ATE YEARS LATER!👌💅

Episode 2

Eight years gone by, and today I got into my old posts. I can’t help but laugh out loud,my belly hurts! Especially the “Random Facts About Me” post. Some of them are still true, though. I was such a self-aware young princess, lol. But some things have definitely changed.

I eat fried rice now, Still not one of my favourite things, but I’ve had some really good ones, so I’ve come to realise it’s not that bad. I still don’t like shrimps, prawns and all that stuff, though. Yeah!

I still like to sleep. I even have a Sunday nap schedule that I’m fully committed to.

To be honest, I don’t think I’m all that different from the 18-year-old who wrote those posts. Aside from the cringe (the abbreviations, the excessive emojis and all the other evidence of teenage internet behavior) I still believe in some of the things I wrote about friendships, relationships and life in general. I actually had some gem thoughts >>>>

Reading some of these posts now gives me all the feels, I can’t lie. What’s even funnier is seeing that I already had knowledge of certain things back then, wrote about them with such confidence, and then proceeded to make mistakes in those exact areas. Still, I’m grateful. Grateful for the lessons, the mistakes, the do-overs and the fact that, somehow, I keep learning.

Like I mentioned in my previous posts, over the span of these years, I’ve evolved and morphed into a different woman or maybe not a different person, because I’m still me, right? More like an extended version of myself. And isn’t that the whole essence of growth? Becoming more of who you already are. Great stuff.

Moving countries, building a career, building relationships, growing into adulthood and experiencing grief have all changed my perspective on life. Some experiences stretched me, some humbled me, some broke my heart, and some reminded me of just how much I’m capable of handling.

I knew life wasn’t going to be a bed of roses, lol. I even wrote about that back then. But experience has now taught me that, indeed, life is not a bed of roses o!

And oh, the things I swore I would never do. Hehe! Done and dusted o. “Can never be me.”Life said, “Are you sure?”

One thing I’ve learnt is that there are some things you simply cannot understand until you find yourself in those situations. You can have all the right knowledge and even give other people the best advice, but sometimes life needs to put you in the driver’s seat before the lesson really sinks in. Truly, experience is the best teacher.

I’ve seen that plans can change, people can change, and sometimes you can change too.

And through all of it, one thing has become increasingly important to me: Inviting God in my corner.

Knowing that I can rest and trust in His word gives me a sense of peace and belonging that I didn’t fully understand before.

If I could sit across from the 18-year-old who wrote those posts, what would I tell her, not from a place of knowing everything, but from having lived a little more?

Let’s do a quick decade in review. (Eight years is almost a decade, please 👀.) Let’s go round faith, friendships, relationships, career and wellbeing…

Faith

My relationship with God at 18 wasn’t bad. I’ve always known, believed in and acknowledged God in my life. I rarely missed church services, was always a worker, and had a strong understanding of Christian values and what I believed it meant to be a Christian.

But seasons have deepened my faith and changed the way I relate with God.

Oh, there were times I questioned, probed and asked God, “Why?” I even had the audacity to be angry with Him for allowing bad things to happen to me and around me. But I think those moments also brought me into a more honest relationship with Him.

I’ve come to understand that God doesn’t promise that we won’t experience storms, but He did promise to be with us in them. I’m learning to hold on to that. And sometimes faith is simply choosing to rest, trust and wait, even when you don’t understand what He’s doing.

These days, I’m trying to build a relationship with God that goes beyond being a regular church attender. I want to commune with Him, talk to Him like He’s my friend, and allow my relationship with Him to influence my everyday habits, decisions and choices.

Some days are harder than others, I won’t lie. But I know what He has said to me and about me, and I’m simply learning resting in that.

Career & Ambition

At 18, I wouldn’t even say I had much ambition per se. I got into accounting because I was doing well in Commerce and Accounting in secondary school, not necessarily because I was passionate about it.

And why was I doing Commerce in the first place? Simply because I didn’t want the stress that came with Physics and Chemistry. I didn’t really care for Biology either, and Literature was okay, but Government and Geography? Too stressful. So, Commercial class it was.

I didn’t have some deep, carefully mapped-out vision of who I wanted to become. But with the guidance of my mum and a counsellor, I navigated my way into a career path, and honestly, I have no regrets. Somewhere along the way, I came to genuinely like it.

The only problem? These professional exams. Gosh! Why do I have to write exams to prove I’m qualified? 😂 I don’t mind tests, but I sometimes wonder how much of what we cram we actually remember if we don’t continue applying it. You can pass every exam, collect all the letters after your name, and still enter the workplace wondering what on earth you’re doing. But okay!

I wouldn’t say I have my dream job yet. I know every job comes with its own stress, but audit? Overboard, omg. Still, I know this is part of the pathway to where I want to get to, so I’m in the process, grinding, learning and trying to enjoy it along the way.

