It is sweater weather and what better way to inject some colour to this miserable weather. Its so easy to end up wearing gloomy colours in winter. However, it doesn’t have to be all that bad. For instance, today’s look is so simple and the sweater that not only kept me warm, but it also uplifted my mood because its a bright colour that seems to have an effect on ones mood so to say. Correct me if am wrong, but bright colours do have that effect init. So next time you are out stocking up on sweaters and cardigans, go out of your comfort zone and pick a happy colour.
Outfit Details
Photo Credits: Boateng Arkoh
SUCCESSES IN 2017
With just a few more days to Christmas and New Year, it only feels right to meditate on how my year was. Most importantly, did I achieve the goals I set earlier this year? If not, why or what happened? I call it a self-appraisal. It’s certainly something I would recommend you all to do. 2017 was the most challenged year so far in the sense that, I got pushed and stretched out of my comfort zone and this has resulted in me achieving quite a few things in my life.
PLACEMENT
I successfully finished my yearlong placement in August. And whilst on placement I got to have a taste of what will soon be my reality i.e. full-time employment. The struggle was real in the beginning because I wasn’t used to the 9-5 life. However, I adjusted and quiet enjoyed the fact that my days were very productive and structured. It made me appreciate sleep and weekends even more.
DRIVING
Once I secured a job, my next mission was to start my driving lessons. Honestly, I don’t know why I left it this long to learn but at least I can say that’s ticked off my list now. I aimed at passing my test before heading back to university in September and I managed to do so on third attempt, lol. The struggle is real. I don’t know how those who pass first time do it. Probably some people are just telling fibs but that’s not my business.
CITIZENSHIP
My other goal was obtaining British Citizenship. Having gone through the process, it makes me understand why people flaunt their passports like it’s a pot of gold. The entire process is super expensive and long. However, I knew it had to be done either way because prices keep going up every year. The system is aimed at putting people off from apply and I see why people give up or just don’t even bother with it. Anyway, I shall leave that topic for another day. What matters is I got it in the end.
BLOGGING SUCCESSES
My biggest achievement in terms of blogging, has got to be my involvement in a campaign with SLEEK makeup brand. This is a big deal to me because it was one of those things were I just stumbled across the opportunity and decided to put myself through. The campaign #myfacemyrules was about people embracing their decision to wear makeup and rock it without apologizing. Many of us wear makeup for various reasons. However, it’s not in anyone’s place to point fingers and criticise someone who decides to wear layers and layers of makeup because that’s their own way of expressing the art of makeup. I will throw this question to you all? If you wear makeup, why do you do it and how do you feel when you do so?
MY LEARNING CURVES IN 2017
BREAKUP
Now that I have addressed my happy moments or achievements, it’s only right that I address my learning curves too.Remember I said earlier that this year was one of my most challenging years. Well, I went through a terrible breakup up which left me torn apart. The guy I thought loved me, walked out of my life unexpectedly. We dated for two years and he just decided it was not working for him. My whole world came tumbling down during that time. I went through depression and anxiety. Second guessing myself became the norm. Crying myself to sleep every night, reliving that fateful day he walked out of my life. Blaming myself for what exactly, I couldn’t tell you? I even had a hard time talking to God because I didn’t understand why he brought this guy into my life and then take him away.
BREAK THROUGH
After a couple of months of self-pity and second guessing myself, I decided to surrender my burden to God. When I say my stubbornness took the best of me at that time, it would be an understatement. But after spending more time pouring my heart out to God and listening to sermons (at night time usually because I couldn’t sleep at all), I stumbled across a message that was more like the turning point. It was by Sarah Jakes Roberts. The message was about God breaking you, before elevating you to your next level. At first, I didn’t think much of it, however the more I studied that message and scriptures, it all started to make sense.
Anyway, to cut the long story short, the lesson learnt from this is that, God has to be the centre of your life. I realised I was too blinded and in love such that God came second in my life which is not right. Was I bitter at him? Yes, I was angry, bitter and frustrated. Did things get better? Definitely! My faith in God brought me out of that dead state and I took on sharing optimism on my social platforms to encourage myself too that life may not go how I may want it to go, but he that started the good work in me, will complete it. If you have been gracefully broken, feel free to share your story with me.
In other new I would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and Happy Holidays for those who don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas.
Stay Blessed.
