Posts tagged ‘Motivation’
Hey Divas!
Yes 10 years. Where did the time go?
What started as a blog to provide support for a weightloss product and hold myself accountable on my weight loss journey has turned into a community that is now family.
There is no straight line on a journey there are turns curves scribbles and Big Sharpie worthy blackout moments.
To say this blog of mine has been a journey is not justice enough. It’s been filled of life lessons, mistakes, choices, disappointments, laughter, heartache, growth, style and all things fabulous. Complete Acceptance of being perfectly imperfect.
I’m going to take you on a journey from 2011 till now so get comfy. Get your favorite cup of tea and snuggle up in your favorite corner.
2011
I had been 6 months out of a bad break up of a 6 year relationship.
I started this blog as a way to get my life back. In relationships there is so much that is sacrificed. We don’t realize how invested we were until after the fact.
I felt completely drained but grateful to start living for me and not for “relationship goals” to be honest we had sincere love for each other but didn’t really like each other at our core.
We were two very different people with different values and different life goals. It was a pill to face my truths and the reality of our relationship but when you are honest with yourself it will set you free.
I was a year in my nutrition network marketing business but didn’t fit in with the culture and couldn’t see myself hosting hotel room presentations.
I love the company, the products and what they stand for, but l needed to find my own way to market that was a reflection of me and my personality.
I wanted to help people. Primarily women. I had been learning so much about nutrition and degenerative disease prevention being involved in the cellular nutrition space. I got hooked on learning and reading everything l can get my hands on. I was obsessed with learning about the human body and how nutrition can heal just about everything.
I had lost my mother to diabetes at a young age and want other women to be around for their children and grandchildren.
Losing my mother left a huge void in my life. Our family dynamic changed and it took me a lifetime to accept her death but greater than that. What caused it. I’ve spent a lifetime trying to fill a void that nothing will ever fill.
Life goes on. Life moves. A wasted life is staying stuck. My mission is to help people get unstuck and start living! The greatest lessons of life are when pain is your teacher.
December 16, 2011. l posted my first blog post. 10 years ago today.
My First Blog Post It set the stage for this journey. Women pick themselves apart for everything. It’s time we pick ourselves up.
2012
February 2012 l launched my first Fly by July Body Confidence Campaign before the whole body confidence movement. This began a movement of women believing in and loving themselves making a promise to themselves of personal change to live a healthier life style.
Our infamous White Linen photo shoot put us on the map! The white sheets represent accepting ourselves as is and making a personal promise of change. It was the first time in my life that l felt connected to my purpose in life and experienced a true sense of fulfillment.
2013
When starting anything that brings attention it will come with criticism and l wasn’t prepared for that. I’ve learned over the years to develop a thick skin. I was shamed and criticized for providing wellness advice being overweight.
When we make changes in our life it causes the people around us to evaluate their life. When l look back now those people l received criticism from just weren’t satisfied in their own life. It really had nothing to do with me.
Unfortunately l took the criticism personally and ended the campaign. It was something l gave my full heart into but did not feel appreciated.
I focused my time on self development.
2014
My Grandmother’s illness progressed and was placed into Hospice Care. I got her on the vitamins l sell from my online business and had witnessed dramatic improvement in her health. She was in her 90’s so she wasn’t doing cart wheels but l did witness her having a better quality of life knitting and having juicy conversations with her sisters.
I cherish this time l was able to spend with her during that time and am forever grateful.
She gave me the most beautiful compliment. She fondly called her vitamins her “Mia pills”’ she thanked me for giving her her life back.
To hear those words from not only my Grandma but a woman in her nineties inspired me to get back to blogging.
What l learned from my Grandmother as long as
we have breath we have a life to live to it’s fullest.
2015
My Grandma passed away. Peacefully. Spring of 2015.
A few months later in September Cortney, one of FBJ’s Core Original Crew and one of my strongest supporters had reached out to me to let me know her life long friend Teresa who joined us on ALL of our Fly n Fit Saturdays & other Fly by July shenanigans had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and was in the hospital.
She said what l did meant a lot to them both.
Cortney asked if l could give Teresa a call that she would love to hear from me and asked if l could offer her some words of encouragement and support because it would mean a lot to her.
In that moment l realized what l was doing did matter. That l was making a difference.
I had spent so much time focusing on the negativity that l missed out on the positive. I didn’t focus on the women who did show up. The women who actually digged and appreciated what l was doing.
Teresa came to every fitness meet up and encouraged me on the days that l didn’t want to go, even on rainy days we were out there walking.
I met Teresa at the hospital that day. I happened to make it there as she was waking up from surgery. I made a promise to her that we are walking in her honor at the Making Strides Walk and that she is coming with us.
Since 2015 and counting Teresa has joined us every year we have been out there walking in her honor along with all the SURVIVORS!
