Her Authentic Voice™
Hosted by Coach Tara, this podcast is a space for faith-driven women who are ready to reclaim their voices, break free from guilt and shame, and walk boldly in their God-given purpose. Each episode features powerful testimonies, raw conversations, and live storytelling from women who have found healing through their faith. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a woman with a story to tell, or someone seeking encouragement, this podcast will inspire you to live, love, and BE authentic.
Her Authentic Voice™
Life After Diagnosis: Finding Purpose Through Pain
What happens when your life's script gets completely rewritten? Coach Tara sits down with bestselling author Menzaire "Menzie" Boykins-Esters for a raw, faith-filled conversation about surviving life-altering diagnoses and discovering purpose through pain.
At age 39, both women faced shocking news – stage three breast cancer for Coach Tara and a hemorrhagic stroke for Menzie. Their parallel journeys reveal striking spiritual lessons about identity beyond diagnosis, finding joy in the valley, and transforming suffering into service. With remarkable vulnerability, Menzie shares the moment her life changed forever – from planning her 40th birthday celebration to fighting for her life after a stroke caused by an arterial venous malformation she never knew she had.
This conversation goes far beyond medical details to explore the deep spiritual terrain of healing. Both women share how their faith carried them through their darkest moments and how their "new normal" led to newfound purpose. Minzy's creation of "The Garden of Perseverance," her monthly Praise nature walks, and her bestselling book "Breathe Sis" all emerged from her healing journey. Similarly, Coach Tara transitioned from salon ownership to ministry, authorship, and coaching.
The most powerful thread throughout this episode is the transformation of tragedy into testimony. As Menzie beautifully puts it, "The valley is a place where I met fire and pressure and came out as pure gold." Whether you're currently facing a health crisis, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking inspiration for life's challenges, this conversation offers a blueprint for finding purpose beyond pain and embracing the divine redirection that often follows our most difficult seasons.
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Thank you for watching. Hey you guys, it's your favorite Shift your Story coach, Coach Tyra, and welcome to another episode of Her Authentic Voice Podcast. So today we are discussing faith and illnesses and all this stuff. We're discussing stroke and just everything related to that and how you survive and deal afterward. Okay, Some of you know I've had cancer, so we'll talk a little bit about that, but in the meantime, I want you to grab your pen, get a notebook, because we always drop some nuggets, and I want you to be prepared. Okay, so I'll see you in about 45 seconds, so you go get your stuff together. All right, All right.
Speaker 1:Have you ever felt like your story didn't matter, that your voice wasn't enough? Here's the truth. Your story is not just yours. It's a testimony, a light, a blueprint for someone else's breakthrough. Welcome to the Her Authentic Voice podcast, where we break free from shame, step into bold faith and use our voices to inspire others. I'm your host, Coach Tara, and every episode is an invitation to own your story, embrace your purpose and speak with confidence. Are you ready? Let's go higher together. Let's live, love and be authentic. Hey you guys.
Speaker 2:So, listen, I got to slow it down today, because not only did I have technical issues, light issues.
Speaker 1:I thought I was going to wear my hair down and wear the hat, can you see it? But my lighting won't. Let me be great, it disappears, you see that? So, yeah, so we're going to slow it down. I want to do a little teaching first. Say hi in the comments if you're here, so I can know that you're here and Minzy can know that you're here, and then we're gonna move forward. Be sure to like and subscribe and all that good stuff. Okay, engage, hey, latonya. Hey, I see you. Thank you guys for tuning in. So some people are on Facebook and some are on YouTube, but wherever you are, share, like if you're. I really want y'all to come to YouTube and subscribe. I'm trying to get my subscribers up, so help us this out. All rightye's Lip Bar. Oh, I don't know you, but I know you Menzies girl. So, hey, welcome. Okay, I'm going to do a little teaching first and then I'm going to bring her up and we'll chat. So let me get my slide up here.
Speaker 1:So we're talking about life after the diagnosis, healing health and the power of faith. Life after the diagnosis healing health and the power of faith. And a train would be going by. That's your bestie. Yeah, she talks about you. I gotta come to you, get you. Get some of your lipstick, because I love some good lipstick.
