In 2023, my life was constantly changing; it was challenging because I love routine. But the most complex changes were moving back to my parents and switching countries. The former took a lot of getting used to, and I’m still in process of the latter. I know I have been talking about change more frequently; maybe the difference in the calendar has more influence on me than I realize.

We’ve been looking at the bright side of change, how it works, and how healthy it is for you, but we haven’t gotten personal. We have not discussed how you inevitably have to switch and carry on like yesterday wasn’t different. Your mind struggles to catch up with your body because you move from the familiar to the uncomfortable.

I will not insinuate that I am an expert on this, but my experience will give you some relatable insights. Before living alone, I never accepted that I was lazy, that my space could be comfortably rough, or that I could be occasionally toxic and incredibly stubborn. On a positive note, I am also sweet, easily contented, and straightforward.

I am saying I never accepted because I heard those things about me but didn’t believe them. Solitude showed me myself, and upon returning home, I realized how much I had taken my family for granted. They knew all this about me for years, accepted it, and still loved me regardless. The transition was hard because I had also become very familiar with my strengths and flaws, so I had no defense.

I had to switch from being defensive when something went wrong to how did you put up with me all this time? It was a good mindset change, but it wasn’t fun, and I always wanted to run away to deal with myself by myself again. When change happens, we all get the instinct to return to the comfortable.

Because adjustment takes time, you find yourself doing what used to work to cope with the jarring difference. But old ways don’t work in new processes; you need time, but not time spent merging the old with the new. It’s time spent learning about the new, which brings me to the change of location.

I agree that it’s an excellent opportunity to leave your home country. It takes bravery, resilience, and a lot of resources to pack your entire life into two 23kg boxes and start somewhere else. But I can promise you, nothing prepares you for the switch. Everything changes when you wheel your cart out of the airport.

Nothing you know works; imagine a Lagosian waiting for the pedestrian light before crossing the road and walking only on the zebra lines. And I said, walk; you don’t have to run anywhere. Switching from chaos to order without any notice can leave you jaded.

Some changes only need time, while others don’t afford you any. You can’t explicitly say they are bad or good based on their convenience. Usually, you have a choice: run back home or rise to the challenge.

If you notice patterns like I mentioned last week, you already know where and what you need to change. Now, you must determine how much time you have to effect that change. If you also plan not to “gree for anybody,” it starts with being intentional about change.

I hope your week isn’t as slippery as the thin ice here; we don’t want you falling. See you soon❤️

Song of the moment – Save this Soul – Ryan Innes & Seibold