Author Archives: Tannika Nikeya

07.11.23
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Lunch At Aster Hall

Yesterday, I had lunch with my best friend at Aster Hall, an elegant mall located 900 North Michigan Ave in Downtown Chicago. We had an awesome time dining there, and using it’s aesthetics for videos and pictures as well as filling the place with our hearty laughs which we have every time I hang out with bestie.

We ordered and paid for our food from a touch screen and retrieved our food from its stations. This part of the process was simple. It got a bit confusing after locating the stations to retrieve our food. I had to keep asking the attendant, making sure patrons received their meals, where things were. I first asked where to retrieve my drink I ordered, then the plastic cup, and the eating utensils. He laughed a bit after the third question 😆.

The seating was great. We chose a booth near the big window facing another downtown building. There are also outlets near the booths and you can choose to work while you lunch.  Nice place to work or even play table games, I suppose are provided by Astor, as we saw some elderly  ladies playing a game (I forget what the game was lol).

Moreover, there were luxury shops at Aster Hall: Bloomingdales and other fancy shops. However, we did no shopping. We just wanted to try someplace new  for lunch, encourage one another, work in our planners and discuss our goals as well as  provide support and a listening ear as we both expressed we have had some rough patches in this season.

Grateful for my bestie, my bff, my sister! After lunch at Aster Hall we went to a Starbucks and plotted our next adventure over Frappuccinos.

07.09.23
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Favorite Genre of Music

What is your favorite genre of music?

My favorite Genre of music is R&B, moreso the 80s and 90s era. I love the New Jack Swing Era. I love the music that expressed love, allowed you to connect and feel. That era of music was just a vibe.

My other favorite Genre of music is gospel and worship music. When my soul needs a reminder that my relationship with God comes first, I know the Holy Spirit will give me one. And worship music is another way to hone in and sit quietly and reflect on the welcome and goodness of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometimes, I incorporate listening to worship music in my time with the Lord.

I love music. And it has been such a great past time, self-care tool, and fun.

07.09.23
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Introverts and Last Minute Plans

I came across this article as I scrolled through my Google news feed and I think it is spot on. See link below:

https://introvertdear.com/news/4-reasons-introverts-hate-last-minute-plans/

Although I like spontaneity here and there, last minute plans can often rattle me. I have to prepare mentally, and if not given the chance, I can get frustrated. I remember explaining to a family member that I can’t often take last minute plans or requests of my service all the time. And sometimes last minute may suffice when things change out of your control or an emergency arise. However, if you can control and know in advance, please let me know ahead of time so I can prepare mentally.

I also value my alone time. My time to sit, my time to just be, my time to chill, my time to reflect and rest. My time to do something  I love to do. My time to quiet down everything around me and not be pulled in a hundred thousand different directions. I have a busy schedule most of the time and I need to recharge myself. I believe we all need to practice recharging ourselves whether our schedules are busy and plates full or not.

Some people think introverts don’t like people; many of us do, and I am one who does like people. And I like spontaneity here and there because too much routine can also make me go haywire, lol. But I don’t like last minute stuff or my time being so consumed without moments of replenishment and time for self.

06.24.23
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Self-Control

I came across an old movie, one with Ben Matlock. Lol, I mean Andy Griffith. But I am sure some Gen Z’s may not know Andy Griffith or even his Ben Matlock character from his Matlock TV series. In this movie I was watching, Andy Griffith plays John Wallace, who is some well-known land owner in his town. John Wallace has to definitely be a narcissist. And at the end of the movie is when I realize just how much he is one. In the end, Wallace tries to compare himself to the man who takes him down for his murderous crime as well as expresses himself as a man of power.

But it is the sheriff’s (played by Johnny Cash) response that stuck out to me. “How powerful is the man who can’t control themselves,” Sheriff Lamar states.

Now I suspect that Wallace would not care about self control when he loves power and is a narcissist but developing discipline and self-control is so necessary and beneficial in every area of our lives.

Self-control, according to Google, is the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.

Self-control comes in handy when you need ammo to fight temptation. When you need to regulate your emotions. When you need to accomplish a goal. When you need to push through a hard season. When you want to get even.

Don’t underestimate the power of having self control and discipline. The quality of your life depends on it. Don’t aim for perfection but do aim to build self-control. Let us heal, grow, take care of ourselves and build our discipline and self-control. Let us trust God and lean on God for the grace to do so.

Oh, my apologies, the movie is called Murder in Coweta County.

Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner available at Amazon!

05.06.23
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Physical Health Is Just As Important

I was in so much pain this week that my health was at the forefront of my mind again.

I am keen on building and maintaining my mental health and my spiritual health. But my physical health is just as important and it is my mission to have a healthy spirit, mind and body.

I have also learned through experience of feeling gaslit and frustrated when going to the doctor that at the end of the day I have to spearhead my own health journey. No one cares for me better than me. And no one cares for me better than me than God so I have to learn to also lean into His love and wisdom to take care of the body He gave me.

Years ago, I was in the audience of an up and coming live talk show and learned about the importance of daily stretching from the guest doctor. So, I started stretching but I have been more intentional in my daily stretching and recently started back with light exercises too, especially the ones I learned in physical therapy. I am also researching about how to treat inflammation.

I am taking my vitamins more as well as sea moss and elderberry gummies. After listening to Tabitha Brown on Instagram talk about Tumeric with Black pepper helps with sciatica, and with further research, I bought me some. I love my fruits and vegetables but I am now incorporating more healthier snacks to my diet. I just bought sea salt seaweed chips but I like the seasoned pretzels more. 😩

I am going to increase my drinking of water and decrease dairy in my diet. One other thing I love to do that helps with both the physical and mental is walking. I have also been trying to clear my sinuses. I asked my doctor what should I do or take to aid me in fighting my allergy symptoms that plague me so much. And lastly, I am working on getting more sleep and reducing the stress in my life. Stress can definitely have an effect on your body.

Special thanks to Shalamaar, who prayed for me this week.

What are your physical healthy goals? What changes will you be making to achieve them?

It is going to take a bit more time to get used to these lol.
I add this to my smoothie.