Speaker 1:All right, you guys, life after the diagnosis, healing, health and the power of faith this night would be really great for anyone who has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease or illness, someone who has overcome, someone who is a caregiver. You know all of the above and I believe we've all been touched by illness in one way or another. We're not too far removed at all. Okay, so you are not your diagnosis, your identity is not your condition. You're god's beloved daughter with a divine assignment. Cancer, stroke or illness cannot cancel your calling and it's really important to know because when you're going through it, you have these thoughts of, depending on what you have, you know, are you going to die? You know what about making it to, whatever vision God is giving you or whatever the case may be, and it's really important to know, whatever state you find yourself in, that it can't cancel who God called you to be. You know and I'll say something a little later in my last slide regarding that Labeled but not limited. So the diagnosis may explain part of your journey, but it doesn't define your identity. Like I was just saying, labels are real but they're not final. God calls you daughter before survivor, before patient, before statistic. So I'm going to talk about schemas, real quick. Schema that's S-C-H-E-M-A schemas In behavior science.
Speaker 1:A schema is a mental framework, so it's kind of an inner script that your brain writes, based on your past experiences, and then it labels that this is what this is. It tells you who you are based on what you survived. So if you've been you, you've been labeled by illness or trauma or a particular struggle. Your brain starts to rehearse that, that story, your truth, this is who you are. You know, this is just how life is. This always happens to me. If you've ever said things like this, this just must be, you know the way it's going to be. Now you say things like that, that schema, this is just how life is, you know.
Speaker 1:But we talked about before. I talked about neuroplasticity and how you can rewire your brain and rewire those thoughts. Even though you've gone through something and it's part of your truth, it's not who you are. It's just something you've gone through and something you survived, something you've overcome, but it's not who you are. You're still a child of God. You need to identify yourself as a daughter of the Most High God. Right Because in Jeremiah 1.5, he says a daughter of the most high god. Right because in jeremiah 1 5 he says before I formed the in the belly, I knew thee. That mean god already spoke identity over you before any sickness label try to trick you into. This is just how it is. You know. You're just just going to be sick. Things just keep happening to me, you know so.
Speaker 1:We talked about last week when pepsi was here, how your starting point it's not your, your doesn't determine your destiny. So it's the same with this. You may start with the diagnosis and it shapes you in a way, you know, but it doesn't determine who you are at your core, you know so. You're not. I'm not just a cancer survivor, minzy's, not just a stroke survivor, you know so. We identify as daughters of the multi. A cancer survivor, menses, not just a stroke survivor, you know so. We identify as daughters of the multi-god. So I just wanted to put that out there. And the next one is going to be grief is holy ground because it is healing, is emotional and it's spiritual. It's okay to grieve who you were before the diagnosis because that's the real thing. Don't rush what god is revealing.
Speaker 1:When I was diagnosed, I was diagnosed. Well, I felt a lump when I was 39 years old. That's something me and her have in common. I was 39 years old and I felt a lump in my right breast and it felt like a marble. A marble and I knew something was wrong. Immediately I was in the shower and I did a self-reference exam just out the blue, did a self-reference exam and I'm like this, don't feel right. And then I went to my gynecologist. She did an exam and she's like you need to go have the God help me out. I'm having a brain, the thing that they pressing it. It wouldn't hurt to somebody drop it in chat because I'm having a brain freeze, but I had to get one of those and it was my first time getting it because I hadn't even turned 40 yet and it was, you know, determined to be something was wrong.
Speaker 1:And then I had to get a biopsy and at the end of the day, I ended up having stage three breast cancer. You know and I did breathe who I was before that? Because I had a double mastectomy, I had chemo, I had radiation, you know. I had to get new breasts and mammogram. Thank you, babe, I just had a brain. That's another thing. Chemo brain, that's, that's something. That's a schema, see, I see that I'm like, oh, I can't remember. It's chemo, it's chemo, but whatever. Was it an ultrasound? No, it was a mammogram. But they did do all of that, the biopsy, the ultrasound, they did all the things and all the things were malignant. Like I had a problem, I ended up having cancer and it was stage three breast cancer.
Speaker 1:But I had to grieve who I was before the diagnosis, because that's the real thing, you do grieve, that.
Speaker 1:You know, it's a process. That's why, when she talks about briefs, if you've got to breathe through this thing, you know grieving is not weakness. So, even though I grieved it, it was, it was natural, as normal Grieving is. It's normal to be emotional, you know. So I breathed through. It was natural, it's normal Breathing is normal to be emotional, you know.
