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Grieving the loss of loved ones, pets, friends, and relationships is challenging. Grief doesn’t just rob you of who you love it robs you of the person you were with them.

Ultimately, losing yourself is the hardest part. The loss of identity is by far the greatest heartbreak of them all. It’s like a glass ball that symbolizes your life has been dropped and shattered onto the floor.

(Disclaimer) Hey there! I’m Mia The Diva. I am the Founder and Content Creator of the Fly by July Campaign. It’s a 12-week online Body Confidence Health and Fitness Challenge.

I’m pre-diabetic and on a mission for the next 365 days to bring down my A1C to 5.7 or better. You can join our community by flying on over to all the things @flybyjuly. You can follow or subscribe on your favorite platforms. Stay in the loop of all the things on the Fly! 

First and foremost, I am not a medical professional. Any information I share is based on my own personal experience for educational purposes. I will not accept responsibility for the actions of any reader or viewer. I will not accept responsibility for any consequential results.

Please consult a physician or qualified health professional about your health, weight management or any opinions expressed here.  

So Let’s get into it & Let’s get Fly by July!!🙌🏾

Hey Divas! ✨ It’s been a while—7 whole days, 7 whole nights, weeks, months, and 2 years since my last post. I hope you’re all doing well!

I’ve missed you and blogging here in the FBJ space. Let’s make it the Flyest corner of the internet once again!

Thank you to all of you who are still subscribed. I am still here and very much alive & still Fly! There is much more to come in the world of FBJ! This blog has been something I always find myself coming back to.

It seems every time I hit my stride and get back into the swing of things life continues to happen.

In short no matter how much I tried to be “normal” I wasn’t. Life has changed & I have changed.

These past several years I have been navigating my new normal through grief. My new life is very different from what I imagined it to be. But I am still here and making it through!

Grief Journey Update: This year marks 7 years since my father’s death.

Today is my Dad’s 77th Birthday and 7 was his favorite number. Some years, I feel okay through the Holidays, Father’s Day, his Birthday and Life Moments. I get by and manage through it. But this year, I’ve really missed my dad.

During these past 7 years, I did not have an opportunity to truly grieve. Being capable of grieving in peace is a blessing.

Don’t ever let anyone or any circumstance rob you of this experience, grief is as personal as it is sacred. Protect your peace and heart at all costs, take care of you.

I had the privilege of getting to know my Dad as a person. It was just the two of us for a lot of years after Mom died.

He was so much more than my father, he was my best friend. I had the honor of witnessing him as an imperfect human. He faced his fears and gained confidence within his boundaries.

He accepted growing old with grace and humor. He truly lived his life on his own terms. I loved him completely. My entire heart was filled with love for him.

He was one of the kindest and gentlest human beings I have ever had the honor of getting to know. He was 5ft 7, maybe 5ft 8 on a good day. Lol. But he was larger than life through my eyes. I saw him this way even as a grown woman well into in her thirties.

Through my father I learned that masculinity is not only the physical strength of a man. It is also about how to treat a lady, help raise a family, or have the ability to give & provide support.

My father showed me that masculinity is also carried through the strength of a sharp mind. It’s also about having a nurturing heart and a caring soul.

Throughout his life, he showed kindness to others, sometimes at his own expense. Witnessing him finally give himself grace and be raw in his vulnerabilities made me see him more than my Dad.

How he navigated struggling through his own grief journey and personal challenges, was ultimately the greatest lesson learned from him.

What I’ve learned about grief over the years

Grief is the final gift of love because the growth that we experience as a human being is priceless. Grief is an expression of love and through the grieving process we transform into becoming our best self.

If we accept it, grief, no matter the form, is one of life’s greatest gifts. It is truly a blessing from God. The human-being we become in the process is a testament of what Grace and Love truly is.

Reconnecting to what brings me joy after grief

It’s a journey. I am in a space of reconnecting with what brings me joy. I am living a life that aligns with that joy. While I’ve been away, I’ve been focusing on rebuilding my life. I am learning how it looks now and where I am going.

