So, what do I want to do differently in year 33? Honest answer: I have no idea. I’ve always been the type to plan for everything, down to the second, but I’ve come to realize that I wasn’t allowing life to happen as it should, and I spent a lot of time worrying and ruminating. I want that to be different. Not the usual list of becoming a completely new person (I just may be; I’m not closing myself off), waking up at 5 am everyday lol, drinking green juice, and suddenly havi

If you asked me a year ago where I’d be at 32, I probably would have given you a confident answer based on the version of my future I had imagined. But as we know, life always has other plans 😂 This year, I graduated with my Master’s degree, found work that gives me a sense of purpose through Chiwo Connect, and started seeing my future a little more clearly. Those things are worth celebrating. I’ve also experienced seasons of abundance and seasons of lack. I’ve had momen

At some point this year, I decided I needed to spend some time with myself, and I mean really spend time with myself. Not the kind where you’re alone physically but mentally managing everybody else’s business. I wanted to understand who I was when I wasn’t busy responding to the world around me. So, I pulled back a little. I spent more time reflecting, praying, and sitting with thoughts I would sometimes rather avoid. I started paying attention to my patterns, my reactions

One of the more surprising discoveries I’ve made at 32 is that I’m actually a sweet person. I know. Groundbreaking news 😂 Somewhere along the way, I developed an exterior that might have convinced people that I was emotionally unavailable, perpetually unbothered, or capable of handling everything without assistance. The truth? I can be all of those things on a good day; on other days, I’m just a softie with an excellent poker face. This year has taught me a lot about how

One of the running themes of 32 was: having faith doesn’t mean you’ll never have difficult days. Sometimes you pray and still feel anxious; other times you trust God and still have questions. Sometimes you believe everything will work out, but you’d also appreciate a small hint about how and when, because the suspense is getting out of hand 😂 This year, I’ve experienced some of my deepest moments of prayer. I’ve had to sit down with God and ask Him what the deal is. I’ve ha

This year has taught me that you can love people deeply and still lose them. I know that it’s a fact of life. We’ve all heard it before. There’s a difference between knowing something intellectually and having life sit you down and make sure you understand it. At 32, I lost a friend and my grandmother in close succession. I’m not an expert in grief, nor do I think that there’s a perfect way to talk about loss. Sometimes you have the words; sometimes you don’t. Many times,

There’s something about getting older that makes you see that you actually know very little about life - this is very inconvenient when you’ve spent years thinking that you’re a reasonably intelligent person who has a lot of things figured out 😂 As I prepare to turn 33 (even me admitting this in such a public space in itself is very brave), I’ve been reflecting on year 32, and honestly? What a year! I graduated with my Master’s degree, experienced loss, questioned relations

When I was younger, I imagined growth would be obvious, straightforward even. I thought it would come with dramatic transformations, breakthroughs, inspirational background music, and the sudden ability to manage my life. What I didn’t know was that personal growth is incredibly boring, especially from the outside. Growth can take many forms. It can look like: Answering an email you’ve been putting off for days. Choosing to remain calm in a situation that would have ruined

I wish I could tell you that rejection no longer bothers me - that after years of applying for opportunities, pitching ideas, sending applications, or putting myself out there, I’ve evolved into one of those emotionally mature people who simply nod or say ‘Ah, yes, another learning opportunity’ ‘Another step in the right direction’ ‘This is part of my story.’ Unfortunately, I’m not that person. I’m the type of person who, if I open an email and see the words ‘Thank you for y

Every time I think about, let alone say, ‘I feel like something good is about to happen’, life says bet, and responds with the most random bouts of sadness, an unexpected emotional breakdown at 11:43 pm (which makes you wonder why you’re not asleep yet), a rejection email from a client you didn’t think had the ability to say no, or the impeding doom of your existence. And yet, in the midst of the murkiness, I am a prisoner of hope; I still believe good things are coming.

My grandma has been a constant source of light all my life. She’s one of those people who, if they’re around, you feel your problems disappear. It doesn’t help that if you look at her, you see my mother, and then see me. She’s everything I am not, and though I don’t see her every day, I feel connected to her. So, imagine the devastation I felt when I received news that she had passed on. The first thing that came to my mind was no, she’s not. Why would an enigma’s life en

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