Cherry Blossoms
In Okinawa, Japan, cherry blossoms start blooming in January…
The month started on a somewhat hopeful note and I chalk it up to the good vibes of a new year. The beginning of anything new is almost always exciting, full of expectations and that optimism births the certainty that things would take a good turn. Out with the old and in with the new, right? What could possibly go wrong?
So much has been said and written about the beauty of cherry blossoms; but not enough about its short lifespan — some days after the peak bloom, the petals start to fall. They are here one moment, gone the next…like a wisp of smoke. Two weeks into the month, the results of the exam I took last year were released and once I again, I did not pass it. Anyway, I have decided to bite the bullet and move on to other things. I felt terrible; mostly because I had prepared earnestly and thought I would pass the paper and finally proceed to the next level but alas! I guess some things are not meant to be.
I like to think of such events as stop signs; they help you pause to re-evaluate and ask yourself the necessary whys. It reminded me of being fired from a job a few years ago. I had a boring stint at a small audit firm and concluded it was not the field for me; I felt sure I was not going to do it anymore so when the offer for a job in a different field came, I gladly took it. I got in and realized it was entirely different from what I expected. I knew I did not want it but I could not just up and leave for the fear of being labelled unstable or indecisive so I stayed and sruggled…until they asked me to go home and not come back.
Work resumed in the office a few days a week and so far, so good. As much as I think people are more productive and cooperative in organized spaces, I do not look forward to going to the office everyday. Lagos traffic is a hot mess.
My sister found an old notebook at home in Ibadan and brought it back for me. It was a gift from a dear friend in 2013, when we graduated from the university. While seeing the notebook cheered me up a lot, it got me thinking about how much simpler things were at that time and how a lot has happened since then. That friend and I have stayed in touch over the years and its rather fascinating how our conversations have grown from simple matters to complicated life issues.
My relationship took a major hit this month; the issues actually started in December so the earlier part of the month was quite tough, but thanks to the wise counsel of elders, matters have been resolved and we are good now. Word on the street is that relationships require a lot of work but you really do not know the extent and peculiarities until you are with a particular person because people are unique and need different things. Also, things change.
I read five books. I also read a handful of articles and materials, started listening to The Bible Recap podcast and took my first interior design course on Udemy. Improving myself is an important goal for me this year.I am most grateful that I stuck to my resolve to consume less fizzy drinks and that I could take mini social media breaks to read and focus on other things.
*Fun Fact: the title of this story was inspired by a cute gift basket with lovely beauty products by Green Canyon Spa someone gave me last week.
