The last time I was here, I was wrapping up my final report to you on the Getlit Africa Art in Words competition. And like every stage and phase of life, all good things must come to an end at some point. It’s not a goodbye—it’s a rite of passage, one that makes room for better things, greater feats.
And that’s exactly how I feel about this blog post.
Now that that phase is behind us, along with the year 2025, it is time (in Rafiki’s voice) to welcome a new dispensation, along with a new year.
This is the first month of the year, and ordinarily, this is where the conversation about new beginnings and new year resolutions comes in. But if we’re being honest, it’s always the same story. What if, instead, we talked about something a little bolder? Something more definitive—like starting over?
Starting over is often treated like a scary, life-altering event. Something dramatic. Something heavy. But it doesn’t always have to be that way—especially when it’s done with clarity.
Every single day, people wake up and decide—sometimes quietly—to change something about themselves. A habit. A mindset. A relationship. A career move. And when they follow through, even in small ways, that’s already a form of starting over. It doesn’t need to manifest completely, but significantly. Most times, these decisions come from outgrowing a phase and wanting more. Something better; something exciting or challenging. Something that feels more aligned. A little upgrade.
Change is constant. Change is inevitable. And as uncomfortable as it can be, it is necessary.
What’s interesting is how obvious the results become over time. One day, you look back and smile because you took that step. And if it didn’t work out? At least you tried. You sit with the regret briefly, learn the lesson, and move on. Watching people evolve in this way—watching them choose growth—is one of the most beautiful things.
From the outside, it’s easy to forget the struggle it took to get there. The throwbacks. The doubts. The moments when the decision didn’t make sense to anyone else, but once the results start showing, all of that fades. People praise the outcome. They admire the new version. That’s just how life works. You become someone they used to you know, because you have…evolved.
But you never forget because you know what it took. The grit. The pain. The uncertainty. But the success—however it presents itself—will always be yours.
So many changes feel impossible at first, until you realise how achievable they actually are with the right mindset and resources. From getting your dream body, to switching career paths, to moving cities, to ending relationships that no longer serve you—the list goes on.
If small changes can be this fulfilling, imagine what starting over could do when you’re truly unhappy.
There’s a lot more control we have in our lives than we like to admit. You’re the main character, whether you realise it or not, and you get to decide how the story goes. Someone once said that we live every day, but we die once—and that makes more sense as opposed the idea that we only live once.
Yes, it’s easier said than done. But the fact that it can be done means it’s worth trying. Start small if you need to—but start. It might not make sense immediately, but one day it will. What would be far more unfortunate is staying stuck, year after year, feeling trapped while time keeps moving anyway. The days will pass regardless. You can either meet yourself in the same place next year—or somewhere new.
Rebranding shouldn’t be reserved for businesses and products alone. As human beings, we’re capable of evolving too—of becoming more authentic, more fulfilled versions of ourselves.
We create vision boards for events, projects, even outfits. It’s easy to forget that we can also create them for the phases of our lives.
As a first step, try this: close your eyes and imagine a happier version of yourself. Let that image sit with you for a while.
That’s a start.
I hope things become a bit more clearer for you from there.
Do let me know if you carried out this exercise!
XOXO,
Fefe.