2023; A Review
My first Summer experience was exhilarating — not for the heat but for the long day that characterised it. But its semblance to what I was experiencing in my life — a long expectant period — was more surreal. It was fierce, and I constantly battled to maintain a calm demeanour at work and, more importantly, at home.
The high hopes turned bleak and lingered for more than it was expected to last. The finish line surfaced at a point, it was evident, and then it disappeared like a mirage. Only to reappear, this time for real, with promises of a better future.
2023 was a taste of the reality of life, the wins and the losses (of a loved one and opportunities), a blend of experiences that define a fellow just about to turn thirty.
A Journey to Understanding Global Politics
I read some interesting books this year (guys, I read two novels….Yay!) as in my constant thirst for knowledge. David Harewood accounts how his racial experience influenced his career and his combat with psychosis in Maybe I Don’t Belong Here. Wole Soyinka’s Ake, a documentation of his childhood years, was a delight to read. Coconut, a memoir of a lady who pursues a balance between her mixed identity, was also an interesting piece.
The subject that was remarkably outstanding for me this year is global politics, especially from a historical perspective. The Clash of Civilization and the Remarking of World Order and Tim Marshall’s Prisoners of Geography were perfect introductions.
I will always be fascinated by works that explore the intersection of history, politics and economics.
In the coming year, I intend to read more memoirs and some interesting pieces that document the colonial history of Africa and the rich culture of the Yoruba race. Recommendations are highly welcomed.
A’imasiko
I read somewhere how the real-time ETA feature on car-hailing services appeals to our psychology. It bears a promise of when the waiting period will be certainly over, the knowledge of which brings calm. That knowledge is what I longed for when I was job-hunting after relocating to the UK. A’imasiko.
I was confident the summation of my expertise and years of experience would land me a role “ASAP”. I knew it was imminent, but the ignorance of the time, laced with incessant unfavourable emails and unsuccessful interview outcomes tested my patience with the will of The Almighty.
Mid-year, I got a job offer at a leading coach operator in the country, only for the offer to be withdrawn a few weeks later.
At the end of Q3, I resumed a media account managerial role at one of the leading media agencies in the world and earned “the indispensable award” at the end of the year — a testament to a brilliant start and a promise of a better future.
Losing a Mother. Twice.
The late-night meal of steamy tuwo paired with a delicious, watery gbure (vegetable soup) and the signature ata-didin serving as the capstone on the white rice were perhaps my earliest memory of mama. They are memories of her care.
It was later the prayer sessions at dawn and the occasional trips to her church when she moved in with us. As a teenager, I would look forward to the tips whenever I visited her and the fanfare that accompanied Christmas celebrations at her place is indelibly etched in my memory.
Many years later, I witnessed the wrinkles on her face and saw age taking its toll, leaving her smile intact.
These memories are to be cherished, but, unfortunately, nature has denied us the opportunity to make some fresh ones.
Once again, I lost another mother — the one that took the place of my biological mother twenty years ago.
The one that moulded the fragile, innocent lad into an ambitious young man and defined my understanding of care and sacrifice.
Goodnight, mama.
Back on Court
I resumed tennis this year after a seven-month sabbatical! That is good news. Realising I couldn’t pick up my skills right back from where I was was an absolute shocker. My first few sessions on the court projected a beginner-level player at best, which really broke me.
A few games later, I am now back on track with a consistent rally from both my forehand and backhand. However, my return and service could do with some coaching.
It feels good to find, once again, a community of people who share the love for tennis and I look forward to dedicating more resources to be better at the game.
P-O-D-C-A-S-T: Podcast Time
I turned some run sessions and commute time into podcast moments. I learned so much from podcasts this year. Topping the chart is Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (saws) — Yasir Qadhi, 100+ episodes of the prophet’s biography recorded over four years and arguably the most detailed compilation out there. The brilliant, well-researched and well-narrated accounts further exposed me to the character of the prophet, his lifetime, his companions and critical moments in the history of Islam.
I also listened to the biographies of some business tycoons on my newly discovered podcast, Founders. Including some great episodes on Freakonomics Radio (listen to episodes 554 and 556 on AI, but you should start with my favourite).
A Granted Wish
I know this might sound childlike, but in my earlier years, I remember admiring some of my colleagues that kitted in long stockings which settled at their kneels and the befitting brown shoes “container” furnishing their feet. What I admired most was the brilliant look the rope-laden spectacles projected. I might have wished for that and feigned some eye deficiencies.
Fast forward to 2023, I got diagnosed with short-sightedness and unfortunately got my wish granted. Prolonged exposure to laptop screens has left its mark on my sight, and I have to use some aid to see clearly for the rest of my life. Be careful what you wish for, haha!
3 Decades, 10,957 Days and Beyond
2023 was the beginning of a new decade. The milestone in and of itself doesn’t hold much significance. What better way to make it more than just an accumulation of days than living each day with burning intentionality, knowing that every choice I make will shape and define the days to come?
2024 is for charting new paths, strengthening relationships and building new ones, pushing boundaries, keeping fit, sharing knowledge and delivering excellence.
As I age, the call to pay more attention to my nutrition is becoming obvious. My wife insisted we cut down our consumption of fried protein. Hopefully, I don’t relapse.
The goal is to remain steadfast in the never-ending journey of self-growth and strive to be a refined version of myself one day at a time. A kind and generous version who seeks the pleasure of his Lord.
Addendum
