Starting this by asking myself why I do not take pictures. I forget to take pictures. I should fix up because pictures helped me remember whatever happened that I’ll be writing about in the next few paragraphs.
Lived this year in slow-mo. Wasn’t in a hurry to learn or execute anything. Savoured every moment and was excited to even go to bed early.
Grateful for good health for me and my family. I remember a silly back ache earlier in the year but all gone all gone. Didn’t even get the flu.
Had big plans I didn’t execute. Thought I’d raise money for a startup but something about the not instant yeses to investment made me not sure. It was a big catch 22. The product needs money. Investment needs product. Many lessons anyway.
Spent more time with people I love, and the most time with the person I love the most. Felt like summer in December, everyday.
I do not think I made any new friend and that’s something I should fix in the coming year. I have my circle but relationships make the world go round.
Spent the year in the gym as well… until I didn’t. Moved into a new apartment where the gym was to be ready in two months. As I type this, it’s meant to be ready in two weeks. We wait.
Picked up running as a more consistent hobby and that’s been going good. Did a 12k last week! Used my brother’s gym a few times, and did at least of 20 pushups every morning for at least the past 9 months.
Sculpting my body has been fun, and I’m immensely proud of myself.
The company I work for grew a lot and this meant competitor and silly media-induced bad press which made me anxious too many times. But thankful for work, taxes being paid, and the opportunity to build something lasting and impactful.
Highlight of the year was receiving global awards and recognition for my work in marketing. 4 in total.
Lowlights involved not being focused on building and raising investment, and not learning data science yet again.
I like to look back at my year a month at a time so here goes:
January
This month starts with work chaos. Well, started it in love but I’m certainly not writing about my love life here.
Back to the work chaos. I did something I had proposed when I joined the company and thankfully, it was the right bet and has gone on to have immense impact on the company’s growth.
What caused the chaos then? I did it in a startup-y way where everyone wasn’t carried along and this meant trouble with our regulators. We survived but I learned the importance of carrying regulators along even when it’s not their business.
Later than month, I went to get my passport renewed. This is legit important to mention because I had expected to get it back in a month. Months later, I’m still chasing for it because I was told my NIN was encoded (whatever that means, I’m still confused).
February
I go to the south of France with the LOML. What to write about this? I don’t know… find your person. Life would be a lot easier. In this moment, I’m euphoric. “This moment” ends up lasting the entire year.
Grateful to be at a point in my life where I can afford whatever I want. Perhaps, I’ll be able to get a house in Monaco soon. Until then, I’ll keep visiting.
March
I’m on an island in the Indian Ocean for a work retreat. Ajebutter’s “Soundtrack to the good life” is legit my soundtrack. Perhaps that’s the soundtrack of my year.
It’s a work retreat but I’m having the time of my life, driving a boat, dancing like I have no worries. I genuinely have no worries.
I get a career high. The FT partners list me as a rising woman in fintech with other top women globally. No fluff. Non-PR induced recognition hits harder.
Back home in London, I see one of my favorite DJs, Belters only, live at the Ministry of Sound. Was surprised to step out of the club in the morning and realise it was literally opposite my office.
I stayed away from crowded events this year but was happy I did this.
While trying to recap my year, I found this sweet turkey in my camera roll. I think Terver brought it for me. Writing this because turkey is life.
April
Visit Torquay with the fam… friends who are now fam… Ope, Amina, Joba. Terver couldn’t make it. Gbemi couldn’t make it. Joke couldn’t as well.
Didn’t know the English had their riviera but it was beautiful. I race uphill with Ope a couple of times. We are like kids without a care in the world.
Getting there sucked though. Inter city travel in the UK is still my nemesis.
I come back to London and the reality that I really want a bigger space so I start house hunting more seriously.
May
The fifth month of the year and my passport isn’t out yet. Lol.
Anyway, in good third-word fashion, I pay someone and the thing was printed the same day.
Biggest lesson this month? If someone asks that you meet in Wimbledon common, please do not meet in the park.
It takes me an hour to walk from one end of the park to the next to find the person I was had a meeting with. Massive beauty. Beauty nonetheless.
I enter my fashion era this month and style Ope for his trip. Felt really good about this.
I also move into my new house this month with the best girl, before my lease ended in the previous apartment. Again, grateful to be able to afford to do silly things like this.
Now I live in an apartment with a view the younger version of me had only seen in movies. Side note: I forgot the view a few days later.
Later that month, one of my favorite artistes, Asa, has a show and thanks to Amina, I get late tickets to see her. Note-to-self: learn the lyrics to songs.
I play in an indoor tennis court for the first time in a while and it really is my best game all year. Need to make enough money to build mine.
June
I start the sixth month of the year at Enish. Grateful for Nigerian food Mehn. If there’s one good thing to come out of the country, it’s that.
I move out of my old house finally.
I go to Amsterdam as per usual. Nothing spectacular this time. No spectacular relationship made.
