Gratitude for 2020 and Bracing up for 2021.

**It is not easy to be grateful even in tough situations yet it is the best thing to do.** *Photo Courtesy of 4Seeds.*

If you are reading this, let me remind you that you are lucky because this is 2021. You have finally made it to 2021. It is not just normal to be here when all chances were that for every about 600 people, one of them could die of Covid-19 any second last year.

The beauty is that you didn’t become that one person. So, it is a moment to be grateful. 2020 was a different year to all of us. One thing was true for all irrespective of whether one had wealth or not, good health or not, learned or not that their chances of dying were just sure than ever before.

Interestingly enough, you didn’t die and here you are in 2021. Forget about dying for a moment and remember about the chances that someone close to you could have died or did actually die. That is enough to help you realize that things like life are not to be taken for granted.

At the beginning of 2020, I was in high spirits knowing that it was going to be a really good and great year for me, my family, friends and all people. But then a few months into it, the fear to sleep hungry was so sure than before. But then we managed to have food on our tables and we are healthy for the surprises of 2021 like never before.

At the same time, there were young people who looked forward to making it happen with their academic lives. Some were excited to complete their studies by the end of the year. But as the sad reality is, they are yet to achieve that. But get the consolation that where there is life, there is hope.

Nevertheless, like the apostle Paul writes to the Philippians, we managed to do it this far through Christ who strengthens us. And like the same apostle whom I keep learning his history every often, we say that we fear not even now when our time may be too short to be good ambassadors of whatever good moral prowess we subscribe to and faith as well.

On my part, I am grateful for all that happened in 2020. Anyway, suppose I lived with the resentment and pain of a ‘bad’ year 2020 it was, what good would it do to me other than live with the bitterness which can even accelerate my travel to the hereafter; a deep slumber in death.

I choose to be grateful so that my soul can be at peace and so that on the flip-side, the hopeful feeling I get can augur in me well enough to help me look forward to 2021 as well as help me with the going. As a matter of fact, it is all about choices as you can realize.

I believe we all have something to be grateful for in regards to last year. And before we begin the race to the unknown destination of 2021, I strongly feel that we must first do an audit of 2020 especially for the good things that happened to us. They don’t have to be big, just those small milestones that we made, and with that in mind we will approach this new year energized and optimistic.

Among the things I have vowed to keep in mind for 2021, one of them has to do with my body mass or what is commonly called weight. In the last year, I was reminded severally that I have a kind of small body. Towards the end of the year when I checked my BMI and realized I am very normal and healthy, I then resolved to keep that in mind always.

So, in 2021, I will not be the guy who needs to grow big or anything to do with that, rather I will be the guy with a normal BMI and a healthy life. I will thus monitor my lifestyle habits closely to ensure I remain healthy for any eventuality.

In fact, of all things, first ensure you are healthy. At least with that, you will know that you can face the future even if things turn out to be messy or tough. A healthy body is a must have for the guy who wants to succeed in anything. Please, be healthy, eat healthy, live healthy in 2021.

Someone could be wondering of the height. Oh! That is not a problem at all. I am 5’2 and that is enough. In this world there is nothing like short or tall. We are either a 7’5 or a 3’1. In other words, how we look at things determines a lot how we perceive everything else.

That is to be said of visions as well. You either look at your vision as short or 5’2. In simple words, get the facts and be specific as possible. Stop generalizing things. For example you want to start a business, saying I will start a business soon or even by end year is not enough.

Narrow down to the specifics. Say for example, by march I will need to have registered. By June I will have done all due diligence pertaining to the business and gotten all insights into this type of business and by august I could have launched. It is easier to hold yourself accountable to such precises goals as opposed to some general goals.

Finally, Will I marry in 2021? Do you think it matters that I do so? I divulged into this point because it is a question that has made people not to mind their own business. Marriage is good. It is unique to each and every one of us with our ‘other best.’

It is not bad to ask this question in 2021, but ask yourself if it is necessary or does it matter to ask it. The answer to that question will then determine if you go ahead and ask it or not. Simply to say, in 2021 try to mind your own business as much as you can.

But I cannot miss to say that he who finds a good wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from God. I wouldn’t mind to get this good thing and obtain this favor any time any day good people. Whatever time that will be, I will be there. It can be this month or the next month or eight months from now. It can be this year or even the next one, but remember always it is about me.

Bye 2020 and welcome 2021. But please 2021, be a bit kinder and point us to where we can anchor safely.

End.