2021 In Retrospect: I Survived
2021 In Retrospect: I Survived
Optimism, Struggles, Laughter, Tears, Panic Attacks, Hope, and Survival
It’s that time of the year that has a lot of people reflect on how much has been done or achieved in the last 12 months. Before publishing my first year in review last year, I made a decision to make it a yearly ritual to reflect, write and publish a year in review at the end of every year. Therefore, irrespective of how I feel about this year, with everything that happened (the year was a rollercoaster and didn’t turn out too great), I think I should still do this so that I can have something to look back to and remind me of how I navigated this phase of my life.
At the beginning of the year, I had so much optimism and energy for what was in store only to be beaten down on several occasions. I didn’t really have written goals or a list of things to accomplish before the year run out but at the back of my mind, I had a few things I wanted to do.
For someone optimistic about the year, in the beginning, I am just thankful that I survived. If you asked me to describe my year in a sentence I would say “I survived”. I may be unable to articulate this well yet but hopefully, in the future, I am able to write about all several experiences properly.
These were my words at the beginning of the year
Looking back at this, I was on the other end of the spectrum of almost everything here throughout the year. For the most part of the year, I just wanted the year to end not because the year ending will magically change things but then I just wanted it to end. While I can’t say I was suicidal at any point but my mental health was a mess for the most part of the year and I was only winging it, at some point I cried and was just by myself. I had panic attacks and anxiety for the first time this year. The panic episodes were very recurrent at some point but then I have not had them recurrently in these past few weeks.
At some point in the year, I got myself engaged in a lot of activities just to get my mind busy, I found it to be a coping mechanism because being idle wasn’t doing me any good mentally.
STRUGGLES!
For someone who used to love reading and had intentions to read more, I barely completed 2 books the whole year. I had intentions and plans to write more but then I struggled with writing and went MIA here for months before finally sending out one around October.
I struggled with designing this year, spent months updating my portfolio, and still, I am yet to complete it but I can say I have made a lot of progress though. I was not in the mental space for creating anything so I did not work on as many projects as I would have loved but still gave my best in the few I did.
My health suffered, and I fell sick more times this year than I did in the last 3 years combined. I was broke, and the insane inflation in the country had me in tears at some point, I was barely eating.
My faith and work with God suffered, did stuff I am not too proud of but then, I am finding my way back.
I had plans to be more involved in communities but then I couldn’t because I was barely getting by myself.
I spent a ridiculous amount of time on social media not because I couldn’t control it but because it was a coping mechanism for me.
GLIMMER OF LIGHT!
In all that happened throughout the year, I am grateful I had great relationships that helped me through it. I am grateful for my friends even though everyone had their battles they still showed up every time. I can never be too appreciative of my guys because they really were a big reason I can say I survived. I hope I can pay them back and pay it forward to others too.
One high point for me this year was taking studentswhocreate from an idea to launch in less than a month even though we didn’t achieve as much as we wanted this year but then that period really was a turning point for me. It gave me a purpose and something to work and fight for.
Graduating from university has to be one of the highlights of my year because everything I have done in the last 6 years led to this moment and it feels good to be able to say I graduated because I felt like dropping out severally this year but just kept on going and I don’t even know where the strength came from but looking back I would say God and people got me through. I would probably have to write about the whole final year experience when I am in a better space. I am just glad I am done with it. I did it.
A big part of my year was the series of Twitter banters, music, and sport, especially football. Football and Music banter was a great part of my year so if I bantered your club, I want you to know it’s not personal😂😂😂. I spent a ridiculous amount of time listening to music and a big part of that was listening to Afro-beat. I took a lot of pictures and made a lot of videos. A big shout-out to all the creators creating content, your content is helping a soul. Keep up the work!!!
I would possibly keep an open repository of creators I find interesting and helpful going forward.
SHOUT OUTS!!!
A very big shout-out to all members of Da’8 Crew, you guys are the real MVP.
Big shout to the people of NAAS, NAAES, and INEXORABLE Class of 2020, I enjoyed every bit of the chaos and violence, they kept me alive.
Peace and Lara, I know you people will miss me.
Precious and Bola, you guys know how much I cherish and appreciate you.
To the people that posted memes on their status continuously throughout the year, you people are the real deal, don’t stop.
To everyone that interacted with me, checked up on me, and supported me one way or the other, thank you!
To Sarah, thank you. To Osho, you’re a goat. To Epic, thanks for the referral.
To my family members, I love you guys.
WHAT NEXT!
Taking it all from last year, in this coming year, I look forward to eating better, reading more, writing more, earning more, developing and growing my skills, traveling more, taking more pictures, making random videos, shooting my shots, become more intentional, and overall develop habits that will improve my life generally. I also hope I can get to treat my friends and families to some treat and send them funds (refer me for design Jobs and projects so I can have funds to send 😎)
I look forward to building studentswhocreate and joining a great team as a designer [I am on the lookout for design roles and opportunities, please let me know if you have an opening in your team or company, you will be glad to have me on your team. Also, feel free to contact me if you have an idea and need to design an MVP or build out the brand, I am good, see for yourself here]. I also look forward to contributing more to communities, let me know if you know of any opportunity to do so.
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A good read as always; and yes! We survived. Thanks for sharing, was just the little bit of motivation I needed.🤘
Cheeŕs to the growth Tunmise!🥂💃🏿 Thank you for sharing.