VICTOR SIYANBOLA.

January 1st of every Year is a day of feasting for several families around the globe. For those who are blessed financially, it is a day to put delicious delicacies at their dining table and eat with their families. For those who are striving to be financially stable, it is a season of greed to go to someone else’s house to eat or otherwise devise profane means to put food on their table. Without a dollop of doubt, there is no gainsaying the fact that they have forgotten the real essence of a NEW YEAR.

Ideally, the first day of every year is not only about feeding one’s stomach to the fullest as though one has been hungry for the past 365 or 366 days of the previous year, whatever the case might be. However, it is a means of reflection and meditation on both the past and future. It serves as a medium to strike a balance between past feats, fulfilled promises, frustrations, failures, unpredicted challenges etc., and setting a canvas on which our goals for the new year can be built.

And yeah, it is the year 2024 by the grace of God. The journey this year started with a hilarious apophthegm of “No gree for anybody.” It is a season to be outstanding; a season to be focused and not be discouraged by anyone’s utterance; a season not to give in to love as it is a distraction (let he that hath an ear listen to what the sage saith to the wise); a season to be unstopped, unmoved, determined and disciplined. Going back and forth, you hear people make statements like, “This year, I will not relent”, “I dumped that last year, I’m refined now”, “I have a lot to achieve this year” and lots more. Well, be reminded that you possibly said these same words last year and you are saying them again this year. The popular quote: “behind every great success story is a great motivation to succeed” , comes to mind. That thing you want to achieve or acquire so badly is invincible if you do not make sacrifices. You did not make them happen last year; though you tried, your efforts were not enough. No achievement can be attained on a platter of gold. Spice your efforts up with the ingredients you didn’t use last year. Read books of great people, leaders and successful individuals in diverse fields that can galvanise the gravitas inherent in you. No gree for anybody at all oo. Last year, you walked from your hall to another hall every day just to gist about silly things. Kai, that’s risky my dear. Kindly change your mindset this year. You really cannot afford to be a failure. Mark you, we are inheriting Adam’s mistakes at the moment. If you do the same, generations unborn wey never enter Heaven’s register go reap from wetin una dey sow now. The Yoruba will say “Ẹ̀yin ayé kàn, ẹ ṣe rere”. It is a new year; it is a new beginning.

In furtherance of this, the new year is just like a vehicle taken to a mechanic because it was already due for service. The smoke which it was emitting before evaporates, the engine becomes new, the ignition becomes cool. Well, it all boils down to your decision to take it to a mechanic’s workshop. In essence, one’s actions and commitments are the bedrock of bringing one’s resolutions and goals to pass.

A new year is like unto a new birth. A birth is welcomed by felicitations. However, raising that baby up might be a problem when some challenges arise. You may have to work so hard to provide the needs of the baby. Similarly, the energy infused in one’s resolutions set for a new year has a long way to go. You may want to give up, well, that is so easy. But you just can’t, you shouldn’t. Or else, you will keep going round a circle without any iota of progress.

In conclusion, no house with a faulty foundation can stand. No way, unless we wake up tomorrow and China comes up with one of their magics again. In the light of this, in whatsoever you do, no matter how little, ensure that you put God first. He is the Alpha and Omega. Ipso facto, He knows all things and He is capable of guiding you and putting you through. On this note, I wish you a prosperous 2024 and wish that your goals are achieved and accomplished. You are a jewel and you are precious!