At the time I’m writing this, we’re six days away from the end of the year. Part of me wants to say, ‘I can’t believe it,’ but really—I can. It’s like you become an adult and you feel every single day pass by.

This year, I wasn’t as consistent with the blog as I should have been, but notwithstanding that, a lot happened, and overall, this has been one of my best years yet.

To keep it short and sweet, I’ll just relive the highlights of each month (as I remember it).

2024 AT A GLANCE

JANUARY

Ah yes — the month I weighed myself and discovered I’d put on an extra (very insignificant in hindsight) 4kg, so I started my ‘hot girl walk’ — doing 10k steps daily. I can’t tell you that this particularly resulted in any weight loss but at the risk of sounding cliche, it has changed my life.

FEBRUARY

My February had no highlights.

MARCH

Accidentally washed my 8-year-old phone in the washing machine. As you would imagine, it did not survive that, so I took it as a sign to finally buy a new one.

APRIL

Saw the eclipse (100% totality!) and it changed the trajectory of my life. Truly, I used to hate the sun until I saw the eclipse. Life-changing moment.

MAY

The official start of my year—very eventful month. Got my wisdom teeth removed, was fully awake the whole time, and this might be the single most horrific incident I’ve been through. No, it didn’t hurt, but it was brutal.

Had a falling out with my closest friend.

Visited Montreal and left with a strong urge to learn French.

JUNE

Great month overall. Felt like I spent most of it out and about—not anywhere specific, just hanging out with my friends. Saw my first Cirque du Soliel of the year. Attended two summer festivals (including one that had a Taylor Swift show). Ended the month catching pink eye.

JULY

The start of my unemployment era. Visited Detroit and had a very good weekend.

AUGUST

This was like a mirror of June. Visited Atlanta, spent time in Toronto for Caribana, and the rest of it was a blur of summer events and outings.

SEPTEMBER

End of summer. Decided to go on a month-long solo backpacking trip across Europe. Wasn’t able to get my visa so decided to go Nigeria instead. Spent one month in Nigeria with my family, and it turned out to be a much-needed and well-deserved visit.

OCTOBER

Went to Orlando. Dressed up as Georgie X Pennywise for Halloween.

Started learning the piano.

NOVEMBER

The month I’d been looking forward to all year. Went for Taylor Swift Era’s concert! Dressed up as Miss American getting her ‘voted most likely to run away with you’ award. Single best day of the year.

DECEMBER

Same as February. Nothing major

END-OF-YEAR REFLECTION

This was a good year. I can only remember two major things that caused me sadness this year, falling out with my friend, and having to quit my job, but somehow I did not feel the impact of those things as strongly as I ought to.

I don’t know if this is a testament to my growth as a person because I used to be so good at unravelling. Somehow over the last few years, I’ve gotten better at separating the bad things that happen to me from the good things in my life.

I feel like (not putting it greatly) but, to a degree, I know how to be sad, and I also know how to pack up my sadness to create space for something happier, and my friends inadvertently, play a big role in this.

Also, I’m not a very religious person. I used to be once, and I’m only saying this because I think going from a state of being devout to being a very passive Christian has also shaped my life in a way??

Like sometimes I think when things don’t go my way, it’s a result of my religious passivity (almost like I’m being coerced to come back to religion) and it makes me all the more angry.

What I’m trying to say is that, I don’t attribute the good things that happen in my life to religion but I do the bad things. And looking back at this year, I can literally count my bad times in one hand, which goes on to say that on average, I live a very good life; so it makes me think that even in being passive, I’ve still managed to have a good life in all the ways that count, and so isn’t this a testament of God’s love in my life?

I am rambling now, but all this to say, I’m grateful for this year, I’m grateful for my friends, my family, and I’m grateful for God too.

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So, that was my 2024, what I now call ‘My Year Of Rest And Relaxation’, because the one thing I had in surplus was time.

I picked up learning French, I picked up piano, I decided to start volunteering again, I had time to be anywhere I wanted to be, and most importantly, I had time to SLEEP.

In retrospect, I could have done so much more (productivity-wise), and really if money was not a limiting factor, I’d continue to be unemployed longer, and explore more productive things with my time, but a girl has to work.

What are your thoughts on 2024 and how did it go for you? I’d love to hear. Otherwise, see you next year!