2021 had many challenges, many had plans they weren’t able to accomplish, but all we can do is hope for the best in this New Year. 

 Although the previous year was tough in many ways, it came with traditions (at least for me) that have been helpful. Here are some of them:

Positive and purposeful connections

I love making friends and this has always come effortlessly for me. I am the kind of person that accepts people for who they’re even when it feels uncomfortable. I don’t believe in ‘bad company corrupts good character’ because no one can change you unless you let it happen. Our friends may influence us, but if they discourage you from doing the right thing, or kill your morale, then they aren’t worth being around. I have learned to connect with people who have admirable qualities so I can learn from them.

I have distanced myself from people that don’t help me grow or work towards fulfilling my purpose. It doesn’t mean we’re no longer friends, but I don’t spend that much time with them. Last year, I crossed paths with amazing people in a mentorship course I was pursuing. We became friends and encouraged each other to read books, pursue our purpose, and spend more time in the presence of God. My life instantly changed. 

Positive affirmation 

If you think of yourself as ugly, a failure or good for nothing, that’s what you will see. I have tamed my mind to think positively about myself and it boosts my mood all day long.  I say to myself "I am a winner”, "I am strong”, "I am beautifully and wonderfully made”, and so forth, and this lights me up and the people around me.  Some things will never go away even if we seek counselling or listen to motivational speakers, until we learn to speak or think positively about ourselves first. Some people are more confident than others because they have mastered the art of positive affirmation. 

Saving 

I would have said that it is a must to save, but let me state it better. It is imperative to save. I had a bad habit of overspending, I always thought I must buy anything I want for myself as long as I can afford it, but I turned into an impulsive spender. I needed help, which is why I decided to take a financial course this year and it was worth it. Key lessons learned when it comes to saving; being realistic by setting achievable goals of how much I want to save per month, making a list of my expenditures, especially the things that I can’t do without, and knowing how much I will spend on them. But also, save a specific amount, though it can increase with time, and set goals on how to achieve it. A poor saving culture can just lead to debts. 

Napping 

Being a late sleeper, it’s sometimes hard to pull through the day when I don’t get enough sleep. But I noticed a secret in naps. Even if it’s less than 30 minutes in the day, there is magic. Studies show that 20 minutes of sleep in the afternoon provide more rest than 20 minutes more sleep in the morning even though the last two hours of morning sleep have special benefits of their own. Just closing my eyes away from doing or concentrating on anything, assists me in rebooting and regaining my efforts and energy. You can use half of your break time for napping, thank me later.

Reading 

Reading books has become part of me. 2021 is the year I read most books. If memory serves me right, I read about 16 books. I must confess that I have always had a habit of reading a book until the middle but once I get a new one, I pause the current one and jump on the new one. But that is no more, it’s now one book at a time. There is something about books that I find more intriguing than movies or other hobbies.