Gratefulness (2013)

Hello, everyone! It seems like only yesterday, I wrote the end of-year article I titled “gratefulness” for 2012. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and once again, I’m truly grateful God counted me worthy enough to have seen 2013 and not only live in it, but also be blessed in the year. 2013 has been an amazing year for my family and me though there were hiccups along the way. But the joy we feel in our hearts cannot be affected by any disappointment. God gave us OLUWASHIKEMI, my niece. She is a beauty to behold and a very smart baby. That baby is going to grow up to be a star. I’m too proud she is my niece and I have never been more grateful for the bundle of joy God had given us. My family, the Depo-Oyedokun family and the Adekoya family; I am too grateful God has blessed me with these pillars of support, with these understanding people with unwavering love and commitment. You guys have been awesome and I really couldn’t have asked for a better family. My Lk… thank God you walked into our lives and became this amazing brother that’s so cool. Even Emmanuel thinks you are cool. You should be proud.

 I’m grateful for Aishatu. My Futajelum babe!! You know, I still laugh when I remember your comment at that chick’s birthday dinner in January… “Did we eat £15 food? You should even be grateful we are paying £10”. Aisha is one funny child that can be so mean but deep down, she has a good heart and she is a soaked vegetable like me. You are a bitch but you are my bitch!! I wish you are not in Dubai. I can remember thinking it was one of your expensive jokes when you said you were leaving and I tried not to cry when I knew you were. I’m so proud of you, Aishatu Umar Ardo. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend and partner in crime. Thank you for my birthday in which you refused to let me be sad as I’m always sad on my birthday ( It’s a reminder that I’m getting older). Ah, Fareeda Abdulahhi, you are one good cook. It was always nice to know we could run to Parkway to eat a delicious meal when we were too lazy to cook. Well, you saved Emmanuel and Aisha from spending money on restaurants as neither of them can cook. Aisha and Ade, I’m sure Emmanuel couldn’t have asked for better people to talk sense into me whenever I decided to be stubborn. We would have definitely kicked ass in ‘Uni’ but it’s all good. Dubai isn’t so far away. I am grateful for you Itoro Fiyinfoluwa Emmanuel Nehemiah, my best friend of over eight years. It has been an amazing journey with you. You have taught me things I’m sure you don’t even think you have. The way you say “Mayowa” in that “what have I done again?” tone when I say ‘Itoro’ and the way you understand nothing when I’m speaking Yoruba to you just makes me laugh. Itoro, please stop speaking Spanish and claiming its English. Gracias! Friends are amazing people that God has placed to help make our lives easier. You have made my life easier. Even when distance threatens our friendship, you stand strong for both of us. I’m grateful I walked into the primary school that had my amazing Itoro and Olamide. Toyole, my mama!! Thank you for being a friend and for being the worst mother ever.

Emmanuel, you are one very stubborn child but your stubbornness has been useful when dealing with me sometimes. I’m grateful God put an irritant like you in my life. You have been really there and have helped me to think when my thinking faculty failed me. You helped me and still help me to take actions instead of dwelling on whatever is wrong. You have been there to ask questions I’m afraid to voice out. It was a blessing having you and Aisha. We were a formidable force and with both of you, I felt I didn’t need more friends. Adetoun, the thorn in my flesh. My sanity as I always referred to you as since OIS. You have been there to listen and say the truth even when it’s painful to hear. I’m grateful for how you love God and how your faith has helped my faith. I’m grateful you remain a friend even when I push you away. The thorn in my flesh…. I couldn’t have asked for a better thorn. I feel blessed for the new friends I have made. For the knowledge and understanding I gained in the year, I’m eternally grateful. God really showed himself to me in a new dimension and gave me his beauty for my ashes. My gratefulness knows no bound.

Thank you to the wonderful friends that have been there through thick and thin this year. We change and sometimes, our communication with friends isn’t as good as it used to be. But that doesn’t mean we stop loving the friends that can still be called friends. So to all the guys that we don’t talk as much because we are all so busy with life and distance is a bitch, I’m grateful for you. Because you played a part in my life and that’s something I will never take for granted. As with every year, there are good and bad days. There are days you feel you are alone but one thing is I know is, when you have God, you are never alone. He never leaves nor forsakes his own. When things aren’t going as planned, when things are failing, when life just looks blurry, know there is always a lesson or two to learn. Pray for the strength not to dwell on the bad things but be able to see the good even in the bad. At times, we feel we have nothing to be grateful for but, having life which is your greatest asset is more than enough reason to be grateful. Stop thinking about the things that went wrong and the things you didn’t achieve this year and just start thanking. When you are sad, write down 10 things that didn’t go wrong in the year and you will see you should be grateful.
As we are leaving 2013 behind us, remember anything that could have been done can still be done as far as you are breathing. Set new goals for yourself. Challenge yourself. Don’t be curbed by the fear of what people will say because people will always talk. When things turn sour as they will, you can be sad but remember to dust yourself and think of how to make the situation better. Lean on the Almighty God that has never failed and will never fail. Be a better friend in the coming year. Don’t allow yourself to be treated like trash because you think it’s the love you deserve. You are great and there is someone out there that will love you just the way you are. Strive to be better than yourself and don’t mock those you think are behind. You don’t know what tomorrow holds for anyone and the one you look down on today, might be the one God will use tomorrow. Treat all with love and respect. God bless us all. May the year be a year we shall be most grateful for. Thank you all for being a huge encouragement for me to keep writing.