Written 26 Sept 2009

As I sit here eating my salad and fruit, I looked at the calendar and realized, “Hey, I haven’t had meat in 6 months!” So with that being said, I thought I’d share some thoughts with you…

Number one, when I say no meat, that includes fish as well. This whole process started for me as a fast to rebuild myself after my divorce. I wanted to prove to myself that he was not the only thing in my life that I did not have to have, and would not die without it. And although we were separated for a LONG time, he was leaving that week to Iowa (17 hours away), and I began my journey again as a single parent, this time with two children with special needs. My daughter is overcoming her speech and hearing deficits, and my son has cerebral palsy from a stroke he had at birth. After meditation and prayer, it was revealed to me that this fast would bring me strength.

So I began. I added probiotics, a B supplement, protein shakes, and digestive enzymes to help along the way and expedite my detox and healing. I soon discovered a love affair with veggie burgers, hibachi vegetables, vegetable lasagna, and foods I had never had before. I even stopped bringing meats into the house since the children eat meat at school (no pork of course). The children love my dinners as well.

Then, all of sudden, after countless arguments of how much protein the body needs, and how I should eat more than one meal per day, and how I depriving my children, my body started to change. My skin became more hydrated, my hair grew longer, my brain fog was lifting, my body detoxed and regulated, I stopped having “female symptoms”, and I was losing weight! Even though I knew this was a way to lose weight, who knew I would lose 20 pounds that fast. And so, my 30 day fast has turned into 6 months. I am thinking about eventually adding a piece of fish once a week because I miss it.

Also, through prayer and studying, I have gained the peace I desired about my current situation. Just all the revelations I have had recently would take a whole new blog. But I will say this to answer some people’s question…this is where the “BranDIVA” thing came from. To me, a Diva is someone is in touch with the GOD in herself. She is unapologetic for the live she lives. She is drama/stress free, and cautious of the people/energy she allows into her inner circle. Her thoughts are complete, and self-defeating thoughts die quickly. Business comes to her frequently and abundantly. Lastly, she shows gratitude in every situation, and extracts the lesson in everything that happens.

Additionally, I have seen a heightened maturity in my children. They are adjusting the absence of him, and are more open to talking to be about it. My daughter (Nia) is not bitter for losing her ‘ex step-father’, and Jr. is not asking to talk to him everyday, which is preventing the crying spells. Both are performing well academically, and Jr’s therapy is awesome!

And of course I have gained haters in this process. People who discourage me from doing what I do, or are convinced they couldn’t do the same. But outnumbering them are those who have journeyed with me, even if they just attempted one day without flesh. I am proud of you as well!

When there is no other flesh in your body, you are forced to only deal with yours: physically, emotionally, and spiritually….and so the journey continues! Peace…