Today we’d like to introduce you to Taneka Lewis.
Hi Taneka, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Taneka, computer engineer, physicist, author, and blogger born and raised in Akron, Ohio. It’s not common for one person to have all those titles but with the power to control your own narrative you can do whatever makes you happy! Growing up I loved math and science so becoming an engineer was an easy choice but reading and writing on the other hand was something I never really enjoyed in school but at home I always had books and would walk to the library with my Grandma; so as I got into high school I would joke with my Aunt about how I was going to write a book one day. In January of 2020 I self-published my first book, talk about manifestation! “Growth in the Garden” is a collection of 66 daily devotionals and affirmations paired with Bible verses that you can easily carry with you throughout the day and journal with as well as challenge you to get in the habit of daily reading, self exploration, self care, and self growth. As I got older and went away to college, texting & calling my whole family to give them life updates about internships became overwhelming so I started blogging to keep everyone up to date about what I was working on and the different things I was doing to explore the cities. Turns out they enjoyed the blogs and started asking if I would do another one but I felt like I didn’t have anything to consistently write about. As time went on, I wanted to take control of where I was spending my money and I started researching Black-owned businesses, which gave birth to Tidbits of Tee, a blog that seeks to inspire and further group economics in the Black community by creating a hub for various Black-owned businesses as well as emphasize pouring into self. We can’t do our part as individuals if we don’t take care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
From the outside looking in the story may appear different but I’d be lying if I said everything has been a smooth road. There have been many long and frustrating sleepless nights trying to balance work, school, family, and self. I struggle with striving for the idea of perfection as well as people-pleasing. Wanting everything to be planned out, for it to work exactly how I envisioned it and for everyone to be happy but as we all know, that’s not how life works one bit! Oftentimes I would neglect myself showing up for everyone else. It’s something I’m still working on but have progressed in as well by setting boundaries, putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, and taking a day out of the week to do something that makes me happy. We deserve to show up for ourselves just as much as we show up for anyone else!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I’m not writing or blogging, I design and implement electronic platforms and power electronic solutions for Naval applications. I’m most proud of being able to be a part of the representation for young girls that want to get into STEM because I didn’t see any Black women in engineering growing up so for them to be able to see someone that looks like them and that they can relate to in a field that they want to be in one day motivates me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yea, take the time to explore where you are and give yourself the grace to grow and evolve; who you are in one season isn’t who you will be in the next and that’s okay.
Pricing:
- Growth in the Garden Book – $15
- Growth in the Garden Lapel Pin – $7
- Growth in the Garden Bundle – $20
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.tidbitsoftee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidbitsoftee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tidbitsoftee
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tidbitsoftee
Image Credits
Dominic Joseph (@djosephphoto)
