For starters, if you’re reading this post, please give yourself a loooooooong drawn out huggggg for me.

Yep. Do it.

 

[I mean it. DO it now!)

 

We’ve survived our second year in a row in a global pandemic. With all the mental stress, the health anxiety, the uncertainty, the zoom fatigue, and the sheer arrrrrggggghhhh of it all.

 

In case you think you have not achieved anything this year, just stop.

 

Look at you! You’re breathing… right??

 

You’ve done great. So first of all, hats of to you.

 

(And me)

 

While we’re still in a global pandemic, and while 2021 had its shares of hair-raising moments, it (thankfully) paled in comparison to 2020, with regards earth shattering events.

 

I mean, we were literally shocked at the start of the year with the near coup in the self-proclaimed freedom capital of the world.

 

Thankfully, that did not happen, and for the first time in a LONG time, the world has been spared the collective anxiety we all suffered seeing spurious and numerous tweets from the POTUS handle.

 

As if to deliberately overcompensate for all the drama of the prior four years, the present POTUS’ twitter handle and activity qualifies for a snooze-fest award.

 

(Who knew that ‘boring’ could EVERRRR be refreshing?)

 

In the meantime, we got our ‘vaxes’ against the virus. Contrary to what we thought that it was the magic potion to end this, somehow, the very intelligent virus has kept mutating and slipping through the potency of the vaccines.

 

Some blame has been heaped on anti-vaxxers. Others have blamed the inefficacy of the vaccines for the prolonged existence of the virus, raising further anti-vax sentiments as to whether the vaccines should be taken at all.

 

I share the global frustration at the persistence of the virus, and shudder at the thought of another total lockdown. I also understand hesitation at the vaccines, considering that they were developed in so short a time.

 

However, I have taken my chances and gotten my shots, while ready to get a booster. I mean, na pesin wey dey alive go fit see effects of the vaccines, if any, abi?

 

***

 

In 2021, we lost some good ones along the way..

 

Cicely was a beacon of hope for black women, refusing to be shackled to stereotypes and rising above labels to own her own path as a creative.

 

With DMX’s death, it felt like a part of my childhood (or teenage years) died. That brief period where we were ignited with dreams of being the next rapster, borne from replaying his raspy voice over and over in our rechargeable lamps in boarding high school (till the tapes coiled). Subsequently performing some of the hits at creative nights, while rocking our bandanas and borrowed “timbaland” boots.

And Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he was proof that you do not need to have passed to be a legend. Renowned for his voice in the struggle against apartheid in then South Africa - including being the first foreign dignitary in 34 years to address the then Ontario legislature on the evils of apartheid. I remember reading about his good works in social studies class as a kid; his impact in Africa (and the world) will remain invaluable.

 

In the motherland Nigeria, we also marked the one-year memorial of our heroes lost in the peaceful #EndSars protests, by the murder of innocent citizens by the Nigerian army at the Lekki tollgate.

 

May all the souls lost rest in peace, and loved ones left behind comforted.

 

***

 

2021 deepened the housing crisis that rocked economies across the world with the onset of the pandemic. Canada was not left out, and buying a home – especially as a prospective first-time home-buyer – in 2021 almost became an extreme sport.

 

[Like a real estate-esque squid-game of sorts]

 

In 2021 parents, grandparents and families rode in as ‘white knights’ to aid their millennial and gen z relatives achieve their dream of home ownership. It is the hope, that with the rollout of more government policies and improved global logistic channels, the new year will usher some respite with regards to home ownership.

 

In the meantime, people began taking joyrides to Space this same year. Yep… space tourism became a thing in 2021.

 

Granted, it’s just a handful of civilians who took these casual ‘tours’ to space. At this time, it costs about $55m per person for these trips.

 

(Tell the truth… you want to chill with the big boys in space, ba??)

 

The rest of us will wait till we can get seats through coupons (which really may not be this lifetime)

Finally, the global discussions surrounding diversity, equality and anti-black racism which ignited in 2020 continued well into 2021, with organisations and even governments going the extra-mile to promote equality for everyone.

