September 2021 — 16 Conclusions

1. September didn’t exactly turn out how I thought it would. It was mostly a mixed bag — Good and bad decisions, Good moments and difficult ones, Moments of discipline and indiscipline, and overall, just living, I guess, but not at the levels of consciousness and achievement that I know are possible.
2. The month started with me staying at the hospital with my dad during his chemo session. I’ve prayed a lot for his healing and I genuinely believe that this is the last time my dad would have to take Chemo. His healing is complete in Jesus name. In other medical related things, I took the first shot of the Moderna vaccine during the month. Asides a heavy pain in my shoulder in the following days, there didn’t appear to be any immediate side effects. Though I’m still highly skeptical about the effectiveness of the vaccines (and the UK’s decision to treat people who are vaccinated in Nigeria as unvaccinated despite donating the vaccines to Nigeria is enough reason to feel this way), hearing my partner’s experience with COVID nudged me to get vaccinated. That and a strong belief that whatever happens, I’ll be fine. Whatever the future long term effects are, I’ll still be fine.
3. I planned to kick off my studies this month and I did just that. The intensity wasn’t as great as expected, but I was mostly just looking for the discipline and consistency. I was able to finish and solve 110 practice questions on the first module and I’ve started the second module as well. Picking up the pace will be essential to being ready in February
4. The exchange rate issues in Nigeria are coming to a head. The last exam I paid for was at an exchange rate of ~N400/USD. Now I’m paying at around N560/USD. That’s a 40% jump in about 15 months. It’s absolutely ridiculous when you compare the increase with the inflation rates abroad. (10 year bonds selling around 3 — 4% meaning inflation expectations around those time tenors are around those rates.)
5. Speaking of exams and getting ready for them, I found a new location near my house to help with studying. It’s much closer than 989 and there are payment plans for weekend use and all. It just makes much better sense to migrate. I’m also able to study at home in the evenings so yeah, bye bye to 989. Loool. It’s the end of a small era. I feel like I got over the utility of the location after some time and I wasn’t getting the best energy out of the endeavor (of heading there) anymore. The place also weirdly reminds me of my last couple of weeks and months at my previous employer as I practically turned it to my daily workspace.
6. Work this month was okay. I wouldn’t say that I put in my best effort but I was still able to contribute significantly to some important reports for the Board during the month. I also ran the Strategy Learning sessions for the Investment team during the month. The sessions should end in the 3rd week of October. While the project is not part of my core work, I think it’ll be a good addition to my achievements since joining. I hope I can keep the momentum I started with while also imparting the things I’m learning.
7. I was in Ibadan for a few days during the month. The drive to Ibadan was a really tough one. I was out of the house by 5:30 am on a Monday morning & was in Ibadan by 8 am. It rained throughout the drive though, much like when I went in June. The rain this time was immense and visibility at some point was non-existent. Thankfully, the drive back was a much better experience. It drizzled as we headed out but it didn’t rain. I got the chance to rev my engines and have my car eat up some asphalt.
8. Working from the office in Ibadan also wasn’t so bad. It was a bit weird, and had me feeling off a lot of the time, but it wasn’t so bad. My boss also happened to be staying at my hotel and it was interesting hearing some of his ideas in the hotel’s lounge area after work.
9. Following up on some of the ideas I shared with my ED, I paid a visit to the MD of one of the investee companies of my prior employers. It was an interesting experience as he shared a lot of insight about a project I look forward to working on for my new employers. More than that though, he shared some of the problems they’ve been going through since I left the firm. While it felt good to know that my value was being missed, I felt really worried for my former team. They’re probably really struggling. Sorry to them o. The meeting ended with a tour of their new company. The tour gave me a chance to see some of my former colleagues. It was good vibes.
   In similar fashion, I had lunch with my former line manager. He’s also resigned and will be leaving the firm later in October. Interestingly, he’s joining a firm a turned down an offer from.
10. I was a groomsman for what I think will be the last time this year. The wedding was a whole day’s affair and happened to be the first time I would take alcohol since the start of August. Within the next 7 days, I would go on to take more alcohol, soda, energy drinks and coffee, all drinks I’d managed to avoid in the prior 3 or so months.
11. Spiritually, I wouldn’t rate the month very highly. There were times when I felt I wasn’t hearing from God anymore (My enthusiasm for most other things also dwindled — more on this later). I don’t think I was as consistent as I’ve been in the past couple of months with listening to messages/sermons, praying and just staying sensitive to hearing God speak. I’m however sure that many prayers were answered and I heard him speak on occasion.
12. One of the things I’m also now more conscious of is the need to maybe pace myself with the changes I’m making in my life. Some of them have been quite drastic for me while they might have had to be that way, some other changes may require me to be more patient with myself and with people around me.
13. I completed just two 30-min work out sessions in September after having a cracking August. I intended to take a 1 or 2 week rest but it appeared the indecision lingered as I kept postponing my return to running. The fact that I’d returned to smoking occasionally and eating brownies meant my wake up time was invariably postponed beyond the regular take off time for my runs.
14. In continuing to live with the mindset that I have everything I need, I didn’t suffer financially in September. I was able to acquire the things I desired and was able to help a few people who needed financial assistance as well. I’m still trusting and believing God to hit my savings target for the end of the year. There also moves I believe he wants me to make that’ll need some funding. I’m sure the provision will come when I start making moves in faith.
15. I spent a lot of time in September thinking about my friendship relationships. How to make them better, where they fit into into my journey, how to make them more wholesome, etc. What is clearer to me now than before is that relationships are essential, we can’t do without them. We were not designed to do life in isolation. In recent weeks and months, I have felt the need to withdraw from community (family and friends) on some level and just be on my own a bit more. I also know now that I’m not with that brigade of “it’s the energy that I give that I must get” as I understand that It’s the energy I put out that’s important. It’s for me to lead with my intentions in love, real actual love, as God love — the love written about in 1st Corinthians.
    On a very positive note, two people in my circle left for school to get their MBAs this month. I wish them the absolute best & can’t wait to get my own MBA done in a couple of years.
16. I watched Sex Education and continued watching The Office in September. I didn’t really do a lot of new music (I think Donda & Tiwa Savage’s projects were the main ones) and listened to one or two episodes of the Knowledge Project. I also made a rule to restrict FIFA hours to 21 hours per week (or maximum of 4 days in a week). Nothing really exciting on the media front for me.
    I strongly feel October has to be better. I think September was sort of a break and October is to get back to work. I’m also expecting lots of small and big miracles in October.