P. Boye Motivations

2020 is in a day! Isn’t this exciting!?

I’ve been thinking deeply, however. I wonder and ask myself, “am I ready, i mean, equipped rightly for it?”. I’m truly anxious as to what it holds for you and I.

Well, before we welcome the new year, why don’t we have a look back at the year 2019…

In this post, I will be sharing my highlights for this year.

As I began this year, I placed my focus on a lot of things. One thing that stood out for me, of which i believe really helped me is, “Character”. My attitude towards self, towards others, and towards the things I did.

My character had to match my integrity. It was my integrity.
My character matched what I stood for.

My character defined my name.
My character was my discipline.

In all, I’m saying, your character is your identity. I was deliberate to live in a way in which i would look back and be grateful.

Guys! It wasn’t easy, i was tried, sometimes i wanted to do what i felt like doing. However, it would be going against something, something so key , people read you through it, “character “.

As a woman, i realized the great vitality I’ve within me, and I realized the strength I’ve can either be multiplied with good character or weakened with bad habits. Not to say that this post isn’t for the men, i just personalized it, so please, keep reading.

This year i achieved so much but more than anything, I learned more.

The first thing i learned to study that helped build my character is Respect: Respect for my time and others, respect for people. Let me just say before I move on, this wasn’t easy, in fact, at times, when you don’t feel you’ve disrespected someone, the person may think you’ve.

I had to study the art of giving honour to people be it i thought they deserved it or not. Now, not many people will agree with me, but in this, I found great testimonies. You never know who you are with, and who they will develop to be. Now, it was really never about others, it was really more about me. I desired to respect people, because i wouldn’t want anyone disrespecting me.

So the first thing i looked out for, was myself. I first decided to respect myself; this includes how i talk, walk, dress, what and how i eat and so much more.

It was only reasonable for me to give that out if i wanted it. How can i give out what i don’t have though ?

To me, everyone deserved to be respected, right from the little ones, to my age mates, and to my elders. No matter the time of the day, I would make efforts to greet you in a way befitting of a human . At times I even referred to my friends as sir / Ma , maybe a little much, as they wondered at times, but It adds up to how I see them.

I respect people’s privacy; the mere fact you are very close to someone doesn’t mean you ought to feed into their personal Iives if they don’t let you in.
This year i had the best fun I could, but one thing I focused on was to respect myself and those around me.

• Another thing i believe builds character and helped me is, being someone who,” says and does”.
  I focused on being a woman of my words and not be two-sided. Now this was even harder, as you know, it can get very easy to be in a state of inertia and Just not feel like doing something anymore or how things could pop up and distract you from doing what you ought to. So for this year, i was very deliberate to ensure my words matched my actions. If i couldn’t keep up to it, it had to be very urgent and i would apologize. This attribute helped me in ways you would know if you are already practicing it or would start soon .

• Love and forgive: this year, I came across all manners of people, I met people that tried to get me on my last nerves( they tried, but did they succeed? Hehe, that’s a story for another day), I met people I loved but hurt me and so on. It was a process. But every time I got hurt by someone, I made a conscious decision to love, forgive and grow. I made mistakes and i was forgiven. I decided therefore, that because my character defines me one way or the other, the only me I’ve to offer is a Sharon of love and forgiveness. This is not to say you just keep quiet when people offend you, no, but there are ways to handle things, I decided to focus on building that side of me. Trust me, it wasn’t easy though .
• This year, actually the past 4 months almost highlighted my entire year, I met someone that changed my thought process for the better. In a very short period, that person made me see things differently. I learned to have the character of honesty and openness, from one person. Lol, you see how your life can impact another ?
  At times, one would think the best thing is to cover up pain and not open up so as to be seen as strong. But my friend taught me one of the greatest strength one may have, is the strength of being vulnerable or saying sorry. The strength in saying the truth when it wasn’t convenient. It wasn’t easy achieving this . At times, i fell my hand( typical Nigerian slang for i failed) , but God continuously helped me rise again.
• This brings me to my next point, in 2019, I learned that my character is determined one way or the other by who I spend my time with and what I spend my time doing with them. Guy’s! I can’t tell you how much my circle has helped me grow.
• This year, I achieved so much. I was given many recognitions including a citation of Honor, I’m currently heading few associations, I interned in one of the top Organizations in the world, I represented my school in a major competition, I met people that helped build me, build my character and how I saw things and this was majorly as a result of who i surrounded myself with. They helped tell a story of my character and life.

My final lesson I would say I learned that helped build my character, is to be ready for every opportunity that comes my way. In simple terms, “discipline”.
I have always loved public speaking. I remember growing up, I would act as though I was speaking in front of a crowd and today, that’s a reality. I learned in that , to not just sit and expect my dreams to come true, but to work at it continuously, so that when the opportunity comes my way, I’m able to deliver and well.

This year taught me that character matters, how I carry myself matters, my thoughts do matter and my actions matter.
Thank you 2019! You have been amazing.
Thank you 2020! You will be greater.

I will like to use this opportunity to say I’m grateful to all who supported my dreams thus far. Doing what I love is everything. ( lol, not to be dramatic but, I just took in a deep breath) And I just want to let you know, don’t you dare give up! Keep going! Not everyone will support you! Not everyone would love you! People may laugh at you and mock you, sometimes you may feel lonely; like no one’s there, just keep going, keep striving and i tell you, you will make it! And also, build character .

I pray for you, “God will open new doors for you and as you enter into the new year,you are stepping into grace and excellence!”. Get ready, it’s about to be big! It may not be easy, but just keep going and remember, Jesus is your friend.

From yours truly,

Sharon Paulina Boye
30th December, 2019