The best year of my life to-date was 2023! And it was the catalyst to the journey I’m on now.

It started with the birth of my second son, Olajuwon. He was born on January 5, a few days before his original due date but right on time in my opinion. My 38th birthday closely followed 11 days later and we kept the celebrations simple, which was fine by me. 

While on maternity leave, I relished in the quiet mornings and afternoons while he napped and my oldest son Tayo was away at preschool. There were certainly the newborn struggles like cluster feeding, cries, and getting little-to-no sleep at night but I felt more prepared since this was my second time around. What a blessing it was to be able to spend those early days with my little one and give him all the love, cuddles, and off-key lullabies he needed. My parents also visited from Texas for a few weeks, and it felt great to have many of the people I love most under one roof. My heart was full of gratitude! 

Fast forward to March, I received news that I would be getting a promotion at my job. I’d earned the title of Senior Director and would receive a substantial salary increase. I was ecstatic as I felt I had truly poured my heart into my work (while growing a baby), and my efforts were being recognized and appreciated! A promotion would mean more responsibility but I was up for the challenge. 

I returned from maternity leave and jumped back into work, ready to make up for “lost time” and reach the ambitious goals that had been set for my team. In my line of work, networking and relationship building are essential so I was on a plane at least once monthly. Aside from being away from my little ones, I enjoyed the work trips but I always loved returning home more. 

2023 was also extra special because it marked two milestone occasions for our family: my husband’s 40th birthday and our 5th wedding anniversary. We celebrated his birthday with a party, and a few days later we flew to Mexico to rest and commemorate five years of wedded bliss. We were only three months into the year, and we’d already done quite a lot! 

Another unforgettable experience that made 2023 the most amazing was our family trip to Europe. Across ten days, with a 6-month old and 3-year old in tow, we explored the beautiful cities of Paris and London. It was a trip like no other filled with museum visits, a high tea, a carousel ride in front of the Eiffel Tower, and so much more. 

When I look back on 2023, I consider it to be the most amazing year of my life because it truly encompassed peaks in every area of my life that I cherish: I gave birth. I rested. I earned a title and wage I truly deserved. I orchestrated the most memorable birthday parties for my guys, Tolu’s 40th and Tayo’s 4th, surrounded by dearest family and friends. And we made memories as a family traveling the world together from Tulum to Paris and London. 

What a wow! 2023 represented peak intrinsic happiness for me, but as the year started to end and I began looking ahead at 2024, I knew I wanted the next year to be different. I wanted to slow down but I wasn’t sure how. I was doing everything I loved so how could I cut anything out? I didn’t have the answers to “how” just yet, but I set a theme to guide me: 

In 2024, Less is More.