#BN2016Epilogues: Ayomikun is Simply Grateful… Through Thick & Thin

It’s that time of the year when members of the BellaNaija community come together to bond over shared experiences in the last 12 months. As with the previous editions of this series, we put out a call for you to send us your stories. {Click here if you missed it} To catch up on the first few stories this year, click HERE.

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When 2016 started, all I wanted was peace.

January started with a bang, I was living the life, having fun. I had decision making issues in my relationship from March to May. I didn’t know who to leave and who to hold on to. In May, I had a health scare. I got a semi prognosis for PCOS; they told me what I had seemed like PCOS.

It seemed like my life was about to be over when it was supposed to be starting. I was scared shitless. I wept, I cried, I fasted, I prayed, I implored. Then after some time, I decided to let go and let God fight my battles. I decided to heal, after all healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed, it only means the damage has ceased to control our lives. Then He told me:
See I will do a new thing
I will make a way in the wilderness
I will make rivers in the desert
I will create beautiful places out of wastelands

By June, I thought it was time for me to gain financial independence and start a business. I had mapped out my perfect business plan, set up strategies, then people started to despise my days of little beginnings, when i mentioned I wanted to sell soap, they would laugh. Then I needed money, nobody had to spare, I couldn’t beg. So I told myself i was going to postpone my startup for a month or two. But till now, nothing!

Then I lost friends. I’ve never been one to have more than 3/4 friends and I lost like 2. I was really down and confused as to how and why friendships couldn’t withstand turbulences and why my supposed friends were not through the thick and thin friends.

I got into a new relationship. I heard: Really! What is she looking for? Does she know what she is getting herself into? But I do a thing called what I want and I wasn’t about to let people’s opinions stand in the way of my happiness. I’m happy I haven’t had cause to hear the I told you so!
I laughed the most on October 1st, when my best friend and cousin decided to get drunk and do the drama of their lives.

My brother almost got electrocuted. My cousin, who has been as good as my immediate younger brother, was taken away by his mom and she cut contact with us and even went to spread rumours about my mom. It was a really painful period. My brothers were livid, how could she? My mom was shattered, her labour of love had not been appreciated. I was devastated. The boy was like my life, my best friend.

August to December turned out to be the best months of the year. I had silly, unimaginable fun,I did the things I had never done; i drank my first alcohol, went to my first party, broadened my horizons, became more exposed, opened my heart to love and accommodate more people. In November, I clocked the big 20, my little brother the big 5, sent my 2nd best friend to Europe, my brother wrote his final papers as a petroleum engineer, mum did her pre-field successfully.

December, I started my blog, My brother defended his project, my aunty graduated University of Birmingham with a distinction.
2016 has taught me to stop the worrying and fears about tomorrow, because He that keepeth me does not slumber nor sleep;
I have learnt that everything happens for a reason and no matter what happens, the sun will not but shine in the morning;
I have discovered that I often chase after shadows in the dark and I end up missing the shooting star above my head; I try so hard to block out the rain that I miss the rainbow at the end of it;
I have discovered that the greatest pleasures come from my best friends foolish banter, Lil brother’s antics, good food, sitting in the darkness with my brothers and talking about life, mother to daughter talks over the phone.

But above all,
2016 has undoubtedly been my grateful year
I’m grateful I am still standing, living and Bubbling;
I’m grateful for my mother, she’s the rock I lean on;
I’m grateful for my brothers;
I’m grateful for my best friends: these are people that we communicate deeply with the Father together, worship, pray in tongues; gist all night; go to parties and shows; discuss how to change the world; laugh and cry together;
I’m grateful for an amazing man who puts a smile on my gave constantly;
I’m grateful I saw my period more times this year than I have seen in the last four years;
I’m grateful for God’s faithfulness
I’m grateful for little blessings and graces
I’m grateful for laughter
I’m grateful for peace of mind
I’m grateful I love and I am loved in return.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime