Oh So Divine at 39

I wrote this in the last few days of #THGREAT38. 38 encapsulated so much! It truly lived up to the persona it gave. I traveled more, I spent time with the people I love more & made more memories that will last me a lifetime. I chased after my dreams by starting journalism school at my dream college. At the ripe age of 38, I started as undergraduate, transfer student & got a scholarship! As I reflect on 38, I have to reflect on seeing things change. I truly rode my own wave & created what I wanted. I’m definitely not done yet. Life is truly for living! As if my storage space on my phone doesn’t remind me enough that I’ve taken so many pictures this year & made so many memorable moments happen. Everything wasn’t glitter & shiny this year. I took some loses. Loses of family members that shook me to my core but I was able to deal with it in healthy ways. Specifically my cousin who more like my brother. His loss was inevitable but I still grieved it in a manner that would make him proud. I did learn a few lessons this year about growing in your purpose & expanding on those visions that God gave you! At 39, I feel this divine presence of sorts. Like I’m being guided to something higher. I am looking forward to adding more to my legend but always staying rooted. Here’s to being DIVINE AT 39!

Until next Adventure,

Peace,

Nika D. Great

New York, New York

New York, New York, the big city of your dreams. Well, at least mine. It was really magical to be honest. As I flew into Laguardia, Alessia Cara’s version of “How Far I’ll Go” from the ‘Moana’ soundtrack came on in my headphones. I looked out of the window & noticed that we were flying over Yankee Stadium & a tear escaped my eye. I had really made it to New York. All of the stress from overthinking on packing & if I was good enough to be there, I was reassured that I made the right choice. It all made sense that my purpose in life was something bigger than I had ever imagined. I was supposed to be there. I landed at around midnight. It was very simple to navigate the airport & get to baggage claim. It was really simple & painless to get to ride share portion. I had a very nice driver who got me to my hotel in a timely manner. He even gave me some gems on navigating the city on my own. It was such a relief to make it to my hotel room to get settled & rest. I wanted to go out so bad & experience a little bit of the nightlife but my body said “nope my baby, sit this one out”—I had to listen. I woke up bright & early so I wouldn’t be late for the conference since I was walking there & had even made a friend to walk to the conference with. We walked through Times Square, not even going to lie it was little underwhelming. It was giving super size French Quarter, just with more lights & taller buildings. They even had the same people trying to sell you stuff too. We made it to the conference in a timely manner but we also got to sight see a little bit. It was really giving Sex & the City/career woman vibes. It was beautiful to see these places that I’ve only seen on TV or dreamed about ass a little girl. I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the fabuloous pizza! When I tell you I was full from that pizza until the next morning I mean it! It’s safe to say that New York treated me so well that I’m planning a trip back within a year! Thank you New York for your kindness!

Until next times adventure!

Peace!

Nika D. Great

Baby’s First Subway Ride

I recently took my first trip to New York as an adult. It was such a fast-paced good time! I even rode the subway. Don’t even ask me why I was kind of skeptical about riding the subway but I was. By the time my trip came to a close, I was talking to someone I had met at a conference that I had attended & she told me the economical way to get back to LaGuardia Airport instead of paying for a ridiculous Uber or Lyft back. I have enough sense to know not to take the subway into the city if I have a late flight. Did you know that it’s only $2.90 to catch the subway to Queens & then the Q70 bus is free & takes you all the way to the airport?! I was amazed! I felt like I was in elementary school on a field trip! I kept to myself while I was on the train. I paid attention to my surroundings & where I should get off. I even got show! I gave the guy like $5 LOL! I got to Jamaica Queens Center & got off to catch the bus. I noticed the sign above my stop, it reminded me of one of my favorite movies “Coming to America” (1988). IYKYK! I enjoyed my first trip on the subway & I’m sure I’ll do it again on my next trip to New York!

Until Next Adventure!

Peace!

Nika D. Great

The Semester has Come to a Close…

I recently finished the spring semester. It felt like the first half of the year was whipping me down! I managed to still make the honor’s list for the semester while managing a full-time job, family deaths back-to-back, & being sick with a severe sinus infection (with a side of almost anaphylaxis). Life was really lifein’, friends. I didn’t even have time to write stories & I was taking a professional writing class this past semester. I was really trying to write in my spare time when I didn’t have homework but that didn’t work either. In this semester, I learned that sometimes it’s best just to sit down & truly rest. Don’t overextend yourself. I was obscenely close to burnout. Needless to say I found my way to finish the semester strong & have a piece of my sanity still. I also managed to be accepted in my dream school for the mass media/communications program & gain a scholarship. I was super excited about that. That gave me the power to finish the last of my assignments.I am often still amazed that I’ve built this life, to still be able to go after my goals & still have enough gas to keep reaching at my big age. I said all of that to say, you’re literally never too old to do anything. If you have a goal, write it down, meditate on it, & act on it. The sky is truly the limit. Let my life be the lesson!

