember that I'm always rooting for you.
I hope you will pick a lesson or two from what I shared. Now it's your turn. What lessons did you learn this year, do share. I will be waiting to hear from you.
Thank you once again for reading my letters, engaging and sharing your thoughts. See you in 2024.
With love and everything beautiful,
Chinonyelum.