*tiptoes out from under rock*

 

*taps mic* [“Testing, 1, 2… 1, 2]

 

(Is it too late to wish Happy Year yet? No??)

 

HAPPY NEW YEARRRRRR!!! So glad we made it to ’22. 😊

 

I know, I know, the year is almost half-gone, and here I am just wishing y’all Happy New Year. But na when pesin wake, na im be im daybreak, yes??

 

Hope we’ve all gotten a good start to the year, despite the confusion sowed by Omicron et al?

 

(Arrrrgggghhh!)

 

My joy knows no bounds that gyms are reopening next week. My WFH under-belly pouch is cute and all, but it’s time to send it all packing.

 

…

 

Anyway, remember in my last post, when I mentioned that I had been recognized by Canadian Lawyer as one of 25 Top Influential Lawyers for Canada in 2021??

 

*happy dance*

 

When I took the (at the time) 'crazy' step to move back to Canada in 2017 and start again from zilch, I had absolutely NO idea that in four years, I'd not only be settled in, but be gifted with some ‘influence’ in the legal community.

 

There was a part of me almost buried by imposter syndrome, which wondered "why the heck am I on that list? Who Am I??". It's that part that feels I have not even gotten started yet, and I am yet to hit a lot of my goals.

 

But then, I remember that in the midst of my journey, the one thing I have always owned (and will always own) remains my voice. Be it through this blog, through my volunteer work in community, or in my personal interactions, I vowed to always use my voice for the greater good, and help others as much as I can.

 

In my short time (back) here, I've been blessed to come across amazing mentors, helpers and cheerleaders, who have blessed me not just with words of advice, but actual actions to enable me progress. The most of them have encouraged at every point that I pay it forward.

 

And that is what I strived to do. With every acceptance of requests for mentorship, every call placed, every article written, the goal remained to pay it forward. To Give Back.

 

In building my community online and offline, somewhere along the line... we attained legal ‘influencer’ status of sorts.

 

(In Nigerian lingo, "We have arrived. Time to raise shoulder!")

 

Jokes asides, while awards and recognition are momentary ‘feel good’ boosters, we do not need any award to remind us all of what we all know:

 

Social media may make ‘influencer’ seem like a pretty recent invention, requiring all the followers and likes in the world before one can be considered an ‘influencer’.

 

This is not true.

 

Remember “Chidi my help and the Danger of a single narrative”? Yes, Chidi was IS a massive influencer. With zero online following, but a huge at-home community who looked up to him.

 

Truth is that we ALL wield some certain level of influence over another, or over others.

 

Whether with one million followers, or no online presence at all. Whether as a lawyer, a painter, or as a health worker.

 

In our real life and daily dealings, there will be at least one person who listens to us for advice, guidance or direction on certain courses of action, capable of affecting another, or others.

 

THAT is our sphere of influence. That is how the chain of influence works. That is the chance to serve the greater good, and point them in the right path.

 

So in 2022, even as you go about your daily business, I urge you to see every opening to use your voice as an opportunity to influence others for the greater good. You do not need a shiny award or ginormous online followers to affirm what you already know:

 

You ARE an Influencer!

 

We all Are.

 

Paz,

 

Meg.

Photo-Credit: Design Cologist via www.unsplash.com