Ep 111 Celebrating Growth and Resilience

Join me in raising our teacups as we celebrate the 3-year journey of 'Thym 4 Tea with Mikita'. In this special episode, I take a down-to-earth look at the personal growth and transformative experiences that have shaped our podcast.

Let's pay tribute to the incredible people who have supported and enriched our journey. This episode is not just about looking back, but about acknowledging the belief in ourselves and finding renewed purpose as we move forward. I'm excited to share candid insights into intentional living, family ties, and how this podcast has been a source of comfort in my battles with anxiety and perfectionism.

We'll dive into the significance of daily spiritual practices and the importance of accepting our imperfect selves. Together, we'll celebrate the milestones we've reached and look ahead to the exciting path that awaits. So, grab your cup and join me as we embrace the journey behind us and the adventures yet to come.

Transcript

Empowerment Through Time for Tea

Speaker 1 0:00

and when I think of courage, when I think of fortitude, I think about living my life completely in my own space, living it unapologetically, living it beautifully, unbalanced, and not being afraid to use your voice, because the one thing that I have learned throughout all of my years is that your voice has power. Your voice has power to make change and just creating this space, this platform, and giving not just myself the opportunity to share my story, to share perspectives or lessons, but giving other people the opportunity, because sometimes, you know, life is busy, like there's so much happening in this world that it's easy to feel like you're not being seen, that you're not being heard, and I feel like my platform, my space, is an opportunity for people that may not have any other opportunities to have a voice to share, to live their life beautiful and balanced and unapologetic, and let their voice, you know, resonate, because we all have a story and I feel like you just you're one step away from hearing a story that can change your life. Hey, there, I'm Makita, a small town girl with dreams who started a podcast with an old headset and a laptop at my kitchen table and made my dreams come true On my podcast. Time for Tea with Makita, we chat about living life unapologetically, on your terms, from career advice, entrepreneurship, relationships and everything in between. This is your one-stop shop for real conversations and inspiration. If you're looking for connection, then you've found it here.

Speaker 1 1:51

Join me every Tuesday as we dive into those sometimes hard to have conversations. So grab your cup of tea or coffee and get comfy, because this is time for Tea with Nikita, and the tea is definitely hot. Ever feel like you need a superpower boost of motivation with exclusive tips and tools with your goals in mind? Well, say hello to your new inspiration hotspot the Tuesday Tea Newsletter, your weekly infusion of big thinking energy that will propel you to chase your wildest dreams and never shy away from using the power of your voice. Sign up for the Tuesday Tea newsletter today at beautifullyunbalancedcom and elevate your goals to the next level. Welcome back. It is definitely time for some tea. I'm your host, makita.

Speaker 1 2:40

You guys, I cannot thank you enough for just being with me today, because today is not just any day. Today is a very special and amazing day. We are celebrating three years of Time for Tea with Nikita and I'm just I don't know. I feel like I'm in this amazing space and I never expected to be here. So this episode is really just about celebrating where we are and looking at how far we've come. I'm sharing with you some of the journey from the past year, the past three years as well, just looking back at that life and you know all the things that have helped me to just stay in this space of just learning and growing as an individual and actually learning how to grow with other people. So like it's been a road of very learning how to grow with other people. So like it's been a road of very, sometimes rocky, sometimes, you know, smooth and calm and just like anything else. You know we have some twists and turns, but you know this year has definitely it's been amazing, you know. So I'm going to take a little bit behind the scenes as well as share with you what's new with Time for Tea and what do I see this thing evolving into. So buckle up and get ready, because it's always time for some tea.

Speaker 1 4:19

All right, you guys, as I said in the beginning, I'm excited. All right, you guys, as I said in the beginning, I'm excited. You know we've been doing Time for Tea with Makeda for three years and what started off? As someone not just someone, but my amazing husband telling me that podcasting is the way to go and I should definitely looking to start in a podcast and just having enough faith in myself Because if you're like me, you know it's easy to see the light in someone else. Right, we see other people's potential all the time and we're just like, oh my gosh, you would be so great at this, you would be so good. But it's up to the person that we're giving this insight and this advice to to actually believe that they can do it, to try it, to see where it takes them. And that's where I felt, like in my journey, what it was like my husband telling me you should consider this path, and me having the courage to say I'm going to do it, I'm going to give it a try. And, just like anything in life, we can give some half tries or we can fully immerse ourselves in the experience and really put our all in it to see where it goes. And I must say the first year I was just kind of sifting through it and I wasn't fully, fully vested. I was vested but I was doing just enough to get through. It wasn't until year two came around when I was really starting to get my groove and feel sure of myself and get an idea of like okay, this is what this is all about, starting to connect with all the podcasters, go to conferences and really start immersing myself in learning. That's when it became like all right, I'm all in now.

