What Do YOU Feel When You Dance?

I love this question asked by Ana Masacote of Masacote Entertainment out of Boston. She is a beautiful, talented dancer who has inspired me more than she knows.

"What do you feel when you dance?"

Fibro You Can't Beat THIS Girl. I'm Covered!

I found this wonderful article today and  it has inspired me to write this blog.

I have fibromyalgia. It has changed my life. Here is a pretty basic description of what it is:

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have “tender points” on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.

People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as:

Trouble sleeping

Morning stiffness

Headaches

Painful menstrual periods

Tingling or numbness in hands and feet

Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”). 

***Side note: To all my friends and family that I have let down due to me forgetting something I'm supposed to do, please forgive me. Right now this especially goes to Osaremi, founder of TCE Events, who I totally forgot about on Saturday because I didn't write down her event like I should have. I'm still coming up with different ways to cope with my memory loss, but some things fall through the cracks. I truly appreciate those of you who work with me to help me remember stuff. <3***

I have ALL those symptoms of fibromyalgia, plus quite a few more. But, thank you Jesus, I am able to teach Salsa, Zumba, PiYo, Bokwa, perform on stage and more! Yes, there are times when I need to stop and let my body rest. And yes, sometimes I fall back on my pre fibromyalgia mindset and go hard, and then wind up knocked on my butt for a few days. But that's OK. I'm still learning how to cope with this disease, but it hasn't beat me and it WON'T beat me.

So I've been asked how I am able to physically do the things that I am able to do and I have this debilitating condition. I've heard, 'I can't even make it to my mailbox.", "I can't even pick up this case of water", "I can't even clean my house.", "I can't even get out of bed.", "I can't do Zumba", "I can't dance", the list goes on.

My answer to how I'm able to be as active as I am is... God has blessed me. He has blessed me with a passion for dance. He has blessed me with a passion to help people. He blessed me with my own businesses Love 2 Dance Fitness and Baile con Sazon before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia even though I was still active Duty Air Force.

I stress the fact that we opened the studio before the diagnosis because I don't think I would have had the mental strength to chase my dreams after I was told I had fibro. God especially blessed me with bills to pay (yes, I said it!) for our studio so that I would HAVE to teach classes! I've had no choice but to keep my body moving because I sure can't afford a full staff! :)

God has also surrounded me with people who are positive and who help me to keep going and who gave me the courage to step out and do things that most people are afraid to try.

First and foremost being my wonderful husband. He's my Boaz and he's always there for me. I don't know what I would do without him.

I'd also like to thank Reggie Santiago for standing in for me a trillion times when I couldn't show up to the studio to help teach. I'd like to thank J and Monica for helping me out so much on the fitness side of the house. I know there have been times that I've been super flaky but you lovely ladies stood by me! I'd like to thank our whole Baile con Sazon Black Belt Salsa family. Marci, Loretta, Seymore, Willie Mac, Tonino, Tashia, DJ, Max, Erik, Sara, JuanYe, April, Pepe, Edie the Salsa Freak... You've covered for me, taught me, performed with me, held events with me, held events for me, helped to promote, taken gorgeous pictures, practiced with me, pushed me, the list goes on.

So, to sum it all up, I'm blessed and God is good!

I'd love to hear your stories, testimonies, questions, comments. Tell me about your journey. I eat that stuff up. :)

God Bless and Take Care
Love, 
Tonya

www.TonyaOutlaw.com

P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

You are Wonderful

All of your experiences mold you into the wonderful person you are today. No one can take that away from you unless you let them.




God Bless and Take Care
Love, 
Tonya 
P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

How Did This Happen? I Just Joined the Girl Scouts!

I am a homeschooling mom.  How I made that decision is the subject of a whole nother blog! But anyway, needless to say I'm always looking for ways to have my kids interact with other kids.

I happened to stop by the post office at Eutaw Village, which I NEVER go to. It is nowhere near my house. As a matter of fact, I NEVER go to the post office. Who does that these days? :)

As I was leaving the post office, I looked over and saw the Girl Scout office. I didn't even know they had an office or store! I just thought they met in churches and rec centers. I really was clueless.

I go into the office and I ask the lady how to get my daughter registered. She tells me I have two options. I can either sign her up online and she will be put on the waiting list until who knows when.
OR I can become a Troop Leader and find someone to be a Co Leader with me and she will automatically become a Girl Scout.

Hmmm... Now I'm stuck. I have no clue about Girl Scouts and what they do. I was never a Girl Scout, I don't know any Girl Scouts, what do Girl Scouts do? And Troop Leader???? And Co Troop Leader???? Where am I gonna find someone to be a Troop Leader with me??? I'm freaking out inside my head a little.

But once the immediate panicked passed, I started thinking. I've got my own studio, so I have a place that I have complete control of that I can have my Troop meetings. I've got one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world who has just retired from the Air Force and wants something to do and she loves kids even more than I do. Well, I think we've got a winner!

So here we are, my bestie and I, trained and ready to go.  Troop Leaders of Troop 1178 in Fayetteville NC.

And now my daughter and I are officially members of the Girl Scouts of America! And we are really proud!

BTW, we are recruiting Daisies and Cadettes. Interested?

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya
Troop 1178 :)

P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!