Somebody asked me to do this, and I thought to myself, Why not start giving you all early blog posts for 2025? Considering that the year starts pretty early in the week, I wanted to kick things off with new blog posts right out of the gates.
If you’re reading this, I’ll probably post this on Instagram, too. If you know a web developer or designer who can help me, I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve been saying this for a few years now—preferably someone in Nigeria. I want to not only support meaningful work but also provide tangible income to someone there.
I really want to redo my website. I want it to feel like my apartment or my car—an environment that inspires and compels me to create. When I’m in a space I love, I feel more obligated and inclined to do the work. As it stands, I don’t love the interface of my blog. Even as I record this, I might change the layout before posting this.
So, yeah, I’ve been debating whether to write a post, but it feels only fair to close out 2024 with something meaningful. I’m not sure if this post will be entirely “fun,” but I’m going to share some thoughts with you all. I’ll probably organize them into three main pillars—or maybe four. Let’s start with three and see where we end up.
1. You Can Do Hard Things
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is that I can do hard things.
For a long time, because of the instability of how I grew up—or perhaps being at the mercy of economics—I sought comfort. Many of us do, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I’ve realized I thrive when I create environments that are steady. However, that stability doesn’t always encourage you to challenge yourself.
This year, I discovered that not only can I do incredibly hard things, but I also have a community that supports, encourages, and cheers me on. I want you to know the same applies to you.
You can do hard things. Maybe 2024 wasn’t your best year. Maybe it was incredibly hard. But you can navigate challenges with grace, poise, and resilience, setting yourself up for a better future.
Hard things are rewarding. They remind you, like muscle memory, that you can do anything you set your mind to. For me, packing up my bags with my best friend and moving from California to Austin, Texas, was eye-opening.
Challenging myself—without a therapist for most of the year—to stick to the principles we worked on has been transformative. For instance, I used to have massive anxiety around big purchases, even when I had the money. My therapist helped me understand that this anxiety stemmed from childhood experiences of financial struggle. Knowing where these feelings came from allowed me to build systems to manage them.
For example, I now have a rainy-day fund, a health savings account, and a Roth IRA. I’ve realized that while I can’t control everything, I can do the work to manage what’s within my control.
You can do the same. No matter how tough 2024 was, you’ve made it this far. You have the resilience to face what’s next.
2. Stop Making Excuses for People
I’ve learned that my tendency to cradle people’s feelings is deeply rooted in my own trauma. If you know me well, you might notice that when something’s wrong, I hesitate to express it immediately. I’m often trying to find the right time or words to avoid being harsh or disconnected.
But in doing so, I often prolong my own pain. While I’m losing sleep and crying, the other person might be entirely unaware—living their life, carefree.
Stop making excuses for people. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t forgive mistakes or expect perfection. But if you’re like me—someone who prioritizes others’ feelings and thoughts—surround yourself with people who do the same for you.
This isn’t a call to cut people off but rather to conduct an honest audit of your relationships. Where are you staying silent out of care, and where are you swallowing pain to preserve someone else’s happiness?
3. Intentionality
Be intentional about everything.
One thing I’ve observed about the people I admire—whether they’re fitness enthusiasts, tech professionals, or lifestyle influencers—is that they’re deliberate about the elements of their lives. Success doesn’t happen by accident.
Write things down. Everything I wrote down this year—within reason—came to fruition in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Some of these goals were years old but finally came to pass because I was in the right season to harvest them.
God doesn’t make mistakes. He’s intentional, and you should be too. As you prepare for 2025, think about what you want for yourself—write it down, pray over it, and work towards it.
4. Grace and Gratitude
I have so much more to give myself, but I don’t always extend grace to myself.
This year, I want to thank everyone who has shown me love and light. Those who’ve reminded me that I’m seen and appreciated—you mean more to me than you know.
I work hard for everything I have, but sometimes I forget to acknowledge that effort. So, to everyone who’s told me I’m trying, I’m great, or I’m working hard—thank you. Your encouragement fuels me.
2024 was a foundational year for me. I set up systems, made big purchases, and planted seeds for the future. And in 2025, I’m excited to share more of my life—whether it’s food content, realizations, or honest conversations.
Vulnerability is my strength. It’s my truth. Sharing it with the world has inspired others, and I’m proud of that.
So, here’s to more growth, more realness, and more of me in 2025. Thank you for all the love and support.
Before the year ends, do me a favor: share my gospel playlists on Spotify. Let’s get them to 100 saves—they deserve it!
Remember, you’re amazing. You can do hard things. You’ll achieve great things, and I’ll be here cheering you on.
Until next time—stay up!
