The Queen Has Arrived.

“Never did the world make a queen of a girl who hides in houses and dreams without traveling.” Roman Payne, The wanderess.

January is a month we all anticipate in my division in the organization I work with. It’s when we all gather to celebrate achievements and people who have worked tremendously hard to pull in such worthy success.

While hard work may not necessary guarantee your place at the top, I’ve learned to add an extra element, it’s termed; working smartly and finding balance within the 9 -10 hours allotted to productivity in a day.

Some have called this merriment, the principal Grammy’s of my division’s organization with learning and recreational activities included around the itinerary with complimentary attires to suite each activity’s schedule.

An agoraphobic person would naturally want to bury their heads in the ground when reminded about mingling with over 200 people in one or several rooms together though. How would I survive? Can I kindly be excused from attending? How about registering my presence online via Skype, after all, we now have ‘Silent Parties.’

“You’ve burned your candle stick and it’s time to face the dance.” My thoughts echoed back. “But I’m not there yet. Worse off, I’ve been separated from my friends, hotel and group wise.” I responded back. “Well if you drown, we’d send a line down to pull you out. You can’t live like this forever, Get up and get out there. You have roughly 2 weeks to get yourself together and no, you will not be excused!”

Grudging silently, I commenced preparations. First technique I deployed was to get myself excited about attending. I imagined myself actually attending the real Grammy's or Oscars. I envisaged how it would feel like being in the same room with the creme d la creme of society. How would I carry myself, what would I wear and most importantly what message did I want to convey? And finally what impressions did I want to leave in the minds of anyone I networked with?

“But be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” Romans 12:2 TPT

Secondly, I worked on my mindset. If you have a message to convey it’s twice important that you’re not only heard but seen too. People remember visuals now more than what they just read or hear. What could be way better than placing a face to a question I asked, a comment I made and a conversation I had even if it’s just for a minute? I knew my ‘back seat row’ time was up. No more hiding in the corner expecting people to naturally read what’s on my mind like they’d just graduated from Merlin’s school.

D-Day arrived and I was all shades of nerves. Yet I was determined to make the best of the next 4 days and leave remarkable memories if not for others but most importantly for myself no matter how the river flowed, good or bad. Besides you only live once and can never regain back lost time. Armed with these, I took the next step from timidity to confidence.

Coincidentally, I’d unconsciously noticed speaking words of affirmation to myself at night for over 4 weeks now; “I am enough, I am bold and confident yet humble. I’m smart and intelligent and attract my kind.” Each night like a clock work, whenever I drifted from one level of sleep to another, I’d recite another set of affirmative words before drifting back. Gladly I’ve seen improvements in my confidence level!

By the end of my sojourn, I’d tallied my network count way over what I’d presumed. I’d started a conversation with an alumni staff now a high public Office holder on the lift on our way to the 23rd floor where we lodged. I’d gotten my photos take by way too many people I’d lost count by day 2. I’d set up meal dates with colleagues I’ve only had virtual conversations with and wouldn’t dare approach them to say hi, dang one of the MC’s got so fond of me he kept calling me out by an alias; “Sponsor.” He said I looked like one who’d foot the bill for everyone on my table at a beach hangout.

Need I say I was also given a title Queen of the Middle Belt after making my grand entrance at the Finale. Yes I wore a tiara. I wanted to make a statement and of course it was grand.

We have queen in our midst! Khaleesi, HRH.

Lesson Learned:

But you are God’s chosen treasure, priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. 1 Peter 2:9

You are Royalty. You’d only behave like one when you know you’re one.