Speaker 1:So I breathed through that thing. I didn't rush it. I didn't rush it and, like we learned before, god bottles every tear Because I did cry a lot, because I didn't understand. But he bottles every tear and I'm so grateful for that, because we're not supposed to numb the pain you know and try to forget and don't want to think about it. No, we need to go through it. Go through it, feel it, think about it, you know, and then surrender it to him. You know that's how you move forward in a whole way. You feel it. Don't numb it. Feel it, talk about it and surrender it to the Lord. Let's see, and your step back is a setup. This, my last one. What tried to break you, god will use to build others. Pain is preparation for purpose.
Speaker 1:Your story, that recovery, is someone else's blueprint, a roadmap. So y'all know my thing already. Your story is the blueprint for someone else's breakthrough. Right, it's the same with this. If you've been sick, if you're sitting in sickness, if you are a survivor, whatever the case may be, that story, that recovery, is a blueprint to help someone else. And that's what I'm sitting in now. That's what my guest is sitting in now.
Speaker 1:We're on the other side of it, even though we're in a new normal, because our bodies aren't the same. The way we think isn't the same, the way we move, live, it's not the same. However, god is using it for good. So that's something. It's not the end. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:It's like he's rewritten our story and it's really, really cool because you're like, well, I never thought I would do this. I was a salon owner. I didn't think I would write books and help other people write books and become a life coach and administer and things like that. I never, that was not in my plan. You know, my plan was I'm going to do hair and own different salons and travel and be a celebrity stylist. That was my plan. But yeah, yeah. But they say tell god your plans and watch them laugh.
Speaker 1:But in romans 8, 28, it says god works all things for good, so all things work out for good to those who love the lord and who were called according to his purposes. So that's something you got to hold on to, that. Even this, even the diagnosis, he works all of it, all of it for good, excuse me tonight, y'all, but he works all of it for good and I'm so grateful. So whatever your healing journey is, whether it's healing from a stroke, whether it's healing from cancer heartbreak, because that's something too or just burn out, because that can cause stress on your body too just know that all of it works together for good. Your story is being refined. It's being refined you know.
Speaker 1:So just think about that. I hope it's something that gets you to think and you know all that good stuff. Oh, to slow down, because when I tell y'all I'm talking because we live. When I tell y'all, the last hour has been absolutely insane, I'm serious For me and me, but we here and we're going to have a conversation. So, listen, healing is not linear. It's not linear. So think about that. It's not just a mountaintop that you arrive at, it's a journey we're going to walk it out. It's a journey that we must walk, but God is our guide, he's the one that is going before us. Amen. So that's a good thing. So we talked about last week how it takes about 40 days to start a new pattern in your life. So, whatever's new that is happening, take your time to establish that. You know, we're going to learn more about that, even with men, because she's doing some new things, that is, establishing new patterns in her life, and she's panning forward and helping other other women and, I think, men too, helping them. Um, let's see what else I think. That's it, y'all. That's it.
Speaker 1:So, listen, I am about 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, nine years out. Nine years out since I've took my last treatment since I've had chemo, since I've had radiation, nine years out and it left me with lymphedema, so lymphedema in my right arm and hand. So I have one arm that is larger than the other, one hand that is larger than the other. I get a lot of pain in my wrist and in my hand and in my shoulder often. You know, I'm on a computer a lot, but even having my arm like this and I often typing, so I deal with even housework, even driving, so I deal with pain and sometimes it's debilitating. So that's a new normal, you know. But I understand it it doesn't stop me because I'm still here, I mean.
Speaker 1:So I'm really, I'm really honored to talk to Minzy, because when I met her let me put this down so I can talk to you, hold on. When I met her, I was like wow, because I had never. She's young, she's young, she had a stroke so young. And I was just like wow. You know, I didn't even wow, because I had never. She's young, she's young, she had a stroke so young and I was just like wow, you know, I didn't even know. When I think of stroke, I think of older people. My granddad had a stroke. He had multiple strokes, but I don't think of strokes with young people.
Speaker 1:And then when I talked to her, she was telling me how her new normal is and I'm like like wow, because I can relate on the on the level of having this new normal. Your body isn't operating as it did before, so we're not talking about. I'm about to bring her up, but let me see what. Who's in here? Oh, what a shift. Yeah it was. It was a shift, hi Talisa. Yeah, it was um Latanya's here.
