Season 2023 in 9 Lessons

For the past 5 years, my year in reviews always highlights some of my major career and personal accomplishments, and some lessons. This year, I want to do something a bit different. Instead of sharing highlights of my year across personal development, career goals, and family, I’ll be sharing nine (9) lessons from the myriad of things I learned this year.

1. God carries his own. In between being a mum, student, full time 9–5er, running my social impact, volunteering and a whole lot of other things I get to do in my personal life, I’ve seen how God truly strengthens and carries His own people. On some days, it’s hard to give 100/100, but I make progress regardless.
2. Social media is a time-waster. I can write a whole article on this one, but I’ll save your time and only urge you to take a deliberate audit of your social media usage and how it interrupts your productivity everyday. You’ll be shocked at what you’ll find. In July this year, I uninstalled all social media apps from my phone (except LinkedIn). I can tell you for sure, that I currently go days without feeling the need to check this tweet or that post. I took it a step further and deleted Whatsapp for a month (October), which happens to be the most peaceful month I had all through the year. You won’t know how chaotic, and energy-sapping whatsapp is, until you leave. Truth be told, it wasn’t easy taking the break from Whatsapp as so many of my primary communications happen on there. I’ve been planning this since 2021, so the decision wasn’t rushed, and I provided systems that ensured that I didn’t miss out on anything, nor did anyone miss out on me.
3. Friendship breakups are a thing, and they’re tough. In July this year, I let go of a friendship which was everything a good friendship should be for eight (8) years, and suffered a toxic downward spiral the next two (2). It was foreign for me to love a friend and yet let them go. I guess I learned that sometimes life throws curveballs at you. Sometimes people leave because they want to leave, and that’s okay. Sometimes you have to leave to protect your sanity. Whichever way, it’s tough, and I mourned.
4. Position and go for what you want, show excellence, and keep showing up. One of my goals this year was to become an Open Source Community Manager. Despite not knowing exactly how to go about this, I kept my mind open, and my ear peeled for opportunities (paid or unpaid) in open source. I also reached out to some of my contacts in open source, to kindly share opportunities with me, if they come across one. Few months later, I found an opportunity that aligned, it was unpaid, and I didn’t mind. I devoted hours every week doing open source work, reviewing and merging pull requests, onboarding contributors, reviewing and updating documentation among others. It being an unpaid program, didn’t affect my commitment to it, and how excellently i delivered my tasks. I got the chance to contribute to a platform impacting lives and governments globally. What seemed to be unpaid work, may yet pay in other ways, and even if it doesn’t, I’m glad I positioned myself and showed excellence regardless.
5. Be intentional about forging connections and building relationships. Some friendships and connections happen out of the blues, I call those ones, divine connections, but others need effort — calling first, sending a DM first, reaching out first, attending events, sending gifts. In essence, there are relationships you have to grow and water. This doesn’t mean that you have to be the only one watering it forever, at some point, it should offer some value as well, but it falls on you to at least give it a headstart. In 2024, I’m choosing intentional relationships, both divine, and human orchestrated.
6. Individual paths are unique. Never compare yourself with anyone. Comparing yourself to people is an indirect way of doubting the God who leads you. If you believe in God, and know that He has plans of good and not evil for you, then you should relax, and focus on only the path He has set before you, knowing fully well that He who promised is faithful. Though it may tarry, though your patience may be tried, it’ll come! God’s promises always come through. Hold unto Him, declare the promises He has made to you always, pray on it, stay on it!
7. Worrying doesn’t solve anything. As someone who worries a lot, believe me when I say, it doesn’t solve any single thing. I’ve been taking deliberate steps at replacing worry with gratitude, prayer and forward thinking. The French would say “On va faire comment” (How are we gonna do?). Instead of worrying, I pray, find a way to get into my ‘next’ or allow God to sort it.
8. Say little and do too much. Not everybody needs to know your plans, desires or fears. Invest in a journal and share your ideas and secrets there instead. Don’t be in a hurry to share wins, including half-baked ones. Be comfortable with keeping silent about some of your wins.
9. One lesson that I have repeatedly learned over the years, is the need to surrender all our goals, plans and ambitions to God. See my friend, anything handed to God is safe and secured. He may add twists and turns, the devil may attack, but if God is involved, rest assured that it’ll always come back better than you envisaged. Let go, and let God!
10. I’m adding a bonus lesson for you. There’s a reason my favorite part of NSPPD is the testimonies. Listening to other people’s testimonies strengthens our faith. In August this year, a friend of mine coveted my prayers, for her Visa which hasn’t been approved yet. In her words, “…My trip is in two (2) days but my visa isn’t out yet. I’m preparing regardless, and purchasing things. I have faith that it’ll come…”. As you may expect, her visa came the next day. Crazy Faith! I was moved at such faith she had exhibited, not knowing that I was going to be in exactly the same shoes 2 months after. Her faith, her testimony kept me going. Even at points of despair, I remembered her testimony, and held on. Fill your heart with the word of God, and edifying stories. On low days, those are where you’ll find solace and strength. You don’t prepare for war on the day of battle, start now to fill your heart and innermost mind, with testimonies and uplifting messages. You’ll need it for the year ahead.

Have an amazing 2024 ♥️