Later in the month, I head to Cannes. Why? I won a global marketing scholarship – The Jody Harrison Scholarship, that meant I could be part of the Cannes Festival of Creativity. I grew up dreaming about this so this is a dream come true.
I have a ridiculously good time; meet some of the smartest marketers around the world and I’m immensely grateful to the Abinbev team. Can’t qualify how much of a good time I have but I really did.
Life is good.
July
I begin month seven by visiting an “Egbon” in Milton Keynes. Love him but the prospects of Amala is the main reason I’m here.
Again, UK Intercity travel, do better!
Something funny happens on this day. I am walking to the station and there is an ongoing match to celebrate Pride Month. Somewhere within the chaos is a Christian group campaigning against pride with the tagline – Pride goes before a fall. Found it so funny.
Random sidebar, going through my pictures and I remember wearing a dress to the office sometime that month. Tosin is shocked.
I should do more dresses in the new year.
The best thing about this month is Wimbledon – the tournament this time. Joke gets us tickets and we have a ridiculously good time. In the rain and under the sun.
In the future, Amina will get a ticket for a Quarter final game in 2024 and offer it to me. Little blessings.
Later that month, childhood friends – Tele and Seun, visit London and come over. 1/2 of the Hotsix. 20 friends can really play for 20 years. Just not everyday.
Friends come to mine en masse this month. Feeling the lovvveee.
My building throws a summer party to close out the month. Side note: Need fffff people to start giving us proper food at parties and not just pizza.
August
For my birthday month, I give myself the gift of learning to swimming and on my birthday, I can actually somewhat swim.
I throw a birthday party and Tayo shows up. Really the best thing that has happened all year. Grateful for everyday I get to spend with Tayo. It legit is a gift.
Actually, Tayo visit London days before and I love that I can spend a bit of time with him.
For my birthday, I great gifts in contrast with the previous year. My favourite from my favourite person
I head to Lagos for a work retreat afterwards. 3 back to back ridiculously fun days. Lagos is home. Tinubu should help us so we can come back.
Also, I’m so 30+. I just want to be at The Vibe with a live band. Nothing too upbeat.
September
I get back to London and Gbemi is gone across the pacific for weeks.
I host my baby brother in London. Days we prayed for and what not.
September probably goes on to be my best month of the year. I go to SA. Spend time with my uncle and cousins. Run the length of the prom in Capetown and although the weather isn’t good enough for a hike, Michael and Tunde ensure no crumbs of fun were left.
I also get an SA ticket for April 2024. Would I go? Let’s see.
I end the month at a fave’s wedding. Met Ayo during my service year and he’s been a joy to have in my corner. Doing this for and with him was heartwarming.
Spent time with old friends in Joburg- Kene, Kiikii, made new acquaintances, went gun shooting for the first time. Bought a pretty expensive dress.
October
SA was fun but draining so after the 11 hour return flight, I commit to taking it easy in the tenth month.
I plan a surprise for Felix at work. Have dinner with Gauri. Watch a show with Gauri and Pelumi, and begin my plant sitting adventure for my brother.
Months later, I’ll surprisingly have not killed the plants.
November
It’s wet now, gets dark early and I can’t play tennis so I don’t slip. I start running more.
I plan a surprise birthday shindig with Terver’s partner and it turns out well.
I go ahead and get two more career awards:
- Top 50 most influential women In Marcoms
- Top 50 industry women
I also speak to some founders of portfolio companies of a key African VC. Affirming. I know my shit.
December
I begin the last month of the year by celebrating my favourite human’s day.
Bought a lovely shoeeee. I’m in my fashionable era (hope that’s grammatically correct?).
I plan a sweet campaign at work which gets shut down last minute by my compliance team. Sucks bad but we move.
I go to Aberdeen to see Tayo and my heart is full. He’s stronger and happy.
Ope hosts a friendsmas as our travel plans didn’t work out and we were stuck in London and it’s cute and belly-filling. I wear a dress I’ve been wanting to wear. I feel good. Really sexy.
Gbemi is in Lagos so I’ve spent much of the month alone. Oh wait, Ayo’s in town and we’ve had some good times.
I go to Winter Wonderland with Ife and yoooo… I don’t know if I’m too old for that but it’s a mixture of – that was sick, and I never want to do that again.
_________
That’s it. My slow-mo year. Can’t complain. Grateful for love, life, relationships, financial freedom. Grateful for family and the ability to show up for them.
What would 2024 look like for me? I wrote a different blog post about some things I want to do. In addition to those, I’d love to:
- Take more pictures. Saw Tayo multiple times this year. No pictures.
- Build new friendships. Doesn’t hurt to have more good people.
- Run a half marathon. Registered. Hopefully I get picked.
- Get help for my ADHD.
All in all, I’ve become too comfortable with ease and while I appreciate and want more of that, I need to be ready to climb mental mountains in 2024. So help me God.
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