My fondest memory from being 25 is
arriving at Hartsfield Jackson. I would sigh a long held sigh and whisper
‘I am finally in the land of the
free’,
then my thoughts would wander and I
would ask myself if a man in Atlanta and a man in Nigeria would turn 26 at the
same time? Or if a man in Nigeria would turn 26 an hour before the man in
Ghana? I would conclude that such time zone differences were too complex for my
fragile head to decipher.
Over the years, I have cultivated
the habit of writing a short post or poem every 12th February and it
is relatively easy to look at my previous year’s list of goals and tick most of
them as accomplished. This year however, it is different.
Apart from two or three
accomplishments, the list stares frustrated at me. I wanted to travel more,
earn a lot more, work two or three more writing jobs but none of these has
turned out the way I planned. What I would later come to conclude is that
progress in your circumstance (wealth, title, salary) is one thing and progress
in yourself is an entirely different thing.
In the last year, I travelled for a
bit: experienced cultures I had only dreamt of. Survived surgery and believe me
when I say nothing gives you a better appreciation of life than surviving
surgery. I finally took some responsibility and know what I want to do with my
life, what steps to take that would lead me where I want to be in the next few
years. And I met a slightly muscled, hazel eyed beauty who I am determined to
have the most meaningful intimate relationship with.
In retrospect, this list looks far more
meaningful than making a lot more friends or trying to beat deadlines. Perhaps,
the major lesson here for me is recognizing that personal progress even when I
have not made career progress is progress and every growth, no matter where it
happens counts.
That said, I am happy, grateful
just to be where I am and I look forward to exploring all the ills and good
that come with being 26.
Please share tales on how you spent your last birthday in the comments or leave me a mail at momoh.adejoh@gmail.com)