Speaker 1 6:16

And it hasn't always been easy. I know a lot of people ask me this question all the time. It was a question that someone sent in and it was like question all the time. It was a question that someone sent in and it was like how do you do all the things? How do you raise the kids, have the husband work the full-time job, do podcasting, pre-post, like you are creating your content, you're coming up with the themes, ideas, and how do you make all this stuff work?

Speaker 1 6:41

And the truth is no one does anything alone. I see a lot of people that subscribe to. I can do it by myself, and that's a hard way to go and I know some of us feel like we are all alone on a journey, but that's not the case. We have a lot of people in our lives that are there to support us. Their job is not to walk with us the whole ride. They can't take the torch and run for you, but they can definitely support you in the best way that they can because they're already on their journey. They also have a calling and they have to fulfill their purpose as well. So they are there to be that motivational person for you that year, but they are not there to carry the torch.

Speaker 1 7:36

So sometimes we put a little too much on people, but all that really to say is that I rely on all my support systems. My husband is a big supporter. He does a lot to making Time for Tea with Makita sound as good as it sounds and keeping me honest and on schedule, because when I fall behind he lets me know look, you got to get through three quarters and you have to do your part so I can do my part. And that's the kind of relationship that we have. That, you know. It's open, honest.

Speaker 1 8:12

Sometimes I don't always want to hear it, but it's the conversations that need to be had. So it's it's. It's amazing, though, you know, but I just think that you know. It's just amazing though you know. But I just think that you know, as you're in your own journey and your own season and you are looking at how far you've come on the journey. You know, think about all the people that were there to push you, to motivate you, to encourage you to keep going. You know they're with you, whether you know they're not carrying the torch, but they're sending love. They're sending, you know, but they're sending love, and some people's love language is different. So just embrace the support that you have. And I know we've all heard the Tyler Perry talk about.

Speaker 1 8:56

We have people that come in our lives for different reasons and seasons, and some people like the leaves, some people like the branch and some people like the root. Some people like the leaves, some people like the branch and some people like the root. But I've met some amazing people that were leaves. You know what I mean. God placed them in my life to give me a message, to give me some strength and some fortitude, and then they sent me on to some branches and they were like, hey, I'm going to hold you up for as long as I can, but I can't be here the whole time, but I can hold you for this period, for this space and time. And then the people that were there from the beginning, the roots. You know, they're always there. But I accept all of those people in my life, because I understand that they still have a purpose and a reason. You know what I'm saying. And whether they're there to share a message, to teach me something for me to learn, or they're there to be a support system for the season that I'm in, then that's okay too, you know. And then I have my amazing mom and my kids and my siblings Like, they all like motivate me.

Speaker 1 10:06

And there are times I'm not going to lie that when I am, you know, on this podcasting journey, I have doubts too, like, is this really what I'm supposed to be doing? Is you know? Am I, you know, on the right path? Am I doing enough? You know what mark am I leaving in this world? And every time I have doubt, or every time that I question what my purpose is, you know someone will remind me like I will run into someone and they'll be like, hey, it's time for tea, or they'd be like you know what You're doing? Something amazing, don't stop. And I'm reminded that I'm not just doing this for nothing, right? We all have a purpose and sometimes in the journey and in the midst of the struggle, we question are we on the right path? But I guess, at the end of the day, if you feel aligned, if you love it, sometimes we have to reconnect to what we love too right. Sometimes we can love something and feel disconnected from it because our alignment is off, so we have to bring that alignment back. And that's one thing that I learned too throughout this past year Like my word for last year was intentional being intentional about the words that I speak, the actions that I put behind the things that I say and how I show up in spaces.

