So excited to introduce my new book, Christmas In The Winter! Available on Amazon now.
Category Archives: Purpose
Tannika’s Free Writing & Flash Fiction: Can You Find Yourself?
Welcome to my series where I will be free writing and writing flash fiction to have fun, to regain my discipline as a frequent writer, and to stretch and strengthen my writing skills.
Can you find yourself in all of what you want them to see?
Will you still feel good about yourself,
When social media doesnt appease?
When the lights turn out and the applause stops,
Will you still be the one who rocks?
When social media exposes you for who you really are,
And you dont look up to par,
Will you realize you are beautiful and raise the bar?
Are you limiting your greatness by living up to others’ standards?
Are you still successful, even when it looks different from theirs? Will you still commit to fulfilling the task, even if no one cares?
Are you goals when your goals are not always coming to pass?
Can you still value your relationship, if your relationship is not within the Relationship Goals Class?
Will you use your platforms also for right and to uplift others?
Will you measure yourself by the standard of His Word and not another?
Will you care more about the likes or care to like yourself?
Will you find your purpose or imitate someone else?
Will social media and fear of man rule your life?
Will you spend time building your brand,
But never the heart of your family and friends?
Can you strive for greatness but be brave enough to show your imperfections, hardships, and flaws?
Will you stand out in a world of counterfeits, lookalikes, and conditional love and conditional applause?
If you liked this poem, please check out my poetry books!
Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me
If you can identify with this poem and really need to get back to or start learning to embrace your imperfections, love yourself, overcome your fear of man, see yourself the way God does and grow from there, please share this poem but also begin the mission of doing these things that I just mentioned.
Little Boy, You Are Needed & Wanted
Sometimes you learn a lot when you have conversations with little humans. I don’t remember what led to this topic, but my 9-year-old nephew and I were having a conversation on a lengthy ride home some time ago. He says to me something like a woman shouldn’t depend on or need a man. I immediately understood what he was trying to communicate; however, it led me to definitely clear up something with him. Although he made me proud that he understood a female, too, should and could go out and make life happen for herself, I wanted to make sure he understood one thing.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). We are to teach our children and instill in them certain truths and disciplines. But we also have to be careful of what beliefs we are spreading to our children verbally and non-verbally. I wanted to make sure my actions or lifestyle wasn’t screaming to him this very thing: that a man is not needed. I am an unmarried woman who is not dating, who is working hard, maintaining a household, growing in my faith in God, and working on furthering my dreams and goals. I have accomplished so much and have done things that were seemingly contributed to mostly married couples like buying a home.
So, I told him, “yes, we women are to not depend on men. In fact, we (both women and men) are supposed to depend solely on God. We, women are to fulfill our destinies and accomplish our goals” because God created each of us with a purpose also. “But, please understand that men are needed and wanted too.” A man is vital to our world. I know we hear and see lately “the future is female”. I also believe in empowering women and helping women grow, heal, and reach their destinies. Moreover, as a woman, I, too, see and experience the danger and issues we face daily. However, I want little boys, and especially little Black boys, to believe they matter and are needed. God created male and female and He has a destiny for us all individually as well as together. Together, we can fulfill and overcome so much more in a world that has grown so divided.
When A Still Life Moves
I was an Art & Design major in college before I changed to English. It was during this time I learned about still life. I remember eying a bowl of fruit neatly propped up on its stand trying to capture its essence, simplicity, beauty, and shadows.
A Still Life is a work of art, particularly a painting or drawing, displaying objects such as flowers, fruit, a vase, a skull, etc. These tangible objects are still and lifeless but express liveliness and simplicity in its form of art.
Thinking of ideas for poems, my experience with this work of art would later lead me to the following title, When A Still Life Moves. What happens when a still life moves and what or who gives it the life it needs to no longer be still?
Jesus is our life giver. If the same power that raised Him from death lies within every believer, then we too have been raised and positioned with Him. We are no longer the still lives. We have been enabled to move and fulfill our destinies as one and as individuals.
Read When A Still Life Moves from my first book, Setting The Captive Free.
When a Still Life moves,
God’s work of art no longer stands still
It is revived and alive to the touch
Its spirit, you can feel.
It is lifted and free
Motivated and able to breathe
It is patient and knows when to yield
For it has learned to be still.
When a Still Life moves,
It enters a new season
It has discovered its purpose
And embraced the Creator’s reason.
It changes the nature of the picture
Its colors become richer.
