6 degrees of separation

At The Table

Cher was one of those chosen to speak to the women gathered in that room.

The compere introduced her as a Life coach who help women find their purpose. My first thoughts were “Oh, we do similar things. Would be good to connect” And as we all clapped, she stood up from our table! Then walked to the podium.

• Lesson –  You never know who you are hanging around.

“Can you tell us one thing which has inspired you recently and why you are here?” the compere handed Cher a mic

“I attended this Curry Night where they brought speakers to share their stories. One story stuck with me so deeply. This woman going through some crazy stuff remarked;

“Portsmouth is a lovely place filled with angels. At each point as I was freefalling, there was a woman. Standing there with arms stretched out to catch me. Although they were not able to stop me hitting the ground, yet they laid out buffers for me to cushion the fall”

That woman’s story so impacted me that when I saw this event by the same Convener, I decided to come”.

Meanwhile, as I listened to Cher, I felt like I was watching a movie. Those were my words! That woman was retelling a part of my story! A story I shared at an event I was invited to speak in Q4 2024.

Head reeling, mouth agape, I teared up and watched her finish her speech. As she sashayed back to our table, I stared at her.

“Is it possible, that a snippet of my story I shared in a room full of strangers left a mark?” I wondered in confusion

“How can this Brit go about citing my story as something which impacted her?”

 

The Intro

 

Afterwards, during a breakout session, I went to her.

“Hi Cher, that was my story you shared up there. I am that woman at the Curry Night”

“Oh my God, you are here” she hugged me. I have shared your story everywhere because I found it so inspiring. I tell everyone around me of this incredible Nigerian woman. A single mom who relocated here for studies and within months got diagnosed of cancer. I have no idea how you survived that” She gushed in admiration.

I merely stared at her through brimming eyes. Cancer gifted me with vulnerability, so the tears are always handy.

• Lesson 2: You may never know the ripples you are creating or their reach

Thereafter, we embraced tightly and swapped details. On our way home I recounted the incident to my mentor, another Briton. And she responded;

“I did tell you how you made waves with that appearance. Cher was one of those people raving about your story”.

Another surprise. So both women know themselves? How is it again possible or is the world that small?

• Lesson 3: 6 degrees of separation is real

Eventually back at home, I ruminated at the string of events. Beginning from when I was invited to speak at the previous event. And how I almost turned it down. My fear stemmed mostly from the fact that at an earlier invitation in the year, I had stood in front of the audience sobbing.

“My story was not ready to be told yet”, I countered

“Amara, your story is so powerful you have no idea who you would impact” I heard over and over

 

The Payoff

 

Yet, later that night, the dopamine surged through my body. The response from the audience was electric. The hormones soared each time a woman came up to me with feedback.

Ruminating over that, reminded me of this article I wrote. About how my neighbour’s light helps me write. Actually, the images in this story here were taken at that Curry Night. And the concept was using your light to light another.