Importance of Intentionality and Healing

Speaker 1 11:29

Because one of the things that happened to me when I was just starting out in podcasting and you may notice this too like if you're starting out in a career, you know you're doing something new. Going back to school, you want to immerse yourself in everything, you want to be around the people that you feel are making change, and what you do is you find yourself in rooms that you weren't ready to be in quite yet. Those doors opened for you, letting you get a glimpse of what's to come, but you still have some work to do, and that's what I found. I found myself having these amazing opportunities to be in spaces to meet some incredible people, but I wasn't being intentional about it, like I was just wanting to see if this thing could happen, like can I really do this? And then when it happened, I was like, oh yeah, this is not really what I want. You know, this is not really what I want to be at. So it's just like, okay, it's time to pull back. And sometimes you got to pull back right. And just because there is a job opportunity doesn't mean that that career move is the move for you. You may be qualified and you could do the job with your hands tied behind your back and your eyes closed, but that doesn't mean it's the right fit, it doesn't mean that's where you're supposed to be. You're supposed to be.

Speaker 1 13:03

So just being intentional really taught me a lot about being careful about what I say, being careful about what I speak into the universe and the actions that I take, and that actually really helped create, and not just create, but it also helped me to really foster and work on relationships with my kids and my husband and my family. Like you know, just being intentional about showing up and allowing them a safe space to put their thoughts out in the world, to be that ear for them, because sometimes you know, we're caught up in our own good news and all the amazing thing that's happening and we want to share it and want to tell it. But we have to make sure that we're creating the space for other people to share their joy or where they're at. And you know, listen, it's not about dimming your light, but just being open and intentional about this is the space that I'm saving for my kids to have this moment for me, and it's really all about them, not about me at this point. I'll share my news with them, but I really want to make sure that I'm listening, that I am intentionally there in the space, present and in the moment with them, so that I don't miss anything. Sometimes we're so preoccupied with getting our words out and saying what's in our head that we miss all the cues and all the signs that someone is trying to tell us. So just being intentional, being present and in those moments really helped shift a lot of things. And also, you know, in the past year I felt like podcasting has really helped with my healing and growth.

Speaker 1 14:48

Right, because I don't know about you, but there's some times where I felt like I've had like so much anxiety and a lot of times. What I've learned through this healing process and this journey is that a lot of my anxiety came from me feeling like I wasn't measuring up, you know, like I'm pretending to be somebody I'm not, and or people expectations of me is so high that how can I live up to the expectations that they have of me? And then I would get this anxiety buildup. And I was just like you know what I just need to know. As long as I know who I am and I think the same thing with you as long as you know who you are, you know what you're capable of, then no one else's expectations to dictate how you show up.

Speaker 1 15:41

And that's a tough lesson, because I felt like all my life I have lived by other people's expectations of pleasing other people, showing up the way people wanted me to show up, saying the correct thing, the politically correct thing, or being the nice person, which I'm a nice person, but I'm human. We're all just people and I'm definitely not perfect. So the one thing I don't want to do is to create this space or this presumption that I'm this perfect person and I never say a bad word or never have a bad day. And no, that's just not reality. We are all people, we all go through things.

Embrace the Journey of Growth

Speaker 1 16:30

But what I learned throughout just creating this space because, honestly, I created Time for Tea with Makita because time means courage and fortitude, and when I think of courage, when I think of fortitude, I think about living my life completely in my own space, living it unapologetically, living it beautifully, unbalanced, and not being afraid to use your voice, because the one thing that I have learned throughout all of my years is that your voice has power. Your voice has power to make change. And just creating this space, this platform, and giving not just myself the opportunity to share my story, to share perspectives or lessons, but giving other people the opportunity, because sometimes, you know, life is busy, like there's so much happening in this world that it's easy to feel like you're not being seen, that you're not being heard, and I feel like my platform, my space, is an opportunity for people that may not have any other opportunities to have a voice to share, to live their life beautifully and balanced and unapologetic and let their voice, you know, resonate, because we all have a story and I feel like you, just you're one step away from hearing a story that can change your life. You know, it's like reading a good book, like you read a book and sometimes you read the right book that changes your whole perception of life and how you see things and how you show up. If you've ever attended a conference or went to church and you heard the pastor speak or you heard the keynote speaker say something that, like it, touched you deep in your soul, like they were speaking directly to you, like this message was for you, I feel like that's how it is. You know, we're one story away from having our whole lives changed and for me, podcasting did that. It opened up this whole different space of different ways to heal and to grow, and it deepened my spiritual practice and helped me become more aligned and more just connected with myself. It actually helped me create this routine to get my day started and I'm not going to lie, it doesn't always work as pretty as I want it to, but I allow myself grace and say you know what, I'll start again tomorrow. And on days when I feel like I haven't finished everything that I wanted to finish, I haven't did all the things that I felt like I needed to do, I accept that I did exactly what I needed to do in the moment and it can go back on the list and we can try again tomorrow. Or maybe I just need to have a moment.