When a Still Life moves,
It gives a new meaning to the space it occupies
It is not limited or bound to one site.
It follows its heart and allows its imaginations to take flight
A Still Life begins to move with time
And can no longer be simply defined.
It moves past the fears and the doubts
It perseveres and knows what it is about
The light doesn’t just shine upon it but through it
And it attracts Life to it.
When a Still Life moves,
Its laughter is like a bouquet of joy
Its smile is like a child who is fixed upon a new toy
It lives each day renewed
When a Still Life moves
True existence and living we choose.
Tannika Moore
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To purchase Setting The Captive Free poetry book visit: https://stcfpoetrybook.com/setting-the-captive-free-poetry-book/
Flashback Friday: Walking In Your Own Shoes
Today, I would like to share with you my top read post of last year which was originally published on January 8, 2016.
On December 5th, I introduced my second poetry book to the world. It is titled Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me. It is a long title but every word is imperative. The theme of my book is “walking in your own shoes”, not someone else’s shoes, but your own.
Walking In Your Own Shoes
So, what does “walking in your own shoes mean”? I define this idiom as walking in your own identity, learning and using your own voice, finding and fulfilling your purpose, and living out the destiny God created for you to walk in. It is not a physical walk but a mental, emotional, and spiritual flow you possess all your own. You are the only you God created and although there may be people who look or act similar, no one can fulfill your destiny like you can, the way you can, if you set out to do so. I love Sarah McLachlan lyrics, from In Your Own Shoes, that says it best, “Time for you to walk in your own shoes/Lay down your footprints wherever you choose/Leave it all behind and move on ’cause you are your own woman” (or man, if you are reading this).
Masks, Enormous Loads, And Broken Heels
“Walking in your own shoes” also means letting go of the baggage that has been holding you down and keeping you from moving forward. Are you walking with an enormous load or a broken heel and a broken heart? “Walking in your own shoes” too means removing the masks we often put on to appease others and keep up a facade of how we want to appear before others. What masks have you been wearing?
Walking In My Own Shoes
I wrote this book, like any other books, poems, or writing I do, to get out whatever I need to sort out within and to put down on paper the things I had been learning about life, people, and myself. I wrote some of the poems years ago and the rest I wrote last year, 2015. I have been learning to grow comfortable in my own skin as well as outside of my comfort zone, and I do stress learning. It has to be true about life after 29 (do I have to tell my age, Laughing out loud) when you start to come into who you are because I am experiencing that, amidst some fear and a little anxiety. Although, I have always been goal-oriented, I would not have been able to tell you my purpose before now. I often let people chime in on what I should do and be. But thanks to my strong mom, who has encouraged me to always get off the couch and live and my pastor who impressed upon me to find my purpose and fulfill my destiny, I would not have committed time to seeking out my destiny and purpose these past few years. In this moment along the journey, I am also learning to deal with my flaws, past issues, insecurities, and emotional wounds I’ve incurred along the way. So, I too, am still learning how to walk in my own shoes.
Named for its leading poem, my book, Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me, poetically talks about finding your destiny, living life on purpose, embracing your God-given journey and even allowing yourself to be vulnerable (not naive and gullible, but vulnerable) and trusting God to protect you in doing so. We will talk about vulnerability another time.
As always, I love to encourage, so here are some Tools for your Journey!
Here are 24 Walkisms you should have:
- Walk in love.
- Walk in forgiveness.
- Walk in desperate pursuit of God.
- Walk in humility.
- Walk in peace.
- Walk (or dance) in the rain every now and then.
- Walk in justice and integrity.
- Walk with patience.
- Walk alive, not like the living dead.
- Walk, smile, and laugh. A smile and laughter are medicine for the heart.
- Walk out of your comfort zone.
- Walk to give a hand to those unfortunate than yourself.
- Walk and make your mama proud. Return the love and create memories and moments for her like she did for you.
- Walk in confidence.
- Walk according to your own pace.
- Walk in healthy attitudes and habits.
- Walk in faith and trust Jesus who died for you because He has your back like no one else can or will.
- Walk to make an impact.
- Walk in the present, not the past, not the future.
- Walk accordingly to the plan God has for you.
- Walk in originality. Be yourself.
- Walk up to fear, knowing it’s bluffing.
- Walk in your season.
- Walk, not looking back.
Put your shoes on honey, our journeys await,
Tannika
How have you begun to walk in your own shoes?
Tannika Nikeya 