Olabayo J. Awodirepo
(Witty_Pen)
Day 1/365
Reflection (part 1)
As the final quarter of 2024 approached, I felt a subtle but undeniable shift within me. It was as if I had just enrolled for the role of “The Most Unmotivated Person of the Year,” and I guess I nailed it (lol).
The things that once made me jump out of bed with excitement (or at least a groggy sense of purpose) suddenly felt like chores. The creative outlets I once cherished suddenly felt like daunting tasks rather than fulfilling pursuits. It was as if the very energy that kept me driven and connected was slipping through my fingers, leaving behind an unfamiliar emptiness.
What about replying to WhatsApp chats? I would rather choose to climb Mount Everest. Messages would pile up, and notifications would be on my screen like a quack graphics design. And don’t even get me started on my French Language Clinic videos; my camera was starting to collect dust, and my inner perfectionist had gone AWOL.
Friends reached out, but my energy for “Hey, how are you doing?” evaporated somewhere between “Hey” and “are.” Notifications popped up like they were on steroids, yet I stared at them like they were riddles I couldn’t solve. Even celebrations (birthdays, wins, milestones) felt like events happening to someone else, not me.
But here’s the kicker: it wasn’t just burnout; it was stealth burnout. The kind that creeps in and convinces you that lying low is the way to go. At the time, I didn’t realize I was pressing pause to avoid the inevitable crash. It felt like quitting, but now I see it was recalibration; it was a kind of long, awkward pause to remember what really matters.
Fast-forward to today, January 1, 2025, a new year and a fresh start. And guess what? I’ve decided to flip the script. Instead of ghosting my passions, I’m inviting them back into my life like old friends who don’t hold grudges. And what better way to kick things off than with a 365-day writing challenge?
Let’s be honest: committing to 365 days of anything feels like an Olympic event, but this isn’t about perfection. It’s about reinvention. Writing daily is my way of saying, “Hey, life, I’m back in the game!” It’s like therapy, but cheaper. Plus, I’m pretty sure my neglected creativity has been sulking in a corner, waiting for this moment to shine.
So, here’s to 2025, a year where I reply to texts (most of the time), share wins unapologetically, write like my pen’s on fire, and maybe even dust off that camera for a French video or two (winks). It’s going to be wonderful, challenging, hilarious, and everything in between.
Cheers to new beginnings and to not ghosting the things we love anymore!
Have you ever been in this kind of situation? You may want to share in the comment section.
Looking forward to it!!!