This season of grief was a whirlwind of emotions and navigating unresolved trauma. This experience has left with me with being capable of giving the gift of patience, presence and empathy.

The other side of grief can be just as painful. I navigated grief and worked on myself. After this journey, I realized why things played out the way they did. I understood the role I played in my life. Everything really does happen for a reason, even if you do not understand it at the time.

Grieving the loss of loved ones, pets, friends, and relationships is challenging. Grief doesn’t just rob you of who you love it robs you of the person you were with them.

Ultimately, losing yourself is the hardest part. The loss of identity is by far the greatest heartbreak of them all. It’s like a glass ball that symbolizes your life has been dropped and shattered onto the floor.

We have two choices. We can try to piece it and glue it back together. We can make it a disco ball. Or, we can move on. Moving on is another heartbreak in itself but sometimes necessary.

When people show you who they are, believe them. This is who they truly are. Even if your heart is in denial, you have to protect your energy.

Navigating Grief is not all doom and gloom. I promise you. Grief and happiness can coexist. I’ve learned over the years that it’s normal and healthy to feel happiness and sadness especially after losing a loved one and during big life changes.

Grief doesn’t mean you’ll never smile again, finding moments of joy and being intentional about experiencing it is healing.

Finding and doing the things that bring me joy is by far has been my biggest grief hack!

The Good News About Grief

The good news about grief is that as long as we are here, we have the choice. We can live life on our own terms. We get this choice as long as we have breath in our body.

The beauty of going through grief is that you get to see a new version of yourself. This happens if you are lucky. You get to experience yourself on the other side. You can really create an authentic life that you truly love!

Health Update: Walking for Mental Health, Clarity and Eating Cleaner to help lower my A1C levels.

I’ve been dealing with grief and stress. They have been affecting my health. A step outside into some sunshine and fresh air is the cure-all when I’m feeling in a slump. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with walking! It is just as important for physical health as it is for mental health. It also enhances overall wellness.

For several years, I’ve been in pre-diabetes. Recently, my A1C test is high. It’s just one point away from a diagnosis. My goal is to manage it through nutrition and lifestyle changes.

I’m working on lowering my A1C and aim to walk 2 miles daily, now managing 1 mile easily. It’s been several challenging years, but we’re still here and getting things done!

A Diva’s gotta watch her suggas so daily walking it is! My goal is to get my A1C levels down to a solid 5.7 or better. I aim to manage my blood sugars by lifestyle and not meds. I’m now at 6.3 from my last labwork a year ago so it’s a stretch but doable. It’s always best to stay ahead of things as much as we can.

During these past couple of years, working from home and becoming a homebody, I have not been as active. I am now in a space of life where I navigate a changing body.

Hormonal changes and a family history, which I believe have contributed to the higher A1C levels are at play. It also gets really, really — really comfortable being at home. AND. I’m an introvert to boot!

I can literally be unbothered for weeks. I truly vibe alone nestled away in my diva bungalow. I make a cameo here and there. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily healthy.

This journey is not linear; it’s two steps forward and two steps back. There are pauses, turns, and curves, all for the plot I suppose. It helps my brain make sense of all this. I’m finally starting to feel like myself. I’m getting back to me and figuring out what’s next.

Fly by July 365!

One Year to Wellness, Mia’s Journey

I will be starting my new campaign today! FlybyJuly 365! One year to wellness! Here I will be tracking my personal journey. I will also share all the things I’m doing over this next year.

Feel free to hang out as I catch my groove! To stay updated on everything social follow us @flybyjuly. We’re on most main social media sites.

You can subscribe here at the blog, our Hub. Get the latest Team FBJ news before it hits the streets! I will share my weekly goals & check-in with you here on Sundays and Wednesdays. I will also give updates and lifestyle content on the fly. This will all happen as I get back into the swing of things. As I get it together, I will gradually get back into these socials. I’ll be well, sociable. 😂

If this is your vibe, click & subscribe!

Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You!
Mia The Diva