 

Which is why it came as a rude shock (of sorts) when only African countries were swiftly put on ban lists for travels, by predominantly western countries, due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of the COVID virus in Africa. This was despite the fact that this variant was already shown to be present in and transmitted within other Western countries.

 

Thankfully, the skewed bans have been lifted, and the world appears to be back to holding (virtual) hands and singing kumbaya.

 

….

 

On the personal side of things, 2021 has been a very interesting year.

 

The one thing that has stood out through the past 12 months is the undeniable strength that family is. I am blessed to have a family filled with humans that I also genuinely consider my friends, and friends who have turned family.

 

Family was there to laugh, cry and vent with me, and carried me at the times I could barely walk.

 

And in 2021, I started a new gig. I was excited and petrified at the same time.

 

It still feels like just yesterday I was the newest rookie on the block. Now, I’ve earned some war stripes already. 😁 Who knew the time would ever come where I would work with people for a whole year, and never meet one person face-to-face. 

From the start of the year, I found myself already struggling with juggling my MANY commitments. I took on a volunteer role that I had no prior experience in, which at the time, I felt like sinking into the ground everyday, but I'm all the best for now.

In the face of my struggling for time, it was clear something(s) had to give. 

One of the adjustments I had to make was my blogging frequency. Rather than give in to the urge to just "shut it all down", due to the frustration and burnout I felt at the time, I chose to write one post per month, rather than one post per week.

This was probably one of the best things I did in 2021; sitting myself down and negotiating with myself on how much time to give my many ventures

***

 

In 2021, I dealt with Imposter syndrome, guilt, low self-confidence, and burnout. I suffered through the isolating grief of betrayal, and struggled to not losing faith in humanity.

 

While I also had AMAZING things happen, I felt the bad almost drowning me, and nearly lost sight of all the good things I had happen for me.

 

At my lowest of lows, I found myself talking about these to ’Laide. And she reminded me of all the amazing things I accomplished, which I needed to remind myself, to push me to be better.

 

“You are GOALS sis. Never forget that”, she repeated.

 

So instead of moping over lost dreams, here we are; counting our blessings for 2021.

 

My biggest flex for 2021 has to be (1) being recognized by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of 25 Top Influential Lawyers in Canada for 2021, (2) starting a job I love with an organization I admire, and (3) buying my first home in the midst of the CRAZY housing market, all the while (4) working from home fulltime, while caring for a little humanling fulltime (who was a constant feature in most of my work meetings/formal engagements)

 

Yep, it’s me. I am that chic. I did all THAT. In one year.

 

If 2021 has thought me anything, it is that I will withstand the fire of whatever life may throw, not just survive, but thrive and stay on top.

 

Because I AM GOALS.

 

[Note to self: NEVER EVER forget that]

 

***

 

One more thing: No one has it all together. 

Contrary to the happy smiles on social media, and the seemingly numerous accomplishments, everyone struggles in the privacy of their closed doors, with one thing or the other.

 

Everyone has ups, everyone has downs. The important thing is not to let oneself be swallowed by the downs; to never lose hope, to keep pushing, and to stay positive always.

 

So in 2022, I wish you laughter, deep from your insides. The type that makes you cough up a bit embarrassingly, or pee a little. 😊

 

I wish you peace, the type that makes you scratch your forehead slightly and smile for no reason, in the middle of the day.

 

I wish you a soft life, that all your hustle will turn easily to gold.

 

And I wish you love: God’s love, and the love of the ones you hold dear.

 

Here’s to life, love, peace and joy.

 

Have an amazing 2022 ahead… and may the odds always be in our favour.

 

Peace & Love,

 

Meg.

When They See Us has done something to the world that we cannot yet place a finger on.

This is supposed to be a (mini)-review of Beyoncé’s Home-coming film, released on Netflix. 

The film covers her performance at the 2018 Coachella Awards (renamed “Beychella”), with some behind the scenes documentary inter-woven with the performances.

"Chronicles of Narnia" Fan-Art by TaekwondoNJ

A very good friend of mine recently made her foray into the world of children’s literature, and published her first children’s fiction - The Adventuresof Ife and Hope.