’23, ’24 – Trapped in Time

It’s 3:28am.
It’s actually incredible to me that the theme for my 2023 came in the second half the year.
I want to call it a POWERFUL SHIFTING but I think that is the current phase God has me in. 2023 was simply a year of realignment.

I won’t add too much creative fluff or meat to this review because I frankly think it’s unnecessary and I think it symbolizes how I currently approach the world.
Let’s just get to it.


2023 Goals for Big Daddy Adewus + How I Did


1. Pray More – (I did this)
   2. Touch more lives (I believe I did this)
      3. Be kind to me (Another year where this continues to be hard for me)
         4. Enjoy life (I had some amazing highs and some humbling lows)
            5. Argue less, resist the urge to defend yourself (Kinda sorta did this but more can be done here)

2024 Goals for Big Daddy Adewus

1. Pray More and Read my Bible more
2. Do not hide my light
3. Be kind to me – do it this time Sanmi. Just do it!
4. Make ground on all your potential
5. Lose your temper less. 

   
   

Faith


I heard God more in 2023 – loudly in my places of worship, prayer and in seeking his face.
There were multiple times in the year where I just knew God was speaking to me.
It may be recency bias but in September, as I was preparing for arguably the biggest week of my life, God spoke to me through a sermon I stumbled on.
He called me to prepare for a “shifting” – simply put.
A powerful shifting.

The message I got was simple – “I am going to do things and move you in different directions. Just be ready”.
The constant voice of God was evident across the year.
I got clear direct communication about so many different areas in my life. I mean vivid moments where I said God “please do this by 12pm and at 11:55am things happened”.
That type of vivid.
I will be honest and say that I don’t think I heard from God or heard clearly up until sometime in August but so much had already happened. I’ll explain more in later sections.
But I felt his touch and presence most of the way.

A Pastor came up to me while I was singing at church once and told me that he felt that my anointing had increased.
To be honest, it scared me a bit because I swear I don’t want to be a Pastor like my dad.
But I was happy to know that God’s hand was upon me.
I leaned more into the gifts he gave me and used them in places I never expected.

Imagine me singing a Yoruba Hymn in front of 30,000 people at my company.
Referencing that in this section doesn’t speak to creativity alone but more to faith – I never hide that I love God. When I was asked to sing a hymn in front of people, I didn’t flinch once.
I knew I was meant to do it.
I was called to do it.
Something I have always loved about myself is never hiding my faith and flaws.
As much as I love God, I revel in knowing that he doesn’t need me to be perfect BUT I know the expectation of more, that he has for me.
Which is also why I know that I fell short of his glory sometimes in 2023. So there is room for better in ’24.

This may be tied into creativity but I discovered new gospel artists and I created a couple of gospel playlists that many people around the world use.
I paid my tithes pretty consistently last year, increased my offerings and commitments to the church.
2023 was the year I overcame the devourer by sticking to my covenant with God to always pay my tithes.
Trust me, it was hard.
But I asked for the grace to do it and be consistent but I also did practical things like taking my tithe out of the ATM on Friday before Sunday Service, so I didn’t have to deal with the battle to convince myself on Sunday morning.

This year, I want to intentionally pray more and read my bible more. Every day.
I actually want to buy a bible.
I also want God to use me more this year. Amplify my impact in the most amazing ways.
Last but not least, I want my life to reflect that I serve a living God.

2023 Expected Score: A
2023 Final Score: B-
2024 Expected Score: A

Fitness:

I loved fitness in 2023.
I can truly say that a lot of things that I sought after in my fitness journey have now become part of my daily life.
I feel a sense of pride in loving and taking care of my body.
There is no part of me that doesn’t understand what I need to do to push my body to the places I want it to go.

I improved my stamina and perfected my form over the year. I was also injured fewer times which helped my journey. This is definitely an area of improvement for me. Be kind to your body, your heart will breathe better and your soul will feel lighter.
I fell in love with my body more through my discipline in the gym all year.

2023 Expected Score: A++
2023 Final Score: A
2024 Expected Score: Let’s do it again

Creativity

“Let’s get sexy!”
The year started amazingly with me semi-consistently putting out content on Instagram through grwm videos and travel reels.
I posted way more on here than in recent years, although I wish I had given you all more series.
Maybe that might be something that comes soon – who knows? 2/3/24 👀

Singing in front of my whole company was pretty big for me but singing and then giving a speech was so unexpected and I am happy I pushed myself to do it.
I spoke in front of people and also sang in various places.
I headlined my first gospel show and even pushed my boundaries by doing things like singing on different keys and leading songs that pushed me out of my comfort zone. It might seem small but hey choir leader, you can leave C-sharp for one Sunday 😉

I could have done more. Posted more content, delivered more posts – I am still hoarding.
So intend to do better this year.