Teresa is one of the strongest women l know. She faced her cancer diagnosis head on with grace, compassion and love for herself. She helped me realize that simply showing up for yourself is enough in this life. She has always given me her solid support & encouragement over the years.
l love her for that. ❤️
We also launched our first FBJ Meet n Greet!
2016
We Showed Out as Show Girls celebrating Teresa’s first year Cancer Free!!! Our best walk yet! We rounded up everyone this was a great day for all of us celebrating Teresa’s first milestone and All the SURVIVORS!
We also had our first ever Holiday Party!
2017
The Pink Jam! Named by my Dad. FBJ’s first charity event to raise funds and Breast Cancer Awareness! It was an amazing night of friends, community and raising Breast Cancer Awareness. A night of celebrating Survivors. Live Music & Comedy. The Teamwork definitely makes the dreamwork. I’m forever grateful for my friends and the Las Vegas Community.
We did that!!!
The night was a HUGE Success!
2018
I lost my Dad unexpectedly. It was a traumatic experience for me. We prepare for death but no matter when it comes we are never ready and we never get over it but we do move forward. Life goes on. He was a big part of my life. My family. My Best Friend. My Mentor. My Therapist. My Financial Advisor LoL
In short he was everything to me. The events following his death left me emotionally drained, exhausted, vulnerable and depressed. You just never really know people until you are in times that you need them the most.
“When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time. “ – Maya Angelou
2019
The following year was a rollercoaster of emotions. Packing up my father’s home & belongings. Saying our final goodbyes.
I Thank God for His grace and blessings. I’m grateful for the help & support l had during these times. It was the darkest period of my life but it didn’t stop me from living my life. Defining my new normal and my new life was an extremely painful process. I finally allowed myself to feel everything. I allowed myself to grieve.
2020
A year of blessings and breakthroughs. I had many loses many loses in my life. It was just loss after loss after loss in all aspects of my life. Then the pandemic hit the loss of my “ new normal “ and daily life as l knew it along with the world, changed.
I still kept a positive attitude. I like a lot of people was isolated during the pandemic. Grateful for my cat we had each other during those times. Life completely changed in 24 hours. lt was the first time in my life that l felt grown up.
Living in a space of uncertainty l felt truly on my own and had to make it do what it do. I’m grateful for the tools and resources l had. I learned how to manage and get through those tough times.
l broke through my negative beliefs of not being good enough. I have much left in me to give to this world.
In this moment l felt free and ready to take on the world.
I started blogging again.
2021
Like last year another year of losses but this year l have the tools to get through the eb and flow of life. It’s truly been a journey for me and my greatest blessings. I’m finally starting to see the other side. Peace of mind is everything. Life sh*t and f*ckery is still 10% of what actually happens in life. The other 90% is how we deal. The good news how we deal is fully within our control.
FBJ is coming back! The divas are together again! I’m so grateful for our Fly Crew. 10 years later and we are as solid as ever! My Day 1’s (missing a few in this photo)We always seem to find our way back to each other. I love you ladies ❤️
Cheers to 10 years of being Healthy!
Cheers to 10 years of being Fabulous!
Cheers to 10 years of being our best selves!
Excited for what’s abound for the next 10 years!
Thank you to everyone who has read, liked, commented or shared any of my blog post. Thank you to everyone who has supported Fly by July in anyway. Your support is everything.
Thank you.
The people that this campaign has attracted over the years alongside the witnessed the transformations in their lives inspires me to keep going forward in my life.
We are all here for each other.
We’re coming for you.
2022
Full on Flyness abound! #FBJ10
Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You!
Mia The Diva
Hey Divas!
Welcoming Fall frfr. It’s been warmer than usual for us here in Vegas but that snippy chill factor came in over the weekend.
This time of year l spend as a wind down and making preparations for the year ahead. The past couple of years have been short of madness. Coming out of the most horrible experience of my life has left me changed. A new person a better diva.
Emotional scars are the worst because unlike a broken bone you can’t see that you’ve healed you have to believe it and do the real work. The painful uncomfortable work of facing yourself and owning your ish. We can’t choose the cards life has dealt us but we can play TF out of our deck.
So with all this said going into a New Year in less than two months. I’m thinking about what l truly want out of this year. Creating a vision board has helped me over the years even the years l didn’t have the energy to cut and clip images l wrote it down and it still worked!
It’s a simple process but not easy. You may have screen shots or images in your phone of what your desires are IG is a great place to start as well. Magazines are old school but are great if you have them and know that google images is your new found BFF!
Creating your 2022 Vision in 3 Easy Steps
1. Set some goals using S.M.A.R.T formula. It needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and a time frame deadline for the goal to be reached.
Find images that reflect these goals. You can set goals in any area of your life but for the purpose of Fly By July we focus on Health & Fitness so this is a great place to start of you’re not sure what you want right now. Nothing in life can be achieved or is sustainable without our health.
