What 2018 re-affirmed for me
I would have titled this post “What 2018 taught me” or something similar but I realised very soon that most of these attributes were things I already knew about myself or my situations. 2018 just highlighted them more for me and gave me so many eureka moments of recognition.
The thing about growing up is that you start to recognise your strong and weak points. They become more glaring to you and you have the choice to expand on each of these qualities. You start to find out if you are a homebody or you love to go out; optimist or pessimist, friendly or introvert etc. Sometimes the realisation is shocking; however, for someone like me who grew into myself quite early in life, my personality has never come as a shock to me.
Ok, let’s start with the good stuff.
Deliriously positive
I am probably the definition of a happy go lucky human. It is not that I do not have sad moments; trust me, I do! But I’m a firm believer of ‘…this too shall pass’. I don’t know if this has something to do with my faith or just the kind of people I have always had around me but I’m always, for the most part of life, positive about things and looking on the bright side. I have setbacks when something I am expecting falls through but somehow, I manage to make lemonade with my lemons and tend to see the positive side of it!
The best friends and family
I really really do! I also like to think that I am a good friend, daughter and sister. As long as you are my “person’, I will always stand next to you, hold your hands and take that jump with you! This makes me feel warm and secure knowing that you have your own people that you can always count on.
Confident in myself
Yup! I am very sure of myself and know my capabilities, which makes it very easy to walk into a room and sell an idea very confidently. I certainly do not think I’m a 10 but I also do not rate myself if I’m honest. I just believe I am different, I am special and I have a lot to offer. I don’t remember a time I have every struggled with confidence and I learnt in high school to always sit with your back up and legs crossed at the knees for great posture. I have now come to realise that in the corporate world, to sit that way in a meeting for example, reeks of confidence and gives people the allusion of not being a walk over.
Resilient
This goes hand in hand most times with being confident especially in the work place. The fact that I know what I represent has made me a very resilient person. I will not accept any form of weakness, which is being thrown my way. I work in a male dominated industry and this means that I have had to draw strength from within to match a drive expected of only men in the corporate environment. I go into some meetings and look around the table and realise I am actually the only woman in the room (and most times, the youngest too). Therefore, I have no choice but to let my voice be heard. Speak up, deliver my piece and give feedback without compromising my core. It is all so tricky but once I found my place, it was there to stay!
I love LOVE. Soppy AF!
Ok this is not news. I can see everyone who knows me, reading this and rolling their eyes hahahahaha! What can I say? ‘….to love and be loved is everything’ I can only speak for myself when it comes to relationship dramas which I had my own share of; however, drama never put me off from finding my happily every after! My opinion is that it is such an important part of life and there is a peace that comes with it. Even in my independence, I am a relationship kind of girl. I like to give and receive, I like to be responsible for someone and for someone to be responsible for me, I like the partnership and friendship of it, I like the romantic gestures, I like that you have your person forever. Just knowing that you have your person in a world of millions of people is pretty pretty prettttyyyyy cool!
Ambitious
I am Nwabugo and I am terribly ambitious. I want what I want. I am that girl who has her career plan, where I see myself in 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. It gives me what to work with when I start to feel stagnant in my job. I know when I get to a point in my 9-5 that I feel like everything I am doing is routine and it is time to shake things up a bit. I had this feeling last year; around summer and I asked my boss for more responsibility because I knew that what I needed was a promotion and to change my day-to-day duties. If I feel like I deserve more money, a higher bonus or a promotion, I ask for it. Asking for something does not mean I will always get it. If the answer is ‘no’, I don’t just give up. My next course of action is asking what I can do to get what I want. This was my modus operandi in 2018 and it landed me a promotion, pay rise and my highest bonus yet!! Ambition is key!!
Organised
This one, I learnt from my daddy! Growing up, he had files for every single thing. From my nursery school report cards to his first car receipts. I always had my own stash of receipts and letters and cards neatly stored somewhere. When I was moving away from home, I took this with me and became Queen of organising! I have an organiser for my money (savings), for my thoughts, my career and even my personal life. My phone has all sorts of notes and references that I go back into from time to time. This means that I never have to guess, I hardly lose a piece of information and I am always ready to go!
Now to the not-so-good stuff. I mean I couldn’t be perfect haha
Procrastination
I am ashamed to even type this but I procrastinate if I get the chance to! I could have a 5pm deadline and by 10am, I would have a wonderful plan of how to achieve it but won’t start executing until 3pm. I like to believe I work best under pressure maybe? I love to sleep in a lot too. Don’t we all? I am getting better with time though since I begun making a conscious effort to be more responsible. Procrastination they say is an enemy of progress. I don’t know if this is a saying but I tell myself every time I start to feel it creeping in!
Non-Confrontational
Is this a bad thing? I think it is sometimes especially with friendships. The idea of being a great friend is that when they hurt you, they can approach you and you can both figure it out but I rather recline into my fake shell and let it blow over. Eventually, I get around to having the confrontation but I usually start crying and become inaudible. I am getting better at this anyway and since I try to be a present friend, I hardly get myself into such situations.
Anxiety
As much as I believe that every good thing will come, I have my moments when I allow myself wallow in anxiety. I get anxious when I am waiting for news or expecting something I really want. I have to remind myself to breathe and wait it out. I guess this happens with everyone and I would not say that mine affects my mental state, which is why I know that for me, it is not as serious as I make it in my head.
What did you learn or re-affirm about yourself in 2018? I’m curious.
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
10 Comments
Zachariah Stockwin
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Sisi
2018 taught me that the more you think negative thoughts, the more likely it will happen. It was an eye opening year for me and it put a lot of things in perspective
Bugo
Oh this is a good one. I’ve always believed that as well. Almost like you telling your mind what to think x
Mielle
I don’t think I had a moment to stop, think and re-affirm in 2018. It was a whirlwind year for me. Will try this year.
Bugo
Awww thankfully, you can reset this year. Check back in December so we can see how well it went x
Tife A
2018 was such an eye-opening year for me too! I love that you were so raw with your revelations in this post, truly inspiring.
Bugo
Aww thank you! I’ll be as real and as open as possible here 🙂 x
Adaku Ufere
I learned I’m not a half measures type of girl and i’ll never be. I used to be a bit worried about how extreme events in my life tended to be, but after a string of spectacular failures and equality spectacular successes, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I can never do anything by halves.
Also learned that I’m not quite as rigid about things as I thought I was. Marriage taught me the value of compromise, definitely became less selfish in 2018.
Bugo
Isn’t the realisation the best part of the narrative?! Almost like you just suddenly figure out what you like and certainly don’t like. Love it!
Marriage will always be a life learning institution thankfully. Thank you for sharing x