2016; My Testimony.

I got off work for the last time this year on Thursday afternoon feeling very exhausted. I haven’t had a proper holiday, vacation or anything of that sort all year and it was beginning to tell on me physically and mentally. I have almost a month of vacation in front of me now so I should be well rested in time to resume work next year. Generally, 2016 has been quite a very good year for me. Right up there with my very best years ever, to be honest. I’m sure part of that is because 2015 wasn’t a very good year for me even though, in hindsight, it did eventually work out well in the last 3 months.

In 2015, I put my life into a business.  Every single part of my life went into it. Said business had a timeframe, the timeframe elapsed and I wasn’t making any headways so, naturally I was disappointed. While dealing with my disappointment, wondering if I should continue plugging away and also considering the economic crisis that was always going to happen in Nigeria under a Buhari presidency, I got an offer that would end up changing everything. I got an offer to do one of my dream jobs, out of the blues. I had to give up everything I had in Nigeria and move to a new country though, so it wasn’t an easy decision to make. In the end my love of this job, adventure, opportunity to learn a new language won over a fear of the unknown and generally leaving ones comfort zone. My supposed comfort zone wasn’t giving me a lot of comfort anyway, I thought.

So far, it looks like I made the right decision. I’m now a bit comfortable in another international language, made some great friends and acquaintances along the way, experienced a lot of different cultures to mention just a few. My life has changed in so many ways I can’t even begin to mention without prattling on and boring you in the process. There has been challenges along the way. Of course. Not least living on an island where 90% of the people don’t speak any of the languages I knew before I got there, missing my family and friends, there were times earlier on when I wondered if I made the right decision but generally, it has been an awesome year.

 The best thing is that it not just on a personal note, most of my family and friends have enjoyed 2016 too, my dad has got the something he always wanted, my mum will probably get hers in early 2017, my little sister got into admitted to study Engineering in University(she waited 2 years for it) my bro is in his 4th year and doing well from all indications, my closest cousin graduated like a month ago, Pascal is laying the foundations for a, no doubt excellent career as an attorney, The Arsenal are doing quite well and topped our Champions league for the 1^st time in 6 years. I have even finally got around to dying my hair hahaha.

I understand it hasn’t been the same for everyone and some people can’t wait to see the back of this year. I understand that things can be better and there is always room for further improvement but then things could equally be worse. What I’m trying to say in all of this is that I’m thankful for where I am, what I have and the year I have had so far. If you can’t say the same, please, do not give up. I appreciate this year more because of how bad I thought I had it in 2015. This year could quite possibly be, for you, what 2015 was for me; the storm before the calm. Make changes if you have to, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, take reasonable risks. Whatever you do, don’t give up.

I wrote a few weeks back that I was trying to lose weight, well, it coming along nicely. I have started exercising regularly again and I think I can see a few changes already. My biggest problem has been the discipline to not binge and also watch what I eat but I’m getting there slowly and steadily. I haven’t checked my weight since I wrote my last post though (I weighed 97kg then) I intend to do that sometime next week. Thanks to everyone who offered advice on how go about the whole thing, especially, Dr “delight” C, the videos are a very good guide. As for the rest of you who would rather I assaulted your eyes with my one round pack this Christmas, I shall duly oblige soon enough.

P.S. Just in case I don’t get to write again this year, I would like to wish you, your families and loved ones a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. May the rest of this and the next year be every good thing you wish for. Hasta oltra vez.