Chapter Forty
The part where we intentionally decide to keep moving on...
Hey you,
How are things? It’s the last day of the year and there have been so many jokes online about 2024 starting on a Monday. Do you find it interesting too? I start my week on Sunday, so this feels a little wonky to me. Oh well, no matter how we feel, the world is still going to turn. All that matters is that we keep moving on, right?
Let me be one of the first to wish you a fantastic new year ahead. I also want to remind you to be more kind to yourself, if you were not able to achieve the things you wanted to do in 2023, you’re alive which means you can still work towards your goals.
When you stop looking at the date changing as a big deal, it eases up the mental pressure to “start doing things” at a particular time, you can decide to do anything you want at any time you want, even if it’s 2pm on a Thursday in the 3rd week of the 6th month.
Just like I mentioned in Chapter Thirty-One, it’s okay if you want to be organized and everything but remember that you’re human and shit happens so please don’t beat yourself up or twist into shapes to satisfy what is seen as acceptable, okay?
As it’s the last day of the year, I feel like it’s appropriate for me to share my gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this letter whenever it drops, thank you for always sharing it, thank you for engaging with it even when I don’t even know what I’m doing on here, thank you for buying me numerous digital cups of coffee, thank you for listening to the podcast, thank you for reading with the book club, thank you for bantering with me on social media, thank you for participating in the reading challenge, thank you for giving me the gift of your time. Don’t forget that you have a friend in me, if you ever feel stuck or just want to chat, or you want to bounce your ideas off someone, I’m here, truly (you’re not a bother). I appreciate you so much and I hope we have a lot more fun together in 2024.
If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your favourite thing about yourself? I want you to give this a little think, and write the answer in your journal, or as an audio/video recording to yourself. I think it’s important to remind ourselves of the things that make us who we are. Let me leave you with these wise words from one of my favourite humans, Wana Udobang.
Now, to the bookish stuff…
I shared a reel with my anticipated reads of 2024 and I’m looking forward to giving feedback on these titles. Make sure you add me as a friend on Storygraph, it’s the only way to properly keep up with my reading updates.
I’m still using Storygraph to track my reads, you can add me as a friend HERE. The Indulgent Bibliophile Book Club is reading Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta. It’s a piercingly honest coming-of-age story, a heartfelt drama of family, friendship, community, and divided loyalties. Also, no one writes about Lagos better than Sefi Atta.
Have you listened to my December 2023 wrap-up on the podcast? You can do that HERE. I also did a mini-review of the year, I’m most proud of how consistent I’ve been with the podcast, if only I could apply that to here *heavy sigh*
I plan to journal more this year, physically I mean. All my fancy notebooks are gathering dust and I really should make use of them, if you’re like me, this is also your sub. I’ll create prompts to guide me but if you see a good one out there, please send me a link, okay?
Just in case you missed it, I have released the prompts for the 2024 #SomethingBookishReadingChallenge you can join HERE on Storygraph.
We are going to have so much fun with this, I can just feel it. 2024;s reading experience is going to be extra special.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Dearest!
Please remember to hydrate, eat well, sleep well, and poop well. Most importantly, don’t forget to give yourself the grace you always extend to others. You need it too, okay?
Love my content? Please do consider supporting me by buying me a cup of tea (I’ve finally found a way for non-Nigerian residents to contribute) or by giving me a shout-out on social media or in real life (prayers are fine too).
See you on the other side, Dearest.
XOXO