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THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

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Allow me let you in on a little secret. Most of the time I get ready to write a piece, I usually have the idea right before I start. On some great days, I get the idea hours before I put he piece together. And yet, at other times, I just start with a potential idea and will it to make sense. On special (odd) days; ideas linger in my head for days and maybe weeks before I truly can find the words to express them to the fullest. This piece you are about to read was born of these enduring, unshaken ideas. I remember writing about my word for 2020 really early last year ; how it would pay to move with all form of intention in the course of the year. The idea of being intentional was just it for me. Just like this article, the opening post for 2020 was born of an enduring idea. It felt as if the word was playing in a loop in my head; going on for days. Here I am again (in November), not consciously thinking about but having thoughts of 2021 popping in my head ever so often. I am sure many d
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 7

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  YOU I am grateful for you!! Yes, you ! You have made it through the sharp twists and turns  in the road called 2020. you have ridden the 2020 roller coaster successfully. Ok! Maybe you puked a little but the ride is almost grinding to a halt and you are doing good. I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped you in the course oft he year. Grateful for the lessons learned and those you are still taking notes on--life is an endless learning process. I am grateful for your boldness, opportunities that came your way, your sanity (I really hope this has managed to remain intact)and the beautiful connections you have fostered. I am grateful for your progress, improvements and victories--big and small. I am glad you are reading this piece right this moment, in one piece. The year has been unpredictable but here you are scaling mountains like an absolute badass. Super grateful for you! ‘Mina. What are you thankful for? 
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 6

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  OPPORTUNITIES AND WINS The year took on a bleak look quite early. It would have been rather difficult to envision things actually picking up as the days bled into months. Despite the seeming slowness, happenings and events and being away from business as usual , we can’t deny that good things have actually happened. I am one for picking the good, little victories and blessings in the bleakest situations (although things could always be better). There is always something worth giving thanks for if we looked closely or borrowed a monocle. I am grateful for serendipitous opportunities. I am grateful for opportunities as a result of compound interests (it always adds up in the end, right?) I am grateful for wins in all its forms, shapes and sizes. Equally as important, I am glad seeing my people score wins in different ways this year. The year might not have taken the turns and twists we anticipated but it has swung opportunities my way (some I probably won’t have gotten had things been
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 5

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GREAT READS It is certainly no news that I am a lover of books. Regardless how much I love books, I don’t get to read as many as I would love to in the course of a regular year. But then, the year has hardly been regular. I usually go jumping from book to book in 2 pockets of the year—during breaks. The events of the year resulted in more downtime than usual. More downtime = more reading time. I cannot say precisely how many books I have read this year, I did not keep count, but I know I have read a great deal. I am grateful for that. Thankful for the opportunity to dive into different worlds. Thankful for the wisdom hidden in books, and books that have gone to show that I have been on to something all this while. Some books have been pure gems, reinforcing truths, broadening my mind and invariably causing me to think in extra doses. Some books have inspired articles, conversations and everything between. It has been a swell reading ride this year. And even though I still have reading
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 4

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MUSIC Music is a universal language. Even when there are (seemingly) human language barriers, music can still “ make sense ” to the listener. There is just this feel to music and I have come to feel that quite often this year (even if I am nothing close to a melomaniac or whatever ardent music lovers are called). I am grateful for good sounds. Good music has certainly made me feel better on some days. I listen to anything but not everything—did I lose you?—and I am glad I have come to discover new soothing sounds this year. I am glad I stumbled upon Jinmi Abduls —great music, great vibes. I am super grateful for COLORS —my ultimate sound discovery channel—they feature really great talents. Talents so good I end up doing deep dive not long after. I am thrilled to have come across  Samm Henshaw’s music. Man! He sounds like church—that is the best analogy that comes readily to mind—so warm!! I am grateful for the beauty called LUCID and the  Miseducation  of Lauryn Hill and everything b
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 3

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WRITING The year presented me with the unexpected opportunity to improve my craft—writing. As the year tossed us into the confines of our homes, writing became my go-to. My adventure with writing did not start as a conscious deep dive this year, but time and chance, and necessity found me plunging into writing. In the earlier part of the year, I engaged in writing just because I needed to put out content. As time passed however, I found writing to be more therapeutic than any other thing. There were countless thoughts traversing my mind and writing was the best way to get those thoughts out—for you and I. From turning writing to therapy, I began to engage in a daily writing exercise, I guess I needed the challenge—something to constantly look forward to. The year has seen me improve in my craft. I am super grateful for all the beautiful things I have written this year (some of which you would see soon enough. Others, maybe never) I have seen my writing over the years and I would say th
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THE GRATITUDE SERIES '20: DAY 2

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SOLITUDE I have the recurring need to be by myself. It is one of the ways I get to recharge and reconnect to different parts of me—I had zero intentions of making this sound deep but oh well. It is a necessity. Despite how much I need these moments alone, I can barely squeeze out time during “ normal times” . There is always so much going on (deadlines, activities, assignments, you get the gist) coupled with the inevitable need to stay connected to humans. I can’t always up and leave even when there’s so much noise. This year presented me with the opportunity—on a golden platter—to get away from the noise. Being stuck indoors gave me the chance to enjoy solitude more often. Of course, I couldn’t get more than a few hours of solitude but compared to nothing, that is something to be thankful for. I have done a lot of writing this year essentially because I could get access to more moments of the much-needed solitude. I’m grateful for these brief but countless moments of solitude (and on
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