Speaker 1 19:23

Sometimes, when we have a lot of things going on, when life gets to life, we just have to take a second and say, okay, why do I get stuck at this point, like, what about this project or, you know, this assignment that is getting me stuck? That every time I get here I can't move forward? Usually there's some things happening. When we start getting honest about what those things are, it creates this opportunity for us to look at it differently and then we can move forward. Right, so that's how I like to view life and I'm always a half glass full type of person, like the glass is never empty, it's just it's almost at the top each and every time. That's just my philosophy. But hey, everyone's perspective is different based on the lessons they learned in life and how they view life itself.

Speaker 1 20:32

So, but you know, when I think about the journey of podcasting, the opportunity to, I would say one of my biggest opportunities last year was being able to speak at Afros and Audios podcast. They had their fifth year anniversary podcast at um in Baltimore, maryland, and it was epic and it was amazing and you know, it was everything that I knew would be, because I had attended virtually. They had it the year before in Philadelphia and I couldn't go, so I attended virtually and I just had so much FOMO, like man, I wish I was there. So I was like this year I'm going to do it, I'm going to be there. And not only was I there, but I got a chance to speak. I got a chance to meet some amazing, amazing podcasters, and not just podcasters, and that's the thing. It's not just podcasters that show up. There are other people from different industry. You got your content creators, your producers, people that are doing other amazing things. So you get to actually meet and have those conversations with people and ask those questions and just vibe and just draw from that all that energy and then at the end of the day, you just get to relax and just enjoy.

Speaker 1 21:38

So, if you're ever, if you're thinking about, if you're into podcasting or maybe it's not podcasting whatever your career is, whatever your purpose is, being drawn to check out a conference, check out a festival, see what's happening in that world, and just if you can't attend in person, try to attend virtually. But join, show up, make the connections. You will be amazed at how you show up, but also be intentional about it. Okay, definitely be intentional about the places you choose to show up in. Those spaces, like having an idea of you know what speaker you would like to be introduced to or meet or, you know, have a conversation with, because those are the opportunities where you can actually just walk up to people and actually talk and have conversations. Like it's just so relaxed and casual and laid back. You don't have to be anyone else, you just have to show up and be yourself. That's the beauty of it. You just show up and be uniquely you and the rest will happen. You will meet the people that you need to meet.

Speaker 1 22:49

If you're an introvert like me, I get it. I love the idea of going places and meeting people and then, when it comes, it's like I'd rather just sit in the house in my PJs and watch reruns or pop my popcorn and just chill and relax and drink my glass of wine, or pop my popcorn and just chill and relax and drink my glass of wine. But there are times when you need to get out and be around other people to spark that creative energy, and that's another thing I felt like podcasting for me. It really helped me to sit in my creative, find things that I didn't realize I was really good at or that I loved, until I started podcasting, and it was like, oh my gosh, I love content. Creating Like this is such an amazing, like just creating the content, coming up with concepts Like this is cool, like this is so great, like I would have never thought I would be the person to do this.

Speaker 1 23:46

And that's the thing we learn what our strengths are, what we're not so good at and what we need a little help on. Because I talk a little bit about time management because it's not my strongest suit. I can set some deadlines and I know what things need to be done, but I have to have a little help staying focused and staying on task to make sure that everything's done in a timely fashion. So if you're in that boat with me, I am here for it. Okay, trust me with me. I am here for it. Okay, trust me.

