2022 Year-End Review
The initial draft of this piece was much longer and a bit sadder with sprinkles of happiness and excitement, but things took a different turn mid-November. So I had to get back and edit my draft because I was so happpppppyyyyyy and thankfulllllllllll.
Anyway, a few questions to ponder. Did your year go as you planned? Well, that’s if you actually had a plan. Or even if you didn’t have a plan, did you expect that things will just play out well for you? Did they?
If you answered yes, know I’m glad you could achieve your goals and that things went as you planned. Those moments must have been thrilling and fulfilling, and I hope you celebrated all those wins, big or small.
But what if you answered no? If you answered no….it’s hard to say anything or even give any form of consolation, because I know those moments are hard and can be very frustrating and I’m sorry about that, really.
I doubt all the days of the year will go as we planned or expected. Not because we’re not trying enough or not doing what we ought to do. It’s just that sometimes, some factors beyond our control hinder us from reaching our goals. Nonetheless, someway somehow, we’ll always have a reason to smile and laugh.
That’s why I agree with this statement I saw on a school colleague's WhatsApp status: All 365 days of the year can’t go bad.
When I read those words, they resonated with me so well. I could relate because this year has been quite hard in so many ways, and I found myself thinking a lot. But it was filled with extremely good days as well. I wasn’t counting or making a list of good and bad days (even though I wrote about them, they’re not numbered) so I can’t tell which was more or less. But I had a taste of both.
A couple of things didn’t go as I planned or expected. And when I saw those words, it just rang a bell. Because at that particular time, I was thinking about the things happening to me that I didn’t think would happen. I was thinking about how frustrating it had been and how tired I was of everything happening to me.
However, after seeing those words, I was a bit relieved. Because even though there had been bad days and months, some actually turned out well and I smiled, so those must count for something.
I could begin talking about the bad days and all that didn’t go as I expected, and I could also talk about the good times I had. I have them written somewhere but let's leave the stories for another day, I promise.
No, wait. I'll come back with the full story on this one (sometime next year) because I have a lot to say but let me just give a summary. After my National Service, I didn't get a job as early as I had expected and I was frustrated. I literally did two extensions after service, and the second one was against my will but I sort of had to do it (I'll tell you the reason during story time).
Anyway, in mid-November, I got a good offer after going through all three stages of recruitment. I'm doing something I love to do and in a work style I've always wanted--remotely or hybrid, and having a flexible schedule. So the wait was worth it!
I just know all 365 days of 2022 may not have played out as I had wanted. Nonetheless, some items were ticked off the checklist, and some unexpected wins came along the way.
So regardless of the bad, I have reasons to smile and laugh. Reasons to be thankful to God for 2022. I have life so if all didn't go as I planned, I can always try again because the sun will rise.
I don’t know how your year went, but I hope it exceeded your expectations or at least met them. If it didn't, that's okay.
The only consolation I can give myself, and maybe you, for the things that did not go as planned, is this:
Regardless of all that 2022 may have offered or not, know that the sun will rise and we will try again.
Oh, and for the things that went as planned and the unexpected achievements,
Be thankful for those good things and celebrate them. They all matter; no matter the size or weight.
One thing I realised this year that I'd like to change next year is to dwell more on the good than the bad. I feel even in a day, I can always find one thing to be grateful for and just dwell on that.
I spent most of my time this year dwelling on what wasn't working so I mostly looked like I carried all the world's problems on my shoulders.
I tried gratitude journaling but I stopped. I can't remember why. But this is something I'd try to take on next year. I want to be cheerful even when the odds are against me. Of course, there'll be sad times and I'll tend to them--I'll cry when I have to. I'll write and/ or speak about them. But I'll move on, knowing that things will definitely change for the better, no matter how long.
Well, well, well. That's it for 2022!
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, dearest reader. Wishing you the best of the season, and I pray 2023 is filled with good news all year round.
Thank you so much for being a part of my growing blog!
Until next year,
Cheers🥂
D
One key thing I’ve learnt today is to dwell on the good more. Because most of this year I was really carrying the world, though it weighed me I couldn’t just drop it. Took divine intervention for me to be okay.
So thank you for sharing and encouraging some of us.💜
The sun will rise and we will try again ☺️
Woww...
Interesting.
I'm waiting for the full story of what you wrote somewhere...