The Emilokan Year (2023)

New year, same bullshit.

The first day of 2023 fell on a Sunday, perfect way to start a new year, God’s presence you would think right?  the guilt that bombarded me diffused as soon as I started thinking of what to eat and I was quickly reminded, new year, same bullshit.

In the previous year I had left a lot of lists unchecked, goals unattained and dreams unrealised, it was becoming a pattern year in year out and I was more worried for my lack of care than any other thing. I had taken some steps forward and fewer backwards, I met new interesting people and made a friend or two, I up-skilled, I won gold, silver in a tennis tournament and got knocked out in the first round of another tournament, I helped someone get a job and helped a friend secure a business deal with the company I work, the list is actually long.

I didn’t make any major purchase in 2023, the year was more of an obligatory maintenance year ☹ for me and my socio-economic cohorts, so it was a bit of a tussle to have certain longings. My head constantly reminded me that there was rice at home. I also did not get to redeem my lack of girlfriend, the monster called gamophobia still reared its ugly head. We move again in 2024.

 

Every cloud has a silver lining,

The biggest news I got this year was on the evening of March 29, it further cemented my belief that delay is never denial. I started my Immigration journey as far back as 2019 and my hopeful outlook made me strongly believe the journey would finish by the end of 2021. The unforeseen arrival of Covid disrupted the program, suspending it for a demanding one and a half years.

Leading to March, the year was looking more like the years before, I was just grateful to have a job and only wanted to make it to the end of the month for my scheduled pay. In what remains the best news I heard this year, I was called by a friend to check my email, I did and found nothing, I would later find out that I beat the cut off point for express entry, I would wait for few more hours before I got an email confirming this. My 4 years wait finally came to an end and for the first time in a very long t I felt like I was doing something right.

Happiness was on understatement.

 

The year ahead

In 2024, a fresh chapter begins—new experiences, climates, and career paths. The next year holds immense significance for various reasons, and I'll be fully prepared for whatever challenges arise. I've realized that life doesn't pause, no matter how tough it gets. While social media often emphasizes the hardships of relocating, living in the status quo isn't fulfilling either. Change is necessary, and I'm embracing my decisions wholeheartedly.

2023 was a good year after all!!!!!