“Njikọ” is a term in Igbo that means “connection”, my first newsletter was the beginning, “Mbido”, it was me taking the step to start something and not hold back and now I have started but here’s the thing, I didn’t have the motivation to keep it up and running but now, I do.
After the beginning, comes the connection, the need to keep going and stay tethered to what I love, njikọ is a term that is seared in my mind and reminds me to dig deep and find my connection.
Hey y’all,
Can we pretend that I’ve been sending out newsletters these past months, and years?
Life has been busting my behind and making me work just because I want the soft life…the cruelty I tell you.
Happy New Year! It’s been several minutes (and a year), and I was compelled by my favorite person to put this out and here I am.
I won’t even downplay how much your support and being subscribed means to me. In 2022 I started this corner of mine to keep you up to date with the many things going on in my life and also bring you a recap of the happenings in the other corners of my life.
Life happened, life got in the way, I fell off and was sidetracked.
But within those months, I did so many things, such as moving into my apartment, adopting a cat, starting a bakery, and even doing a PR stint for a small bakery.
Let’s play catch up or more like a recap!
Life Lately
We’re 10 days into 2024, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some parts of 2022, and 2023 and maybe share some plans for 2024.
A quick look at 2022: The year I reached peak adulthood.
I moved into my apartment in August 2022, and it was surreal. Lol, there’s the excitement that comes with getting your place but after all of that, e choke. 🥲😂
On my first night, I was depressed and lonely, I cried. I was arranging stuff and working, and then a wave of emotions hit me with so much force I legit broke down in tears.
Nah, I don’t think I’d file this under memorable memories but it was needed either way.
The space came together slowly and nicely, I was able to make it mine.
I started working out in June of 2022, majorly because I wanted to incorporate it into my lifestyle and I was documenting my entire process but somehow a switch went off and I binge-ate for like a week with zero workouts done. By June 2023, I realized that if I had stuck to it, I would have seen results. Typical!
In November 2022, I got myself a new phone because I realized that at the end of the day, I needed to invest in good gadgets for content creation and work. I used Keza Africa, a tech brand that allows you to buy the phone you want while you pay back in installments. This was good for me but it put me into minor debt at the beginning of the year. Adulthood sucks!
Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Achievements, Trials and Beginnings
2023 was a mix of good, bad, ugly, and outstanding. I started the year feeling optimistic, but by the first quarter, I was drained and ready to just go off. It didn’t help that I lost the joy I felt at my job, and I wanted to transition fully into a remote role.
I remember having a full-on breakdown in Amyn’s DM, I wanted life to stop and end, but I had a goal and although I didn’t know where I was going at that time, I knew I had to fight, and boy did I fight.
The second quarter came and I adopted a cat - which I think was a great decision for me, despite the expenses involved - and I became occupied with ensuring the little fur baby lived.
I also stopped working with the 1964 brand, stayed on with my current job which is 100% remote, ran into a pile of debts (again), and had a niece who is my birthday mate (best gift ever cause I wasn’t into my birthday), started my home bakery - Whisk n’ Mix - and managed to stay afloat.
The third and fourth quarters came tumbling in and it was a mix of chaos and excitement, my business kicked off to a good start, work was great for me, and all was right in the world until December rolled in and I had to send out orders after the stipulated closing date for Whisk n’ Mix.
Pure chaos! The electricity went out for days, I had to shuttle between my place, and my sister’s to get orders baked in time for delivery.
My customers wanted to deliver to places like Ijanikin and Ojo which I had no idea were border areas, and it was not a fun time.
I remember saying to myself that I wasn’t doing this again because it was stressful as hell, and at the end when all orders were delivered (or so I thought) I had a customer complain (my first since I started the business) and I forgot to deliver one order. *cue a fainting episode.*
I rewarded myself with a road trip to Kabba to spend Christmas and I’m glad I did. Kabba was a blast, I ate, drank palm wine, partied hard, and enjoyed the company of good friends and new friends, so much that I didn’t miss Lagos.
Looking Ahead: What's in Store for 2024
Quite frankly, I think that 2024 crept up on me, I wasn’t quite as excited for 2024 as I was for 2023 and it’s worrying.
By this time in 2023, I already had stuff going on, had my vision board ready, set my KPIs for work, and personal brand but right now, I’m just slowing down.
This makes me think that maybe God and the universe are telling me to slow down, to take in the sights, to breathe, and to go at a steady pace.
And, I think I’ve found my phrase and word for 2024, SLOW DOWN and GROWTH. For 2023, it was EASE, and while it didn’t feel like things were easy, as I look back now, they were easy. I had ease transitioning at work, ease with starting Whisk n’ Mix and so much more.
So this year, we’re slowing down, taking tiny breaks to breathe, regroup, and realign. To grow, to watch myself expand, and to move out of my comfort zone.
I won’t be making promises when it comes to this newsletter but expect more letters from me this year.
Currently Reading:
In 2023, in my bid to tackle my TBR and read more books from my shelf, I picked 12 books that I wanted to read, wrapped them in brown paper, and waited a while just to kind of forget what books I wrapped and then I labeled them according to the months.
I’ll be doing the same thing for 2024, because I like the excitement that comes with unwrapping the books and it keeps me on my toes…sort of.
Here’s a look at the books I wrapped for 2023 from Jan - Dec, and the books I read:
January - The Mermaid of Black Conch
February - A Little Life
March - Tomorrow Died Yesterday ✅
April - The girl in the tangerine scarf
May - Fasting, Feasting
June - Vagabonds! ✅
July - Pachinko ✅
August - Six Crimson Cranes ✅
September - Do Not Say We Have Nothing
October - Sanya ✅
November - Ponti
December - Bastards of Istanbul
For 2024, I’m starting my reading with “Dear Senthuran” by Akwaeke Emezi and then I’ll pick up my January read and the Indulgent Bibliophile Book of the Month.
What are you currently reading?
Thank You for Being here.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for your continued support, and for being here and sticking around. Here's to a year of growth, inspiration, and success!
If you need a reintroduction and refresher, you can read my first note here!
Till my next letter,
Stay Safe!
Daalụ 💕
Im so proud of what you achieved with Whisk n Mix in 2023. More grease to your elbows o