<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Miki Shoppe]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Miki Chronicles]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:54:02 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.themikichronicles.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Finding Your Voice: 5 Steps to Heal the Inner Child Taught to Be Silent ]]></title><description><![CDATA[From Silence to Self-Expression: Why You Struggle to Speak Up “Speak when you’re spoken to. Answer when you’re called.” A subtle, tidy little way of saying shut up. I mastered that instruction early. In retrospect, it did more harm than good. Many of us were told to be quiet so often as children that it smothered our ability to speak when speaking was necessary—saying no  felt like rebellion. Disagreeing felt dangerous. We learned to swallow our discomfort, our needs, our instincts....]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/finding-your-voice-5-steps-to-heal-the-inner-child-taught-to-be-silent</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691bc535dd35cb65e8690c81</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:06:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_0c001aefa21a4d6ba48db6222d637d8f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Conversation with Anger: Reflections on a Healing Journey]]></title><description><![CDATA[I write to process, so my Google Docs and notes app are filled with unpublished words. I found something I wrote in 2023. Two whole years later, and I think this is something someone might need. Let me know what you think. My biggest lesson from 2022 was learning how to navigate being angry  while healing. Time has passed, but that lesson still echoes in my life today. Healing isn’t linear; it loops, resurfaces, and tests you in new ways when you least expect it. People often talk about the...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/in-conversation-with-anger-reflections-on-a-healing-journey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69011209db647af5d949dd0e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:10:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_eef136179eb8424cb495e9132a92ffdb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Drink of Water: The Space for Grief, Joy, and Healing]]></title><description><![CDATA[“There, there” might not be the most comforting thing to say when someone is crying. But some of us would rather say “there, there” than...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/a-drink-of-water-the-space-for-grief-joy-and-healing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b072a99892020bb5784f37</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:25:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5949e29dc1f24b1e9f0a6261d418691f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[“It Nuh Look Good” — How Cultural Perfectionism Fuels Second-Hand Shame]]></title><description><![CDATA[We’ve all heard it before: “It nuh look good.” It might sound harmless, even caring, but it often hides something more toxic: second-hand...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/it-nuh-look-good-how-cultural-perfectionism-fuels-second-hand-shame</link><guid isPermaLink="false">689a276cfc810a67e319f710</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:50:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_1d61323a4322426e8d6d919268b2541c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Living In the Gray Area: Mental Health Is Not One-Size Fits All]]></title><description><![CDATA[I initially struggled with writing this without sounding like a complaint of sorts. Writing about certain experiences comes with bravery....]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/living-in-the-gray-area-mental-health-is-not-one-size-fits-all</link><guid isPermaLink="false">653c144f6c2a6848f0a7410b</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Oct 2023 20:43:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_bb6615d0b6f9428ab24ab875d0a35f88~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Things to Consider Before You Quit]]></title><description><![CDATA[I made the mistake of saying the “Q” word out loud. What Q word? QUIT. Yes, I thought, what if I stopped writing intending to publish? Or...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/5-things-to-consider-before-you-quit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64d133d9630474de823d05fe</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:53:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_850ee963d49b429d807d2ae98eaa416d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I Hope This Finds You]]></title><description><![CDATA[An email you might open Dear You, I hope this finds you. I do not know in what condition, but I hope it finds you. Take what you must and...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/i-hope-this-finds-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62e1e3381b1a7fef6b8b6e80</guid><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2022 21:11:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_47ced773d91d4e858044e729dafb2128~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sometimes All you need is a little Adele]]></title><description><![CDATA[How Adele's new single, Easy On Me, inspired a new threshold to my healing.]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/sometimes-all-you-need-is-a-little-adele</link><guid isPermaLink="false">617acc4dcc1d550016f5eff3</guid><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pop Music]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_78749ef310474cb88134414acf5b3017~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s Speak On It]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let's Talk About The Things That Matter It might be much to say I was born speaking, but ask my family, I have been a little chatterbox...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/let-s-speak-on-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60c27e12b1f9c5001567b9d7</guid><category><![CDATA[Caribbean]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category><category><![CDATA[people]]></category><category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:42:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_d6df2ae5b68c4b4bb2be3078164401b7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_500,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I AM WOMAN]]></title><description><![CDATA[What is woman? She was assigned a pronoun from HIM In the beginning, she was taken from HIS rib HE was assigned to protect HER HE had a...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/i-am-woman-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">604508a50e86e50015c64371</guid><pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_57570ed412d24d11bc3c8ca653efb9c6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How To Get Out Of Your Way]]></title><description><![CDATA[I started a Youtube Channel. I despised the idea of a vlog but, it was time.  I got out of my comfort zone. But I think my first official...