If there is one thing 2026 has taught me so far, it’s that life rarely goes according to our neat little schedules—and honestly, that might be where the magic actually happens. As we enter August, the eighth month of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the journey so far. Here are eight honest lessons and experiences that have shaped my year.

1. Unexpected Things Happen (When We Let God Lead)

Entering the new year, I experienced something completely unprecedented: for the first time in my life, I was sick and admitted to the hospital for two to three days.

Prior to that, God had been prompting my heart to take three days off just for a personal retreat with Him. But I didn’t listen. I was too busy showing up for family, friends, and everyone else. Laid up in that hospital bed, I realized I had to give God the time He demanded. Right in that quiet space, even while processing emotional hurt, I surrendered.

Once I was discharged, an unexpected work trip to Ghana came up as part of a presidential escort team. The energy was incredible. While there, I reconnected with my childhood friend whom I hadn’t seen in over 14 years—not since before university! We spent two to three days catching up, and I even earned income in foreign currency from the work trip. It was a beautiful reminder that when unexpected things happen, good can come out of it when we simply let God.

2. Old and Young, We Are All Just Souls

Through my work as a resident dance therapist for senior citizens at Upeundo Care – Evergreen wellness Hangout, I get to dance with elderly people every month.

Seeing the sheer joy on their faces and listening to them share their life stories opened my eyes: age isn’t just a number, it’s a measure of life’s experiences. Deep down, we aren’t different from them at all. They just want to have fun, be happy, and feel joy. Experiencing this gives me a renewed sense of purpose to truly live in the now, while I am young and able to move freely.

3. Your 9-to-5 Cannot Save You; Only God Can

Around March, I had a personal gig, but I ended up telling a lie at my job to get the time off. Although I got in and out another state on the same day and the gig went well, I felt completely disgusted with myself afterward.

I had to pray earnestly, admitting my fault to God and asking Him to align my schedule so my commitments would never clash again. It made me evaluate how easily we get pulled into a “speedy culture”—that constant rush to look busy without actually doing anything fruitful. I resolved right then to set my priorities straight.

4. Overcoming External Pressure and Protecting Your Light

I’ve realized that some people will naturally feel threatened by your confidence and the light you carry. Often, they try to stifle it through slander, unfair comparison, withholding support, or giving you menial tasks to put you down.

When you are an empathetic person who feels deeply, it can be hard to navigate the line between genuine nonchalance and outright rudeness. But when you truly understand who you are in God, whatever people say or do loses its power to affect you.

5. What is God’s Goal, and What is My Role?

Lately, my core prayer has been asking God: “What is Your overall goal, and what is my role in it?”

Understanding my part in His bigger picture changes everything. Even when it feels like I’m not moving forward by the world’s standards, I stay grounded. The world’s definition of success isn’t mine. To me, real success is crushing daily goals in service of God’s larger purpose.

6. Choosing Peace Over Noise

Through all the shifts this year, I’ve learned that peace isn’t something you stumble into—it’s something you actively choose. Real contentment comes from trusting God’s quiet guidance over the noisy demands of the world around us.

7. Health, Size Shifts, and Genuine Self-Care

My body weight has shifted over the years. I’ve mostly been a size 10, though I’ve moved to a size 12 when I let myself go a bit, and back down to a size 8 during a difficult recovery season in 2022.

Recently, I noticed I was indulging in a lot of junk food. I gained weight, and my skin lost its natural glow. It made me realize that taking care of myself has to be an internal priority. This realization actually inspired the rebirth of a legacy business my dad started called Finest—which my brother and I are building out around healthy, natural fruits and drinks. Real health is an inside job.

8. Procrastination is a Sin of the Mind (The August Challenge)

Finally, I’ve had to confront my procrastination. We always make time for the things we genuinely want to do. I realized I was postponing certain projects because I feared the outcome or worried about failing, waiting for “perfection” before taking action. Then I came across a quote that hit home: Fear often manifests as procrastination.

So, for the 31 days of August, I am writing down the list of ideas and unfinished projects I’ve been holding back on, and I’m going to cross them off one day at a time, God helping me.

How about you? What are you choosing to do differently this August?