Dahlings
Happy New Year! Or as us ndarkies would say "HEEEEEEEPPPPIIIIIIIIII" or even worse "Compliments of the new season" and even worserer than that "Compliments"(I wanna die when I hear this).
Anywho...
Like many people I have been reflecting on 2018 and to be blatantly honest with you I have been very hard on myself. I hit quite a lot of the milestones I set for myself (an exciting blog post on this will follow on the next episode...feeling the suspense yet?) and when I should be completely proud of myself, I found myself comparing myself to others.
Now don't get me wrong, I am hella excited for all the things my people have accomplished. I generally (thank goodness) am not a jealous person so we can strike that off the list.
However, comparison creeps in now and again. I like to let this motivate me to also achieve greater things. I have a circle of people around me who are such go-getters and high achievers. I am very grateful for that. There's a quote that goes "show me your friends and I'll show you your future". If this quote has any truth to it, I have a really bright future (Oprah & Yvone Orji will be my besties).
I found myself comparing myself to friends who have started their businesses (they are working their behinds off and are killing it!), friends who travel the world, friends who run marathons, friends who are musicians, friends are getting their 3rd or 4th degrees and it seems like they are living it up. I compared myself to them and thought 'all you did this year was study and you're not even far with your degree. You have so many years to go and it's so expensive. Will you ever even travel?'
Every year I promise myself that I will make a trip outside of the country but I find myself sacrificing for my education. Now, I can go to a cheaper institution but I would not get the same level of service and comfort. Because of my current set-up; out of three subjects I got two distinctions and I can see a trend like that carrying on. Also, the standard of the syllabus is comparable worldwide.
It's interesting how God works because as I was busy putting myself down and comparing myself, He put the word sacrifice in my head to counteract the negativity. As a result, I was reminded that 2018 has been a year of sacrifice for my studies:
1) Time just doing arbitrary things after work/weekends or setting up a business was spent either in class or doing assignments or studying for tests.
2) Money that I could have spent traveling (I actually had saved up enough to go to New York) I sacrificed for my studies.
3) Part of the reason why I didn't do much this holiday was so that I can save tuition money.
4) I love my place where I say but I am outgrowing it. I could have upgraded by apartment but I sacrificed so that I can afford tuition.
I have many dreams and aspirations to fulfil; and we all know tomorrow is not promised so I want to live and do everything now. But that word sacrifice has made me stop dead in my tracks, breath and take things slowly. I am somewhat calmer now because I remember the excitement I had when I started studying again (this is my third attempt) and knew that it was going to be life changing once I earn my first degree. It will certainly open more doors or open those that are slightly opened even wider.
I have to keep reminding myself of that. I know this will be a worthwhile sacrifice. I guess subconsciously I bought into the instant-gratification-generation and I am returning that purchase back thank you very much.
Opportunity cost. (look at that! Economics is winning! I feel so clever! #ExpensiveEducation)
Till later.
xo
Stellah
Happy New Year! Or as us ndarkies would say "HEEEEEEEPPPPIIIIIIIIII" or even worse "Compliments of the new season" and even worserer than that "Compliments"(I wanna die when I hear this).
Anywho...
Like many people I have been reflecting on 2018 and to be blatantly honest with you I have been very hard on myself. I hit quite a lot of the milestones I set for myself (an exciting blog post on this will follow on the next episode...feeling the suspense yet?) and when I should be completely proud of myself, I found myself comparing myself to others.
Now don't get me wrong, I am hella excited for all the things my people have accomplished. I generally (thank goodness) am not a jealous person so we can strike that off the list.
However, comparison creeps in now and again. I like to let this motivate me to also achieve greater things. I have a circle of people around me who are such go-getters and high achievers. I am very grateful for that. There's a quote that goes "show me your friends and I'll show you your future". If this quote has any truth to it, I have a really bright future (Oprah & Yvone Orji will be my besties).
I found myself comparing myself to friends who have started their businesses (they are working their behinds off and are killing it!), friends who travel the world, friends who run marathons, friends who are musicians, friends are getting their 3rd or 4th degrees and it seems like they are living it up. I compared myself to them and thought 'all you did this year was study and you're not even far with your degree. You have so many years to go and it's so expensive. Will you ever even travel?'
Every year I promise myself that I will make a trip outside of the country but I find myself sacrificing for my education. Now, I can go to a cheaper institution but I would not get the same level of service and comfort. Because of my current set-up; out of three subjects I got two distinctions and I can see a trend like that carrying on. Also, the standard of the syllabus is comparable worldwide.
It's interesting how God works because as I was busy putting myself down and comparing myself, He put the word sacrifice in my head to counteract the negativity. As a result, I was reminded that 2018 has been a year of sacrifice for my studies:
1) Time just doing arbitrary things after work/weekends or setting up a business was spent either in class or doing assignments or studying for tests.
2) Money that I could have spent traveling (I actually had saved up enough to go to New York) I sacrificed for my studies.
3) Part of the reason why I didn't do much this holiday was so that I can save tuition money.
4) I love my place where I say but I am outgrowing it. I could have upgraded by apartment but I sacrificed so that I can afford tuition.
I have many dreams and aspirations to fulfil; and we all know tomorrow is not promised so I want to live and do everything now. But that word sacrifice has made me stop dead in my tracks, breath and take things slowly. I am somewhat calmer now because I remember the excitement I had when I started studying again (this is my third attempt) and knew that it was going to be life changing once I earn my first degree. It will certainly open more doors or open those that are slightly opened even wider.
I have to keep reminding myself of that. I know this will be a worthwhile sacrifice. I guess subconsciously I bought into the instant-gratification-generation and I am returning that purchase back thank you very much.
Opportunity cost. (look at that! Economics is winning! I feel so clever! #ExpensiveEducation)
Till later.
xo
Stellah
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