2. Find a recent photo of yourself in a Happy moment.Think of how these goals will make you feel find words and quotes that affirm your feelings.
3. Think of possessions you want to own related to goals from STEP 1. Collect all the images and paste to board, scrap book paper, digital, etc. lf you do go digital be sure to print it out to display in a place where you will see it regularly or use as screen saver.
Keep it simple. Keep it clean. Keep it Inspirational. All you need is scrap book paper scissors and glue. I prefer rubber cement and scrapbook paper so that l can put it in a book. Digital is an option as well you can pin a board in Pinterest or save image to your screen saver where it can be seen frequently.
I challenge you this week to sit down and write down your goals and collect images to make your vision board! Let’s see your 2022 dear diva!
Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You!
Mia The Diva
Hi Divas!
It’s a harsh reality. Too many times we expect “ us “ from others. Some people will give you their entire ass to kiss regardless of your relationship with them. Regardless of your friendship. Regardless of your family ties.
Stop expecting YOU from other people
This is a physical world and people will be people out for themselves. Givers will be givers and takers will be takers until the end of times.
The hardest lesson but the greatest lesson of my life is the importance of making myself a priority and self care. Everyone and everything took priority over me. My body and my life was a reflection of that. Not a good look for a Diva!
Self Care is how we fill up our cups. Love You some You Dear Diva!!
My cup ran empty it was not replenished. As we know we can not pour from an empty cup.
I ended up feeling emotionally drained, used, and taken advantage of most the time.
The hard reality l had to face is that a part of me allowed that behavior due to my lack of boundaries.
Boundaries. What are they? Anything that doesn’t feel good is when a boundary has been crossed.
In that moment diva has 3 choices. She can address it, take it, or move on from it.
A diva doesn’t have to make anyone’s bullshit her reality. F—that. We are here to receive what overflows from our Fabulousness. Graciously.
Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You!
Mia Thee Diva
Hey Divas,
Here l am getting back on track. The art of allowing. I’m in a space of life where l don’t have to get it all right. I’ve lived enough life to know what l like and what l don’t for the most part.
I know that l don’t like feeling tired and tapped out. I don’t like feeling drained. I don’t like feeling stressed, even though it’s healthy sometimes and a part of life. I do like how l feel after eating right and clean. I do like when l am actually on time for things. It reduces my stress and l am able to be fully present.
The sacrifice to eating clean is the prepping. It takes time and l am working on ways to perfect it to balance it in my life. If I don’t plan I go straight to what’s most convenient or miss a meal. Not a good look for a diva! lt’s all a work in progress but I take things day by day.
I’ve been chronicling my journey and got off track these past couple of weeks after losing my Uncle to cancer. I would think by now l would have this grief thing down but with every death a piece of me dies too. Every death is painful no matter how much you prepare for it. You’re never prepared when it actually happens.
My Uncle was a second Dad to me. He was the version of my Dad who broke all the rules. He lived in his truth and unapologetically.
Everything is eventual. This one hurts so bad.
I’m staying on the course and not allow grief to get me off the course. I’m in a space of life that l understand death is a reality of life as it is necessary and natural but it doesn’t take away the hurt.
I’m learning to process death while still keeping my priorities in tact by having goals but more so than that making a commitment to them because without making a commitment it just adds to the list of failures.
Set realistic goals and expectations. It’s okay—and healthy—to realize you cannot be 100% successful at everything all at once. Be mindful of the things you can control and work on accepting the things that you can’t control.
Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You
Mia The Diva
The only thing not fair in life is how you treat yourself that isn’t a reflection of love.
October 20, 2021
Mia The Diva
Hey Divas,
Over the past couple of weeks it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. It seems like everything seems to happen at once. I often ask can l get a break already!?
I’ve had to make decisions that fit my best interests first which is a new concept and completely foreign to me. I’m learning to put myself first. It took me realizing that l’m all that l’ve got, no one is checking for me.
I use to think that everyone thought like l did that we are all “ in this together “ l put everyone and everything as a priority and not myself.
l’ve learned that we are in this life to experience it for ourselves but we are not by ourselves. You can’t expect you out of other people.
Sometimes it’s in our most vulnerable moments that people will find opportunity to leverage themselves or try to completely break you for their own gain. It doesn’t happen to everyone but unfortunately this has been my experience.
Wake up solution oriented. The only thing not fair in life is how you treat yourself that isn’t a reflection of love.
Our survival in this life depends on self compassion. It’s taken me some time to fully understand it. We hear about self care and self love just about everywhere these days as everyone is seeking comfort in uncertainty.
Having compassion for self and others is by far the greatest gift we can ever give ourselves and our loved ones.
Ask yourself when you’re in doubt. If l loved myself would l ________? Self love is our ultimate guide of living.
Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You
Mia The Diva
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