Happy New Year!!! I know I am about 5 days late but I have been dreading writing this post. Don’t get me wrong, I love New Years. The idea of a fresh start with countless possibilities. Although I can not talk about my prayers, goals and hope for 2017 without talking about 2016. To step into the future we must reflect on our past. By a general consensus, we can all agree that 2016 was not a good year. There were more negatives than positives in 2016. The U.S. presidential election, Brexit, the numerous terrorists attacks, more events involving police brutality and this is just to name a few. Personally, 2016 was not great for me. My family went through some lows that I do not really talk about (not even to my closest friends). I lost a family member. There was another very painful family related issue that I can not even bring myself to type. The constant fall of Nigerian’s economy. The ridiculous exchange rate of the Naira to the US dollar has made things a little more difficult for my family to do anything. Both my Brother and I go to college in the states and due to the exchange rate we have been a lot more cautious with how we spend money.
Enough talking about the negatives. My family and friends know I am not one to stay sad and dwell on the negative. I’m the kind of person that would hit her little toe on the side of a table and laugh through the pain. Even though 2016 was not the best year, I still had some amazing moments and achievements. As my mother and brother always sing (in the most animated and hilarious Nigerian accent), “count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” I did really well academically, Marveling-Mind grew tremendously and I got to work with some amazing brands, I went on my first road trip, I attended a journalism conference on Washington DC, I was Editor-in-Chief for my school’s magazine and produced some of my best work.
A Few Highlights of 2016
for my school’s magazine
(read here)
(read here)
For 2017, I only have one resolution and that is, “do what makes me happy.” If I do not want to do something, I will not do it. Simple as 1,2,3. I realized over the years that I have turned into a ‘yes-man’. I put other people’s happiness before mine. Which is not always a bad thing but I noticed it started to emotionally drain me. Let’s just say that 2017 is going to see a not-so-nice Feyi. 2017, you do not have to be the “best year of my life” or “the year that changed the world” all I ask is please be good. Be good to me and be good to us.