Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New Year, New Location...

... and New Beginnings....

It's almost the end of 2014, and like many people I'm looking back on the past year and making plans for the coming one.

But with one major difference.... I'll be starting out 2015 by leaving the UK and moving back to Nigeria, after more than fourteen years away - if you don't count those short visits back.

It's a move that I was initially very reluctant to make, especially when I went to Nigeria in March, spent four months, and returned to the UK at the end of July. Nigeria had felt like a very strange and abnormal society and I was so glad to be back in relative "sanity" in London. Throughout the summer, I wrestled with the idea of moving back or remaining in the UK, and either way, I was faced with several pros and cons. I decided to do nothing and return to my default position and remain in the UK for the time being. I even started making my plans for the rest of 2014 and 2015 with the UK as my base. But....

Plans changed and now I'm going back! I rediscovered what it means to make a commitment and have to follow it through. That means I finally decided to stop procrastinating and started packing my bags. It still feels a bit weird and a bit scary to think that I'll be saying goodbye to the UK in a few days' time and returning to Nigeria. It almost feels like going back to my past, but finding that I've changed while the past has remained the same. I left Nigeria as a young, awkward, shy teenager just finished my A'Levels and about to start an Undergraduate course. That journey began sometime in September 2000. Many years later, I'm a very different person, with a different outlook in life.

I have to say, that my time in the UK has been a very productive one. I've been very blessed to have the experiences I've had, the husband and children I'm returning with, the education I have absorbed, the exposure to different cultures, meeting amazing people and making wonderful friends, the chance to rediscover my gifts and turn them into a career that I'm passionate about, the places I've been able to explore, and so much more. I'm very thankful to God for these blessings, and I'm reminded that He who brought me thus far to this chapter in my life, is more than able to take me through the next chapter and all that is coming next. I just have to trust Him and lean on Him completely.

So, while I'm making plans for 2015, I'm keeping at the back of my mind that I have to be prepared for a few surprises along the way! "Expect the unexpected" so to speak. Most people who have

relocated back to Nigeria have told me that the best thing is to be ready both mentally and emotionally. And to forget everything you know about living abroad so that you can adjust back to Nigerian settings faster.

I wish you all a very blessed year in 2015. I know there may be good days and not so good days, there will be happy days and frustrating days, as such is life. But I wish you lots of smiles, laughter, adventures, celebrations, success and good health to enjoy it all.

The next time I blog again, it will be from my new location.

Till then, remain blessed and favoured!


7 comments:

  1. Very inspiring post. It leaves one with a nostalgic yearning to revisit a past that housed fond memories of yonder years...
    Happy New Year in Advance, Tolu.

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  2. Anonymous9:52 am

    Wow, Tolulope.
    I'm sorry to see you go although I know it's not a decision you've taken lightly. I've only just met you and I know that great things are ahead for you and Accomplish Press. I wish you all the best in your future and hope we continue to keep in touch.
    Bless.

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  3. Those were wise words from the person who advised you to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. Any relocation requires such preparation to make the transition a new environment easy. I wish you all the best Tolu. You have been such an inspiration to me. If it hand't been for you I wouldn't have taken the first step on this journey that I am now on.

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  4. Good luck Tolulope, I look forward to reading about your relocation experience. Peace xoxox

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  5. Moving back, hope you find the right foot. visit my Nigerian News Summary Blog

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  6. There's always such an excitement surrounding new beginnings, that sense of anticipation really is addictive!

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  7. I can totally understand your viewpoint, there really is no place like home! Very best of luck with your relocation, hope it turned out well!

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