Side note: somehow I thought today was still New Year’s Day 😆. I was totally confused and perplexed about how most of yesterday went by so quick. I must have slept much longer than I thought. And on another note, after my teen told me what day it was and then taking a look at the time it finally registered. But I was totally unaware that it is four (at the time I released this) something in the morning. I thought… nevermind. Please forgive me and Lord, help me. 😆
Well, back to motivation and inspiration. We have arrived to a new year and we are all going to need such force and encouragement to propel us through another year. This year may require whole new strategies, stepping out of our comfort zones and standing on business, much more perseverance and a determination to preserve our peace and joy in a world full of chaos. With God, we can overcome and make it though 2025.
I’m rewatching one of my favorite shows, The Walking Dead, and indeed this particular scene from season 6, episode 9 is one of my favorite scenes. (Link to clip is at the end of this post.)
This scene is so epic! And if it was in words it would be words of empowerment, encouraging us to not give up. That we are more than conquerors! That we must fight and persevere through the storms of life.
Well, Rick’s team is fighting zombies in Alexandria but is also taking back their home, their morale, and fighting for their group, their family.
I encourage you to press on. Press on to heal. To grow. To do more than survive, thrive. To forgive. To set boundaries. To accomplish your goals. To live life to the fullest. To fight anxiety. To become a better steward over your time and finances. To develop healthy relationships. To move forward from toxicity and seasons that God is moving you on from. To build your future through prayer, hard work, God’s guidance and His wisdom. Fight. Don’t give up. Be encouraged. Allow your tribe to find you and fight together. Allow God to lead you and guide you through each day.
Currently, it seems that ageism is increasing, or maybe because of social media, getting more awareness.
Ageism, according to Google, is defined as prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.
It can show up in the discrimination of an elderly person applying for a job, the demonizing of young people when not understood, or the unrealistic expectations placed upon an older or younger woman.
It is scary that younger people are getting messages that they should have everything settled and figured out by 21 and that older people should stop living as soon they turn 60. Or that someone is even old at 35, 40, and there is nothing left in life for them. Assinine thinking. (This is not a license for young people to not apply themselves and start the work to figure things out or live recklessly. Nor is it a license for older people tolive recklessly and never mature mentally, emotionally, etc.)
We all, good Lord’s will, get older. Or are supposed to get older. If you wake up each day, getting older is inevitable. And it is NOT a bad thing. It is blessing. Some people leave this earth too soon. Moreover, some people’s dreams, goals and potential go to the grave without being brought to fruition or even to full capacity or total fulfillment.
And that part is disheartening.
So, remember, we all get older and it is a good thing. However, watching yourself change and evolve, moreso physically, can bring about a variety of emotions, and can be scary for some.
But don’t fret. Life gets better, yet.
And what gets better with age, you ask.
You.
Yes, you.
As you get maturer. As you become an adult. And as you become a grown grown person as some say, you should become better.
Not perfect. But better.
Your self awareness should be building. Your true confidence unlocking. You should be growing in wisdom. You should be more accountable and responsible. You should be busy living and not just existing. You should be awakening into the you, God created you to be.
So, with age, you get better. And life should get better. You are learning to live more authentic. You are healing. You are becoming more self-aware. You are unlearning some things to learn the right things. You are learning how to truly take care of you.
You have built up resilience and you have learned to persevere. And for some of us, you have learned when to rest and how to. You have set goals for yourself and maybe not all of them, but some of them. And you are realizing with age, it is not over yet.
Life is just beginning. Or you have come to the middle of your life where there is a plot twist, and you are in for a good treat. Especially with God leading the way.
I was asking God what is next year’s theme for 2023 and “position” is what I heard. Maybe it was my own self giving this answer or maybe it was God. I’m not sure. But I will take this theme and mission. When looking up what position means this is what I found: What is the biblical meaning of position? “Position” means abiding in Him and Christ’s words abiding in us (John 15:7). I also found as I googled– Topical Bible: Position (n.) The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position. And the regular definitions/synonyms for position are posture, stance, attitude, place, etc.
This year we learned to take one day at a time and that healing is continual and a journey. And to seek God like never before. Next year, we get into position. We abide in God as He abides in us. We stay steadfast and believe Him no matter how much doubt tries to creep in or gain control. We allow God to renew our minds. We allow God to place us and strengthen us where He leads us. We learn to be still and know that He is God. We stand knowing that God is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. We learn to surrender every area of our lives and get in position to know Him more, receive His love, His wisdom, His promises and His manifested peace.
Make sure you start prepping for 2023 by getting Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner. Available on Amazon today. Let’s Take This One Day At A Time is a planner that not only helps you plan for each week, keep on top of your to-do lists, but be intentional with each day and continue your healing journey.
I am so proud to introduce my new book, Let’sTake This One Day At A Time Planner! Just in time for Christmas and the new year. And being released in a season where I have been going through a lot as well as feeling up and down. So, we pushing through and looking forward to a new year!
To continue with the theme of my book, Bring It To The Surface: Poetry & Journal, I want to further encourage others with a special planner. I discovered that healing is continuous and living must be intentional.
Take a look!
Let’s Take This One Day At A Time Planner helps you to be intentional in taking one day at a time. This planner helps you to not only plan your week and stay organized, but also continue your healing journey and growth by being intentional in five areas: prayer, goal setting, self-care, gratitude, and reflection.
I have been on this journey of healing for some years now. But this particular season, here are some of the things I am learning or have learned.
1. There are a lot of perspectives, opinions and views. Learn to chew the meat and spit out the bones.
2. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with where you are in life, what you need and what you want. (Talking and listening to God about such is crucial and use wisdom when sharing with others.)
3. Sometimes our hearts can deceive us or open up a door that we didn’t mean to and knew we shouldn’t open. However, we can still learn a lesson within that moment of our hearts deceiving us.
4. Healing isn’t always pretty or comfortable for us.
5. God will definitely get your attention. And the enemy will definitely try to also, and often succeed in doing so. Be vigilant.
6. You can be growing and healing yet still feel stagnant and not whole.
7. What you thought you wanted was not really what you wanted. And what you need is what you never knew you needed.
8. Insecurities can tell on you even when you think they are hiding or quiet.
9. Maintaining calmness and managing your emotions is not a sign of weakness. Neither is expressing your hurt and pain a sign of weakness.
10. People will underestimate you. You are resilient and persevering and discerning. Thank God for that!
11. Be alert. You are being watched. Be wise in your actions and speech.
12. Sometimes, you isolate yourself. Sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes not. But there are times God will separate you or call you to an “alone” season and when He does, don’t fight it. Draw closer to God.
13. You are not perfect and that is okay. You are human. God loves you: spirit, soul and body.
14. Don’t let what other people think consume you. Hold God’s view and word above others!
15. Embrace your limitations and your realities. Real talk. All the while knowing that God can do the impossible.
16. You should have set boundaries like yesterday.
17. Silence is necessary at times.
18. Gaslighting is real and yes, you can even gaslight yourself.
19. Fear and anxiety will let you get in the car but stop you from taking off.
20. You must allow God (and possibly a therapist) to help you get to the root cause of some of your issues and traumas as well as pull down the things that are holding up your strongholds.
What have you been learning in your current season of healing? Put them down in the comments below.
Tannika Nikeya 