As the clock winds down on the year 2022, It would be a huge travesty to not acknowledge the immense blessing the past 365 days have been to me.

To say that 2022 has been the best year of my life would be no exaggeration.

Many of the things I had prayed for and willed into existence came to fruition this year, with the birth of my daughter topping the list.

This year, I earned the title “Mum” in every way possible.

It’s been challenging, exhilarating, humbling, and transforming, all at once.

I have grown, learnt a lot, and continue to learn in my personal life and career.

The year kicked off with anxious hope. I was walking a path I had never been on before, not knowing what to expect except what I had read in online articles.

I had questions: How much would my life change? How would I juggle it all? How much of my life as I knew it would I have to give up? How would I combine the intricacies of motherhood with the dynamics of an uber-challenging job?

Many months down the line, I can finally exhale.

And it’s not for the absence of challenges or because I had exaggerated my concerns.

Far from it. Every anxiety I had had was valid. But somehow (at this point, I am tempted to imitate Pentecostal pastors and ask you to say “somehow” after me), I have managed to pull through without losing my sanity.

Many times, during what has been an unpredictable year, I have learnt that we morph into our best when we are faced with the greatest challenges. The bigger the challenge, the stronger and more resilient we grow.

2022 gave me everything…

It’s a year that was like no other.

I encountered new challenges. I learnt to let go and let God. I matured in many various ways. I became more accommodating. I loved like never before.

I couldn’t write on here as often as I would have wanted to, but it did not matter too much because I needed to prioritise the home front and be at peace with the fact that I was doing what I had to do per time.

I learnt that work-life balance is quite a myth.

Sometimes, work will take most of your time. And at other times, you’ll need to set work aside to attend to family.

A renewed appreciation for what I do and the impact it has is also something I discovered this year.

Work saved me from depression.

Work was there for me when the days were dragging by.

And work has earned me recognition and financial reward for my genius.

I am truly grateful for what I do.

2022 reminded me to keep faith…to keep trusting even when I am uncertain of how things would pan out because you see, they always pan out well in the end.

I have become more appreciative of family and close friends. The value they bring to my life and how meaningless life would be without them.

I continue to learn the true value of money; how it doesn’t mean much if it is not channelled to the right quarters.

I have lost and I have gained, and most importantly, I have learnt.

If you have read up to this point, you’ll find that a recurrent word in this gratitude post is “learn”.

It’s deliberate.

And that’s because I have always been a learner. I am a knowledge junkie; a lifelong learner who always looks out for the lesson in everything. And so, whether I am ecstatic about a positive review from a difficult client or saddened by a financial loss, I am drawing lessons from outcomes.

I learn from my interactions with my precocious infant.

I take lessons from disagreements with friends.

I mentally note takeaways from discussions with strangers and acquaintances.

I never stop learning.

I am poised to take all the lessons 2023 is willing to teach, but for now, I am revelling in the spectacular year 2022 has been.

Thank you, 2022.

Indeed, you have given me everything I have always wanted.