The Most Incredible Experience Of My Life

I had originally planned for this to be an OOTD post but when I was in the car on the way home from seeing Nicki Minaj live in Belfast last night, I knew I had to just write my thoughts out.

For the past few months, this debilitating illness called M.E. (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome) has decided to plague my life and try and stop me from doing things. However, there was no way I was going to let it hold me back from the Nicki Minaj concert I had dreamed about going to for years. My close family were concerned I wouldn't be able to stand it, especially as I was going alone and I'll admit, so was I, but I was determined.

Doors for the Odyssey Arena opened at 6pm but I arrived an hour beforehand to secure my place high up in the queue. Waiting outside in the cold & rain was a real test of endurance, as was standing in the arena itself as it started to fill up. I thought to myself, "It will all be worth it when Nicki comes on." I was thrilled to be just five people away from the very front, just metres away from the stage.

Eventually, the support acts Ester Dean & Trey Songz did their sets and by this time I was in agony. Every bone and muscle in me ached but I was fueled to carry on by the excitement to finally be able to watch Nicki perform live. It was ridiculously warm and stuffy, especially at the front where people were trying to squeeze as close as they could get.

The moment the lights went down and her intro video played on screen, my heart and energy lifted. I could feel myself become incredibly emotional - in fact as I write this I'm holding back tears. Years and years of listening to her mixtapes, albums & features, watching interviews & being inspired by her words, here she was.

Her entrance song was All Things Go and the atmosphere in the arena was unparalleled. As I rapped along with every word, tears started rolling down my face.

It's impossible to put in into words how much the experience meant to me and yet here I am trying to.

Seeing Nicki smile & react to us was incredible. After a few songs she took some time to talk to us, saying how grateful she was that we were there with her when we could have been anywhere else in the world. I thought to myself, it would have been a million times easier for me to stay in the comfort of my bed where I could manage my pain but I decided to pick myself up and not let my illness get the better of me.

 Why do I love Nicki Minaj? What could possibly be inspiring about Starships or Super Bass?

It's difficult for me to pick out the one thing that inspires me about Nicki - it's her whole being that is an inspiration. If you take the time to find out about her background & really listen to the things she says in the way that I do, you might be able to get a glimpse of understanding.

Nicki Minaj taught me I can be multi-faceted.
Nicki Minaj taught me I should arm myself with as much education and knowledge as I can.
Nicki Minaj taught me that being a woman means I can be powerful.
Nicki Minaj taught me I can do anything.

During her speech last night she said that if we can imagine something then it's possible. It takes hard work & perseverance but it can happen. Those words, coming from her empowered me like nothing else.

I can do anything.



It wasn't until I sat in the car afterwards that I felt the full force of the pain my body was in. Being in the presence of woman I love so much had blurred out the exhaustion. Going last night has set me back healthwise but there's no doubt in my mind it was worth it. I felt alive for the first time in months.

I have no idea how to end this piece of writing. I really don't know how anyone will interpret this as it's very personal. No amount of adjectives will be able to convey how I feel. 

I do hope that you know anything is possible when you work for it & anything that stands in your way will be a mere memory when you overcome it.

What has been the best experience of your life?

Thanks for reading,

Maeve

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