2023 Expected Score: B+
2023 Final Score: B

2024 Expected Score: B+

Finances

Omo 2023 was expensive o!
Forget inflation for a second – even though, how can you forget inflation when it wants to choke us all? But seriously, I think we need to indict our parents.
How come nobody made it abundantly clear that the back pain in your thirties will only be second to the constant throbbing in your wallet?
Eppppppo!
I spent a lot on trips, travel and time with my friends but I still hit my savings goals – although they were adjusted due to some heavy family obligations I had.
Part of my goal this year will be to save and keep the money saved. I need to be aggressive early on and lock that away, so I can spend the rest of the year in ease.

2023 was when it dawned on me that I have PTSD when it comes to money. After being laid off a couple of times, I am hesitant to spend on anything big for myself.
I find a way to talk myself out of every big spend. Even convincing myself to take a mid-year trip to relax was harshly resisted and I had to talk through it in therapy.
Yes, times have been incredibly hard but after being out of work before and seeing so many TA teams cut across many companies, I have had to be extra careful.

Given the raise and promotion I got in early 2023, I could have saved better and managed my money better but again, I am grateful that I was able to take care of what needed to be taken care of.
Including buying my father a car and changing my zip code.
Abeg if you see me around, please squeeze small change into my hand because your boy needs it.
Please and thanks!

2024, I will still like to travel but one way I save on that is by

2023 Expected Score: A+
2023 Final Score: B
2024 Expected Score: B+

Relationships:

I lied.
A lot in 2023.
To myself and even to people I cared about.
Frankly put, I knew better and in some cases intentionally chose not to do right and in some others, I decided not to do the right thing.
Something I preached about in 2022 and parts of 2023 was knowing the difference between what you can do and what you should do.
In many cases, I can make the case that I was well within whatever rights I had to do or behave how I did but to whom much is given, so much is expected.
What about the learnings I got from God or the teachings instilled by my mom?
I could have been so much better in my interpersonal relationships but ultimately I chose not to.
I was selfish.
Dishonest.
Angry.
And downright unlike myself.

I have always been a “need to know” type person but I learned that cannot work in deep friendships.
Transparency and offering information can be magical for relationships.
This is something I want to change in 2024.
I hate being asked questions.
I don’t know what it is.
Maybe it’s because I grew up being told to keep things to myself or not probe on things not offered to you, I have always just kept quiet.
I could be so much better with opening up but I don’t truly feel safe with some people to open up.
Some think that saying they like or love you is enough for you to open up but I simply cannot allow myself to feel that way and just open my heart to people.
It’s hard.

I was evaluating a scenario with someone and I realized I just care so much less about certain things.
A part of me operated from a very selfish place in 2023.
I am burnt out, I am not as patient, gracious, kind or forgiving like I used to be.
I expect more from others more than I am sometimes willing to give.
One could even call me “angry” – maybe at the fact that I give so much and continue feeling like I truly get less from a lot of people that claim to care about me.
I remember feeling kinda sad at Christmas that we said we would do a gift exchange and only my mother and I came bearing gifts.

I pulled back from a lot of situations and people over the past year as I noticed that reciprocity was something that wasn’t always there.
Never one to keep score on deeds but if after a while, all you keep hearing from people is how they wished they could do more but never doing it, you realize you need to conserve your energy.
Pulling back from a few spaces made me feel more whole in ’23.
I just realized that nobody is really checking for you like that. Yes, they’ll remember you when they need something or a resume looked at but trust that if you are going through it, you could go through it alone.

That being said, I am super grateful for my friends. Wrapped with love, I could feel the warmth of their hearts pouring into me at every chance they got.
I hope you all felt my love in return as well.

I was also grateful for spaces that allowed healing in 2023. People I had wronged or spaces that I had messed up where remorse, grace and forgiveness were allowed in.
I believe I made space for the same but that definitely is an area I can grow in.
As someone who has been given grace and chances to be better, it certainly is something I’d want to work on in 2024.

I want to be more honest this year – with myself and others.
I want to do life with my people and truly do it – flaws, joys, and all.
A part of me will give less in some places and pour more into others.
Live for me and ensure that the people I love feel my love in the ways they want and need to.

2024 will be the year of ease in relationships. I look forward to hosting my loves in my new place.
And wrapping them with hugs that shine light from my heart.

2023 Expected Score: B
2023 Final Score: D
2024 Expected Score: B+

2023 had many ups and very little lows but tons of room for improvement.
My happiness, peace of mind and health are my main focuses this year. So I look forward to enjoying me more.
Here is to a phenomenal year for us all.
Hopefully in 2025 we’ll write about joy and love. And our only issues will be jetlag and popping ears and bottles after long flights. Here is to the best time.
This is the year we make a difference and in time, you’ll know the difference.

Welcome to Caesar’s Palace. 😉

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© 2024 #WhatTheHeckMan