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/how-to-get-out-of-your-way</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6033e36104eb6b001729216b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:38:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/QzCxjR7Up0M" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Action: Not a Bag A Mout ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A New Black Female Podcast How many of us will look back at our story with regret? Or worse, standby and let life pass you because you’re...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/action-not-a-bag-a-mout-new-black-podcast</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f95b4e2a476b30017cd43cc</guid><category><![CDATA[Caribbean]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[heritage]]></category><category><![CDATA[immigrant]]></category><category><![CDATA[jamaica]]></category><category><![CDATA[jamaican culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category><category><![CDATA[team building]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_f4b5f0589adc421f8f09a6effebbdc23~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_500,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[  Top Ten Stereotypes about Jamaicans]]></title><description><![CDATA[I was born and raised in St. Mary, Jamaica, West Indies , but if I didn’t tell you that, you probably wouldn’t have guessed. Since I moved to the US in 2009, I have been mistaken for a Dominican, Trinidadian, Haitian, but never a Jamaican. My very first “OMG you’re Jamaican” moment happened in the cafeteria at work. The surprise was different. In fact, it was borderline disrespectful. After acknowledging my nationality, the lady said, “You’re so advanced. ” I hesitantly replied, “ok”  and...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/copy-of-top-ten-stereotypes-about-jamaicans</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f2c722f6814920017376e9a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 21:12:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ca953f_9f7de394744b453aa951a61aecfaa267~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[JUST A QUICK NOTE.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Despite all that you are going through, you can still be a friend to a friend during a hard season.]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/just-a-quick-note</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f28c960d0af1c0017bab0e9</guid><category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category><category><![CDATA[love]]></category><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category><category><![CDATA[people]]></category><category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2020 03:00:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_f439f9a2720e4e2881766d93a379f347~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How are you Creating Your Black Legacy?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Whether you are building a family or business, you are an integral part of the history of our people. ]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/how-are-you-creating-your-black-legacy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5eec0b8d4555cc002d748331</guid><category><![CDATA[Caribbean]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[heritage]]></category><category><![CDATA[people]]></category><category><![CDATA[Black Legacy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Black Businesses]]></category><category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category><category><![CDATA[writer]]></category><category><![CDATA[immigrant]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2020 04:05:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_a62945199769477695c0fb6e61e7191c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Birthing Purpose from Pain: Sharline's Story.]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have always been a storyteller.  In fact, I have an entire folder with unfinished stories just waiting to be told. But, I am a bigger...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/birthing-purpose-from-pain-sharline-s-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5ee7af28d5cea500171f2493</guid><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2020 20:32:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/18013f_0331ac1aff6d452c88b0eb26269328b7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_828,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[It’s Time to be Smart about who you have on your Team.]]></title><description><![CDATA[ We are in a season where we cannot and will not tolerate mediocrity and lagging. ]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/it-s-time-to-be-smart-about-who-you-have-on-your-team</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5ea5da924cae610017f8821f</guid><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[culture]]></category><category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category><category><![CDATA[people]]></category><category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category><category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category><category><![CDATA[team building]]></category><category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2020 23:19:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_6c624c6746466c41447259~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Janeth A. Benjamin</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Quick Reminder for these Uncertain Times. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Wherever your day takes you, wherever you are now, remember that moment, in that time and space, that place is exactly where you need to...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/a-quick-reminder-for-these-uncertain-times</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e9cb4436602de001783f8d3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2020 20:43:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9b114dce4c1047a4235d94f3641d631f.jpg/v1/fit/w_595,h_842,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I AM WOMAN ]]></title><description><![CDATA[What is woman? She was assigned a pronoun from HIM In the beginning, she was taken from HIS rib HE was assigned to protect HER HE had a...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/i-am-woman</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e5c22bfd36482003432676d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:01:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c229d46aa484a0ba626c356e733cda8.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Remember Your WHY!]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have to remember why I started. Journeys have twists and turns and detours Shifting the focus. Straying from the original plan. But...]]></description><link>https://www.themikichronicles.com/post/remember-your-why</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e421ee21ea0b60017822207</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:26:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/193bb71a80a147679b4148778c591466.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_801,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item></channel></rss>