49 - Another year of gratitude

Numbers and dates

I celebrate with thankfulness what I will call the year 6 A.C. for I have found that I look at the story of my life as B.C. and A.C.

My life Before Cancer (B.C.) is so radically different from my life After Cancer (A.C.), but it gives me a narrative that speaks grace and blessing, hope and excitement, opportunity, realisation and much more.

Yet, I find an interesting numbers game with the transition from 48 to 49, the many factors of 48 being 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24 and itself, are with the addition of 1 reduced to just 1, 7 and 49. 6 x 8 = 48, then add 1 to 6 and take 1 from 8, you end up with 7 x 7 = 49. I have not tried to determine if there are other number relationships like this.

Reflecting on the year

The year itself has been wonderful and successful with my being in my longest stretch of employment since I fully recovered almost 5 years ago, I have felt engaged, productive and meaningfully contributing to change in a business environment, it makes for a sense of happiness and well-being.

My health has been strong, I’ve had no reason to take time off for my health. Maybe colds or coughs, but nothing serious, I am blessed.

Thanks and thanks again

I look forward to my 50^th year with hope, aware of my vulnerability and conscious of each waking day being a blessing beyond compare, I am full of gratitude.

In closing, I must appreciate friends and relations who have supported me in many very significant ways, tangible and intangible, they have loved me beyond what I deserve and I am forever indebted to them. Ade & Bose Oyefeso; my family in so many ways, Kola Akinola; my friend of over 30 years, Sola Awodi; who I’ve known for over 28 years who has been a bountiful outstretched hand, Bisi Alimi who as brother-friend is a constant inspiration, Funmi Iyanda where do I begin? Peter Kenny, John Coll, and my social media world of people I’ve met and I am yet to meet on Twitter and Facebook, you have all sustained me. Thank you.

To God, as a relapsed religionist, I give the greatest thanks.

Here’s to my 49^th birthday, please raise a glass and drink to my health and I wish you all a merry Christmas and a very prosperous, rewarding and exciting 2015.