2022 in a wrap
It’s the season of thousands of end-of-year recaps, and rightly so. A wise man once said … Actually, this is not from any wise man, but adequately accounting for the past helps you appreciate the present and prepare for the future. I wasn’t sure about writing this, but I think it’s necessary for posterity. So, here’s my attempt at squeezing my 2022 into 1106 words. This post is more for me than you, but I think you might get a thing or two from reading it, so stay with me!
This year started with uncertainty. I was about to finish my NYSC, and while I had two tentative offers, I was still deciding which would benefit my career more. I sought the Lord’s counsel and took the option He led me to, even though I had FOMO on the other. Thankfully, it has worked in my favor, and I’m grateful it didn’t happen the other way. However, for numerous reasons, 7 out of 10 times, I wanted to quit my job this year. But God did an excellent job roping me in here for my good because no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t run anywhere. In the chaos, I asked Him to change my lens to His, and then I started to see more of why He has me in this place at this time. It has not been the sweetest ride, but being at the center of God’s will for me gives me all the comfort I need.
Because of the demands and pressure of my job, I didn’t have as much time for myself and my friends as I would have loved to this year. I think life does its work of making us busy and shifting us apart, but we can also be more intentional and do better. Reading things like “I know we’re not as close as we used to be” or “we don’t talk as much” on my birthday, especially from people who have a warm place in my heart, didn’t go down too well with me, and I want to try more next year.
I didn’t set many goals in 2022 because I was open to whatever God had for me. I only planned to double the books I read in 2021 and read 50 books this year. In H1, I reviewed this goal to 25, 15, and eventually ten books because it was no longer feasible for me to achieve. I ended up reading nine books this year, maybe 10, I don’t recall, but it is what it is.
This year I moved to Celebration Church. It wasn’t the easiest, but it’s one of my best decisions in 2022. For the longest time, I have been the person who just wanted to do things on a small scale and be excellent in my comfort zone. But this move has expanded my mind into the fullness of what God has planned for me. And for the first time in a while, I’m going into 2023 with Big Energy! I’ve been a member of CCI for almost a year, and while I took time out from active church service with this move, I’m overdue to join the workforce, so that’s among the first things to work on in 2023.
Still on spiritual disciplines, taking The Revival School’s Hosting The Presence (HTP) course was one of the best things that happened to me in 2022. HTP stretched me, but it was good stretching. It also gave me another family that I have grown to love. I recommend it for every believer. The Soaking Room was another place where I found solace and strength. Sunday evenings at Charis Hub were some of the most precious times I looked forward to every week. However I was, I came, and every time, I exchanged my burdens for Jesus’s love.
Speaking of forward, I completed McKinsey Academy’s Forward Program this year. It was unplanned, but I’m glad I got hooked on it and stayed till the end. I can say, for sure, that I’m better for it.
The phrase “family is everything” gained more fame in my extended family group chat this year. Of course, for good reason, which I can attest to. When it comes down to it, family will still always be my first point of call and springboard for life. Sometimes, the ones closest to us are the ones we take for granted most, and I’m actively reconditioning my mind to avoid this.
I did a few projects with my people at Soul’d Out this year, but the biggest was our Food Drive last week. Planning and executing this Food Drive brought to life the words, “Dream big; God can [and will] fund it.” Maybe I’ll share the whole story someday, but with this, I learned lessons on faith and trust. I’ve also seen how God crafts courses for us on lessons we need to learn to build our faith in Him.
Moving on to other things, my hair grewwww this year. I consciously took care of it, and there are beautiful results. The highlight for me was getting it to the point where I can pack it up. It’s not fully there, but this is real progress from where we started, and I’m glad about it.
Finally, the Lord has termed 2023 my year of Impact, Influence, and Global Relevance. How this would unfold, I do not know. With new years, I’ve learned to let God take care of my dreams and goals and focus on being open to how He decides to execute His plans through me.
This next year, I intend to do better with writing more consistently, telling stories of my work and experiences, and accountability. I would have achieved more in 2022 if I had been accountable to more people, but this is not a time for regrets. I also want to read more next year. Reading makes me more intelligent, and I think I lost a bit of brain power by not exercising that part of my brain as much as I would have loved to this year. But this time, I intend to take it in small bites, like finding time to read at least a chapter of a book a week. More if possible, but I won’t aim too high in case I don’t reach that far.
To end this, new years often represent new beginnings and seasons for people. Whichever path you take, I pray that you walk in purpose this year and experience the boundless depths of the Father’s heart as you journey through life in 2023.
Happy New Year!
