A letter from July 12th, 2020

Dear Future Me, this is your younger self. If you're reading this, it means you're alive. I want you to relive your thoughts as of the 12th of July, 2020. How time flies! Just last year, I was celebrating my 28th birthday. Well, I guess there aren't many things to celebrate about it except the fact that I found a new hobby of reading books. Here we are again...another 365 days has breezed past and now I'm 29! I'm glad to be alive! And like my practice, this is always a time for self-reflection and evaluation. So what are the spectacular things I'm proud I've done since my last birthday? Book reading proved to be a game-changer as I learned the basics of how money works. All my life, I never really cared to know how to make money increase - through the wise channels of course. I only know about gambling for fast returns, and when I lose the little I have, I pray for a miracle. The cycle goes on and on... The Richest Man In Babylon was a good read that gave me the rudiments of savings and investment. In addition to that, the Treasury Bill thread on Nairaland is a haven of information from the experienced folks who also share their life stories' at times. My attitude to how I spend and invest money is greatly influenced by this. I did read a couple of other books whose lessons at times, I make use of subconsciously. I ventured into domaining which I'd say is the first honest business I ever did without constantly looking over my shoulders. Things didn't look pretty as sales didn't come for the first 6 months. I eventually had a sale of $250 that rekindled my interest. If there's one thing I learned from it, it is that things may not work according to plan especially when we want it to. But with PERSISTENCE and HARDWORK, the reward will come, eventually. I recently ventured into crypto trading with my savings (less than 400k). I hope it turns out to be a testimony. For the first time in my life (maybe the second), I rented a room of my own and furnished it with the basic things. There's nothing quite like independence for humans and money gives that independence. Never stop making money. No matter how small. I've been involved in editing fitness certs for dudes who need it and I still am. I've made some money from it that has kept me going but I'm not really proud of it. I guess a man has to do what he's got to do to survive. But then, we all live by our choices. I sincerely hope mine doesn't land me in trouble. I've been involved in NYSC posting as well. I really don't feel any guilt here even though it's not official. About mindset, I think I've grown more matured in thinking and reasoning. I also believe I'm developing on how I talk about people, most especially when they're not there. I'm far from being perfect, I know it. But I know I have a good heart. I'm still battling with masturbation. Geez! And **** weighs me down and makes me feel guilty. I hate to say I'm letting this habit win. What kind of man am I if don't have self-discipline? Going forward, I plan on making more money and investing it WISELY. My plan is to make up to 800k and lobby for an FG job with it. That would be my consistent stream of income while I intensify efforts on my side hustles. I can only plan and act on it. I hope it materializes. It won't be a bad idea to settle down within the next 3 years. I'm afraid whenever I think I could get married to a lady that would be a source of pain for me. I want someone who can push me towards my goals, not someone who makes it hard for me to concentrate on them. Having said everything, happiness is the ultimate goal. I really hope I'm happy in life, wherever and whenever. There you have it. I would be glad to know that you smiled while reading this letter because that'd be a sign that you've gotten better as an individual. It's a privilege that you're alive reading this. Please make it count... Make lives better! Happy birthday Dayo! From Dayo, July 12, 2020