Gift Wogu

It’s that time of year again when everyone starts sharing their wins. And if you didn’t exactly win this year, it’s easy to feel like you’ve failed. People post their wraps about how they bagged their dream jobs, moved to their dream countries, snagged their dream apartments, entered dream relationships, or even finally tied the knot. Meanwhile, there you are: single, jobless, broke, and sad, wondering, God, when? When will He come through for you, especially so you can join the shiny LinkedIn crowd talking about how you received five offers at once, hit $100,000 in sales, or landed high-paying international clients?

Let’s be fair, there’s nothing wrong with having a great year. But it’s also perfectly okay not to hit all your goals for 2024. Life isn’t always sunshine and roses. Here’s my year in review; the good, the better, and the not-so-great moments.

I’m such a list person. If I don’t have a daily to-do list, I feel like I’m setting myself up for failure. There’s something deeply satisfying about ticking things off a list. That said, I’m not going to lie, I had a great year overall. 2024 doesn’t owe me anything. It showed up and showed out, and I’m extremely grateful. But, as with any year, there were some goals I desperately wanted to achieve but didn’t.

Reading: We Go Again

I was determined to read 50 books this year. I promise you, I was on track because I am a voracious reader. But sometime in May, I stopped and never went back. Shocking, I know. Especially since I own a Kindle and have a subscription. Yet, here we are. So, we go again in 2025.

Jobs: The Struggle Was Real

The job market didn’t love me a lot this year, ghosting and unfortunately here and there. Moving to a new country came with its challenges, and it took a while to land my dream job. I also received more “unfortunately” this year than I care to count. I even got job scammed.😭 Thankfully, it ended well, and I’m grateful for where I’ve landed.

Fitness: Who Is That on the Scale?

Instead of getting fit this year, I climbed on the scale, took one look at the number, and told the nurse, “That’s not my weight because who is that?” I didn’t take my fitness as seriously as I should have, which was disappointing. Eating, staying indoors, working indoors and sleeping. But rather than waiting for the new year, I’ve already started my fitness journey. Oh, and I bought a new scale and I’m gradually get back in shape. New year, new scale, who this?

Travel: Relocation Over Holidays

I love to travel, and luckily, so does my partner. But between relocating and settling into a new country, we barely had the chance to go anywhere. Well, except for trips to Rwanda and Nigeria early in the year, do those count? If you’re wondering why the number on the scale is high, it’s because I was inside a lot this year.

Mental Health: It’s Been a Journey

This year tried my mental health in ways I didn’t anticipate. April, in particular, was rough. Moving to a new country also took a toll, and I had a bit of a breakdown. Thankfully, I’ve worked on myself. I’m ending the year feeling well-rested, fulfilled, and genuinely happy. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

Friends: All Wins, No Breakups

At the start of the year, I usually write down specific prayers for my friends. I’m thrilled to say that everything I prayed for has come true. My friends are thriving, and their joy brings me so much happiness. And guess what? Nobody cut me off this year. I’ve been a good girl. So, we thank God for that. Hopefully, I will keep being a good girl so nobody will cut me off in 2025.

Self-Development: Leveling Up

This year, I’ve learned new marketing skills that will undoubtedly benefit my career. I’m big on career development, and I’m proud of the effort I put into becoming better for myself and my work. It’s one of the areas where I feel like I truly showed up.

Social Media and Content Creation: Almost There

I made great strides with social media this year. I posted nearly 100 videos across YouTube and TikTok. My goal was to hit 5,000 TikTok followers by year’s end, and while I didn’t quite make it, I reached 4,900. That’s an incredible feat considering I started posting seriously in June with just 150 followers. Adding over 4,500 followers in six months? I’ll take that as a win. A win is a win please. Oh, I even got a paid brand deal. In my influencing era and I’m loving it. I’m hoping for more brand deals in 2025 while I take content creation more seriously.

There are so many other things I’d love to add, but they’re not necessary. If you feel like you had a bad year or things didn’t go as planned, it’s not the end of the world, and that’s okay. 2025 is a fresh start, a clean slate to try again.

Stop feeling bad when you see people online celebrating their wins. While much of what you see online is real, some of it isn’t. Instead of comparing yourself, reflect on the good things that have happened in your own life and take a moment to celebrate with others too. It’s also important to start working on the things you intend to achieve next year. Pay for that course or boot camp, start that social media page, create that Upwork profile, cold email that client, write that English test, start that diet, register at that gym, go out and do it!

2024 was a year of growth, challenges, and gratitude. While I didn’t achieve everything I set out to do, I’ve made progress in areas that matter. I’m proud of the wins and lessons alike, and I’m stepping into 2025 with hope, determination, and a stronger sense of self. What’s your favourite thing about 2024? What lessons do you think we can learn?

I have a new newsletter called Thriving in this Wicked World. So, if you’re interested in thriving in your career and life in 2025, subscribe to my newsletter. Welcome to 2025!