Speaker 1 24:32

But I feel like you know, we all go through different seasons of growth. And it's funny because I was having this conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about like the decades of when I was in my twenties, like all the things that I accomplished when I got to my 30s. When I look back, what seeds did I plant that got me to where I'm at now? And now I'm in a whole new era, right, because now I'm in my 40s and it's like, okay, this is a different chapter and for me it's not just a season, it's an era. It's an era of growth, it's an era of not being afraid, and I think that's the biggest takeaway from podcasting is to not be afraid. Do not dim your light, do not shy away, but live it fully. Live your truth fully and never stop.

Speaker 1 25:30

I think sometimes we get into situations or people don't understand what our purpose is and what we're trying to achieve, and someone will try to talk us out of our purpose, and sometimes they succeed because they don't understand it. It wasn't meant for them. The assignment was for you. You know what the assignment is. You know what you need to do. Stay on assignment, stay on course. No, it's not going to always be easy. It's not. It's going to be moments where you're like are you sure this was for me? Are you sure? There are going to be times when you think you're not good enough, you're not smart enough, you don't have the skills, you don't have the money, you don't have all the tools that you need. Stay in it, stay in it, stay the course.

Speaker 1 26:31

I have been on this journey of podcasting where I've been challenged, where I have felt like an outsider, where I felt like I didn't quite measure up, like an outsider, where I felt like I didn't quite measure up. But when I look back and I'm like, wow, look what you've done. Look at you. You did that. It's like you're doing something amazing and honestly, I'm not really sure where time for Tea with Makita will take me. The possibilities are endless. Just with your career and the purpose and whatever destiny that you're being assigned, whatever that journey is, we have an idea of what we want it to look like, and then it shows up in a different way. So I like to just say that you know, for me, as long as I am sharing and helping the next person, whether it's behind the mic, on a stage, it doesn't matter. One of the things that I know I talked about is taking time for two with Makita on the road, and I definitely think I will definitely do that soon. But for right now, I think we're just going to continue to show up, continue the journey and just let it take me and my team.

Speaker 1 28:05

Whatever it's meant to be taken, I feel like you know, sometimes it's best to be like the river, where you just flow. The expectation is to just enjoy life, to be happy, to do what you love, and everything else that happens is extra. It's just like, you know, icing on the cake cherries on top. I'm already doing what I love. Everything that comes after that is just God's grace, saying you know what? Here's a little something extra to give you a smile. Here's a little something I bet you didn't think you could do.

Speaker 1 28:47

And the struggles or the burdens, or the crooked paths or all the challenges that come with the territory, just remember that those challenges, those rough spots, they are not meant to deter you, they're not meant to say stop. They're just meant to teach some lessons, to say, okay, this is not, we should go left instead of right. And a lot of times it comes because we are trying to deviate off the path and we want to do it our way versus the way we know we need to go. And that's what I've experienced. Like every time, I want to do it my way, which I think is the most easiest way so I don't have to put myself out there as much. It's like yep, nope, that's not going to work. You're going to have to put yourself out there, you're going to have to tell the world what it is you want and you're going to have to be proud of it and don't back down from it. So that's my two cents. But wherever you are in your journey, whether it's you're going back to school and you're finishing that degree, whether you're moving up the corporate ladder to your dream job, wherever you're at, whatever lessons that you've learned about yourself, about where you want to be, you know the people that you have close to you that are supporting you on the journey. Just know that it's all worth it in the end.

Speaker 1 30:19

So, as we wrap up this three-year podcast anniversary with so much excitement because, like for me, like it's like confetti dropping from the sky. Bottles are being popped and you know we got mimosas floating around um, I'm just happy, like my heart is happy. I couldn't be more happier. And if you want to celebrate with me, do me a favor, go leave a review for Time for Tea with Makeda. Tell me how much you have loved the podcast, one thing that has really been your beacon or one thing that you remember. Whether it's a word, it's a phrase, episode doesn't matter. Share it. Tell me what you think that's one great way for us to connect. Share it. Tell me what you think that's one great way for us to connect. All right, you guys, that is all the tea that I have to spill today, but guess what? Join me each and every Tuesday for more delicious hot tea Until next time, my friends namaste.