Peace,

Nika The Great

The Great 38

If you don’t know. NOW you know! I’ve finally made it to THE GREAT 38! This birthday definitely different feel! I feel as though the name says all of the excitement I feel about this new age. I recently put together a photo shoot to celebrate the new milestone. The vibe that I felt about this birthday was joy & pure jubilation! I wanted the shoot to exude those two feelings. To be in a better mental, emotional, & physical space by my birthday was paramount to me. I’ve worked really hard this year to be more intentional & THRIVE, not survive. If you’re wondering how I really feel, I’ll tell you this, I do not feel old. I mean my knees still work & I can get back up *Laughs*  as demonstrated during the recent photo shoot. I do not feel like I’m heading toward a cliff. I feel as if the whole world is still my oyster. I still feel like I have time to do whatever my heart desires. If it makes sense, I don’t feel like I’m in a rush. With all of the love & good times that are oozing from the universe, I feel that THE GREAT 38 is totally giving the joy from Studio 54 (Minus the obscene drug use). I want to leave you with this, with any new transition, allow the joy to unfold. Don’t put any limits on it! Let it happen! Make it happen! Why don’t you let ME take you to FUNKYTOWN in this next year!

Peace,

Nika The Great

Back to the Gym!

Nothing is more awkward than going back to the gym after a foot injury. Shortly before my birthday last year, I sprained my second toe pretty severely. I actually thought it was broken. I found out that I sprained it. It took some time for me to feel comfortable with going back to the gym & not further injuring it. I didn’t go too hard in my return. I did what I could handle & did exercises that I could put minimal weight on said toe.

In all honesty, sometimes I didn’t want to go to the gym. I got comfortable with just letting my toe be my reason why I didn’t go. To be real, it’s a normal feeling to get comfortable with just sitting around. I realized I had to give my body time & a pep talk.

Oddly, I didn’t gain as much weight as I thought I did. That’s a supreme plus! For more on my fitness journey, hit the link to explore!

Peace,

Nika The Great

This Chapter is Called Grace

The word GRACE has been sitting on me for a couple of days now. I’m reminded of how we sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to be great. Especially when we know we have so much talent to create intentional things to put out into the world. I’m so guilty of beating myself up about what hasn’t got done. So I was simply reminded today to give myself a little GRACE. All of the tasks will get done in time. Don’t press too hard. You got this! Just give yourself a little GRACE!

Peace,

Nika The Great

My Body, My Choice. Right?

I wanted to use my space to write about something very personal. The choice to choose what I want to do with my body. I am thirty-seven years old. My partner & I had made the decision that we did not want to be parents. I have known since I was twenty-six years old that I had no desire to be a mother. I did the research at that time as to what procedure was right for me in the state I was living in at the time. I had a talk with my doctor about my choice. I should have known the outcome of the conversation because my doctor at that time was a man. He told me that I was still to young to make the decision. He also mentioned the ill-fated, “You’re going to meet someone & fall in love & then want a family.”—needless to say over a decade later, I have not changed my mind.

In the state of Louisiana, these are the following reproductive restrictions: Reproductive services may not be performed with medicaid funds, No medication may be sold to a pregnant woman for the use of aborting a pregnancy, & lastly, no medical procedure can be done in the event of a medical emergency. Doctors are to save the mother & child (https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=97020).

I have also come to the realization that I may not be able to have any reproductive surgeries to stop motherhood until I enter menopause. According to my current health insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, I can have a tubal ligation but they will not cover the procedure. Also, I found that there is a printable consent form for the procedure but the doctor has to sign off on it. If the doctor chooses to use their religious beliefs as a means to stop a patient, therefore, consent form is rendered useless.

In conclusion, I think that a woman’s choice to be a mother or not should not be determined by the state or country she resides in. It should literally be her choice. I can only hope that I & other women like me will not have to fight through so many challenges for our reproductive health.

Peace,

Nika The Great

Welcome to Miami

So my best friend & I decided we would go on a bestie trip. Just the two of us to make up for the last trip to Miami we had. We went with a different group of people, it really wasn’t the vibe we were going for. We intentionally planned all the activities & even our outfits for this trip. We worked together to plan it & decided on most of the activities. The overall goal is to have a grand time together! The trip started off on the right foot or so we thought. As we were about to take off, my stomach started to feel weird. I thought it was pre-trip jitters, turns out it was mother nature trying to get dibs on our vacation. Wrong B*tch! Turns out, the gitters I also had turned out to be right because shortly after landing, at baggage claim I found out that my luggage didn’t make the flight from New Orleans with us. Bummer! How was I supposed to be cute on all of our adventures without clothes?! Had to take the walk down to the baggage office with my claim ticket & give them my information to figure out where my luggage was. Turns out, there was a flight from New Orleans headed our way to land for the next morning & I would be able to receive my luggage. I had the option to have it delivered or Uber to the airport to get it. I chose to have it delivered. Of course, I finally fell asleep about almost 3-ish am. The next morning we decided to get some coffee. Luckily, there was a Starbucks within walking distance of our hotel. We sat & enjoyed the view of Ocean Avenue. Such a calm & eye-opening time! We quickly realized that the beach was a less than five minute walk from where we were. We walked to the beach. In the time we sat there, we took it all in. We made it. Everything is going to fine. We put our toes in the sand & people watched. I feel that in that moment, I had the opportunity to look at our friendship with fresh eyes. While we were at the beach, a miracle happened! I received a phone call for the delivery guy from the airport, He was en route with my luggage. By the time we got back from our walk, the delivery guy was pulling up! Perfect timing! Now it was time for all of the fun that we had been planning for months! We had our spa day planned. We made to South Beach to the K’Alma Spa, located in Hotel Victor. The service to start day one was fabulous! Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better trip! We are hoping that we can make it this an annual tradition for the rest of our lives. Signing off!

Peace,

Nika The Great