#BN2015Epilogues: Uzoma’s Year of Many Wishes

Last year BellaNaija Features put together an inspiring feature series to round off the year. The 2014 Epilogues featured 10 real people who took an introspective look at their year and wrote about it. This year, we decided to make the call public to our readers. {Click here if you missed it}

We kicked off the series and so far we’ve had the following entries: Jennifer G , Morountodun , Victory, Mayowa ,  Harmony ,Dekky , OJ , Busola , Modupe, The Prodigal Daughter , Adetola, Ayomikun , Omami Jojo , Kehinde , Iember ,  Hadiza , Florence , Amaha , Vanessa , Winifred , Anne-Rose, Edie ,  Chidi ,  Rita  , Caleb , Yinka, Ife , Bukkie , Oluwatoyin and Grace.

We have had an overwhelming response to the call for Epilogues and we’re grateful to everyone who has sent in an entry. We will do our best to share every story we received before the deadline (even if it runs into the new year. Because BellaNaijarians are so awesome!) So don’t worry, if you haven’t seen your story and 2015 has ended. We will make sure we publish every Epilogue that was sent before the 15th of December.

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Well, I finally decided to write my own story after much talk and preaching by one of my colleagues. Anyway, let me try, although I don’t think am a good writer.

For me, 2015 was a slow and beautifully year for me (I hope I’m telling myself the truth).
I started this year like every other person, with lots of expectations both physically and spiritually. I drew up some goals for myself. A long list of things to achieve: courses to attend and getting married.

January 2015 came with lots of fasting, prayers and, vigils. Lord I need to meet the above list. That kind of stuff that you think that since you have started the year with the Lord, you look forward to meeting if not all your goals, certainly a large part of it. But lo and behold, life isn’t like that.

By February, the year was still fresh and I remained hopeful – even if none of the goals had been achieved. By March, my boyfriend of 5 years finally brought his family for introduction! And I was like, yeah! It’s happening already. My long dream of getting married to the love of my life has finally come to pass. But the unexpected happened. My fiancée lost his sister and all marriage plans put on hold. Well, it’s one of those things.

But wait a minute; this is just one out of the things on the long list of goals for the year. Anyway, it’s just first quarter of the year. My consolation!

Then came the second quarter and nothing seemed to happen. It was as if the cloud was close to me. I sat back and ruminated over everything and decided it was time to do something about it. I resorted into another round of serious prayers and fasting. But meh… nothing happened. The second quarter ended!

Just when I thought all hope was lost, I got nominated by my office to attend a seminar outside the country and I was like, OMG… I’m not forgotten! Ope o! Opportunity for my virgin passport to be stamped. This is God in action.

Some weeks after my trip, I got a mouth waterering job offer. (After working for three years without promotion). I just couldn’t say no (If nau you nko?) Well, I took it as answer to one of my set goals at the beginning of the year. But this was followed by a push back from my immediate office. I was denied of my salary and other entitlements, even though I served out the one-month notice period. Omo! E no easy.

I practically struggled to survive without pay for two months. I fought back, got my lawyer to write and demand for all my entitlement. After much ado, I was advised to let it go.

This last quarter of the year and the year almost ending, I look back and asked myself, how has the year been? What about the long list? It was like a dream of fantasyland. Well, not too fantastic but I bless God for everything.

My lesson from 2015 is not to worry over issues for too long. Every problem has an expiry date. Just do your best and leave the rest

Come 2016, I just want to free myself, no setting of goals, no long list of wishes, just wanna be happy!
Thanks Bella (I just hope this is published because it is my first attempt in writing for public reading)
Uzoma

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Liv Friis-larsen