We can’t skip the process, right? So the process has to process us. I know, I know. That was lame. Don’t roll your eyes.

Growing through the corporate ladder, both here and in Nigeria, has been an experience. The culture shifts, the expectations, the things I’ve had to unlearn and relearn, it has all stretched me.

But hey, my head is in the game because I’ve got to make some schmoneyyyyy!, Also, there’s also this fulfilment that comes from committing yourself to something, and getting it right, excellently.

I want all of it.

So yes, I’ve become more ambitious. More intentional. And definitely more gritty.

Friendships

Oh, I’ve experienced some beautiful friendships, and thank God this area of my life isn’t much of a concern. I’m still same old, same old. I really don’t give up on people easily, so my friends are basically stuck with me.

I’ve had fallouts here and there. Some friendships I’ve tried to repair, while others I’ve had to let go. I think there’s a difference between giving up on someone and accepting that a friendship has run its course. I’ll fight for the people I love, but I’ve also learnt that friendship has to be mutual. I can’t force someone to choose me as a friend, and I’ve become more comfortable accepting that.

People have their choices, and sometimes letting go is simply respecting someone else’s. It doesn’t erase what the friendship meant or make the person a bad person. Sometimes, you just stop being right for each other.

What I value most in friendships now is loyalty, character, reliability, fun and being able to talk things through. My circle is smaller, and I’m genuinely grateful for the people who are in it.

I’m also consciously trying to become a better friend, not that I’ve been bad, lol but because I’ve come to understand just how important friendship is. Anything you want to keep alive requires investment, and friendships are no different.

Relationships

I don’t know why I feel like I’ll have to kiss a hundred frogs before I find my prince (Hundred is obviously an exaggeration, but you get me.)

Interestingly, I don’t think what I want in a man or in a romantic relationship has changed much over the years.

Through my various lessons(and trust me, I have stories to tell) I’ve learnt to be clearer about what I want and stand by it.

I don’t think I want a lot. I just want my person, I want friendship, companionship, safety, depth, transparency, grace and commitment.

And, quite frankly, I want to simp. I want to yearn for someone and have him yearn for me right back (just had to highlight that lol), Someone who wants to experience life with me in the mundane and the beautiful. Someone who fights for us, Someone who holds on when things get difficult, and has the same willingness to build.etc

I understand that this kind of connection might be rare, but I have the choice to choose who I build my family with, and I intend to be intentional about that choice.

And yes, I hope it comes sooner rather than later.Even the Bible says two shall chase ten thousand. Need I say more? 😂

At the same time, I know it’s not just about finding the kind of partner I want. I’m also putting in the work to be the kind of partner I’d hope to have.

Till then, I’m committed to living and loving my life to its fullest potential.

Health & Wellbeing

Oh, I’m now a princess who prioritises her self-care, mental health, psychological health and overall wellbeing. And honestly, I don’t think I paid much attention to these things before.

Maybe I’ve just become more conscious of myself and my appearance over the years. Canada’s weather has certainly contributed to that because tell me why this country gave me acne?

My 18-year-old self would never have imagined that I’d be dealing with dark spots, acne and all these skin concerns. But alas, a good part of my this year has been dedicated to investing in my skin – aesthetician visits, facials, the whole shebang.

Thankfully, my face is doing much better now, and I’m finally seeing improvements, so cheers to that! 🥂

I’ve also become more conscious of my health in general: counting calories, routine medical checkups, going to the gym and taking walks.

Eating healthy is still somewhere on the other side of the road, though. But sooner or later, she’ll cross over. I still love and want my McDonald’s ice cream, subway cookies and buka stew with plenty “hoil.”

I’ve also grown to love my body more. I don’t think I used to like being slim, but I’ve fully embraced my body frame now and become very, very comfortable in this body.And I think that matters more to me than looking a certain way.

It’s the body carrying me through all of this life, and I want to treat it accordingly.

So yes, I want to take care of this beautiful body.

Because it houses my sweet soul.

Eight years later, I’m still figuring things out and that’s okay

I still make mistakes . I still change my mind. I still have things I’m working on. There are things 18-year-old me got right, things she got hilariously wrong, and things she couldn’t possibly have understood yet..and honestly? I still see her.

Growth isn’t arriving at some final, polished version of yourself. It’s continuing to meet yourself at every new stage of life and figuring out what needs to stay, what needs to go, and what needs a little more work.

So, to 18-year-old me: you were onto something (YOU ATE!!👌) You just had no idea how much life was about to teach you. Lmaoo, you should’ve figured out by now that’s how I got my title…I’m so unserious lol.

And with that, I hope this little trip down memory lane brought you up to speed, a slightly updated “Get to Know Me”

Most of all, I hope you got to know the girl behind the words a little better, the things I care about, the things I’m still figuring out, and the woman I’m becoming.

Till I speak to you through my words next time,

Stay beautiful and hydrated. 🤍

8:07pm