Speaker 1:I don't know your name, but I know you have a lip bar. What's your name? Tanisha Alyssa? Hey, alright, listen, let me get her up here so we can talk and I can drink some water. I told her I like to go live because it keep me on my toes, because if I'm recorded I can procrastinate and procrastinate when I go live. I just have to go out there and get the blurbs, the mess ups and everything, and it's just, it's what it is and I like that. I like that, the authenticity of it. So I hope y'all appreciate that, all right, okay, so let me bring up Menzaria Menzi. She's a bestselling author of Breathe Sis and I got a book right here. Can y'all see that? Breathe, sis. This is just a chapter, it's not your whole story, and I'm about to bring her up. Hand clap, oh, aisha, aisha, all right, aisha, hand clap everybody.
Speaker 2:Missy.
Speaker 1:Yay. Oh my God, I'm doing some stuff. I was trying to keep it together, but did you hear me?
Speaker 2:I did. I was backstage crying no, you weren't.
Speaker 1:Yes, I was. Oh my goodness, god is good, he has the fit to keep us here, girl. We are here, yes, we are Amen.
Speaker 2:Yes, Thank you.
Speaker 1:Lord, yeah, we got a few people off on. So, Minzy, thank you so much for coming on tonight. I was so excited to have you on and just converse with you and kick it how we do and just talk about your story. I'm hoping to learn some new stuff too.
Speaker 2:I am yeah, I'm excited too. I just showed up. I'm being obedient, amen, that is something. You keep me on my toes. I'm like okay, uh-huh.
Speaker 1:Then everything happened like a whirlwind. Yes, yes, listen y'all. Y'all see how fast I talk. I am, I am very energetic, I'm very energetic. So I coached nancy and I helped her publish her book. And when we first, the first few times we met, I'm just like, and she's like, and I said I need to slow down for you don't know. She's like, yeah, and I said I need to slow down for you don't.
Speaker 1:She's like yeah you did, you did. She's like yeah, so I started slowing it down, like okay, okay, let me slow it down because I know that I'm just a ticker and I'm like, oh, come on, come on, come on. And she's like all right, all right, you see your people on.
Speaker 2:I cannot, you can't see them no.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, Miss Porter, your bestie.
Speaker 2:Now I see hey Ty.
Speaker 1:So listen, tell the people who don't know you, you know who you are, and before we even get into the book, just tell us a little bit about you.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm Menzeria Boykins-Esters. I am 43 years old. I am a wife, an aunt, a sister. I don't have any kids as of yet. I work for GM. I've been there for 25 years in customer service Well, not customer service, I'm sorry support specialist. I've done so many things from customer service support specialist so I'm looking to retire within the next three years.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, I had enough. So I would say I'm very now, I would say outspoken. Before I was like real reserved, but now, after my stroke, you know, the Lord has given me that spirit to be more bold and just to say what's on my heart, instead of holding things in, being very transparent. Wouldn't think that I'd even be doing anything like this. I was always in the back front, on the back, didn't want to be in the front. I was always that helper Let me help, let me do this and that, but don't put me in the front. So God had to really humble me and take me through this situation where I have to be in the front. I have to, like you said, I have a voice and I have to speak what he has given me, even if it hurts. I mean, even if it hurts, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:You know, I've been hearing things and I'm like, OK, I feel like y'all just end on the coaching session with us when we just talking right, even if it hurts a lot of times people don't want to hear the truth and they might tell me well, you like my mother.
Speaker 2:Sometimes she's like, will you be into me? And I said, well, my, it's not that I'm being mean. I guess I would say I'm more direct now. I don't cut corners, I speak the truth and love. And some people Don't accept that, but I don't mean any harm. It's just, you know, it's either black or white. It's either black or white.
Speaker 1:We talked about this, and some of this is a effect or an after effect to having a stroke also Talk about that. Yeah, have you met other people that said that also.
Speaker 2:That's a general after effect of having a stroke.
Speaker 1:Do they change in the way of how they are more bold and more?
Speaker 2:to the point. I haven't met anybody, but I did read, because I believe I brung it up to you how your mindset. I can't remember exactly what I read, but it says something about how your brain is different now. It's why you're different and you're more, I wouldn't say, aggressive. What would you say? I can't remember what it was, but it was interesting.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to find it because you did talk about it. It's actually in the book, I think it was one. I'm looking to find it because you did talk about it. It's actually in the book, I think it was one. I'm looking for it. But yeah, when you told me that it's not unusual to have a bolder and cut and to the point attitude and less patient, yes, that's the word.
Speaker 2:Like my, patience is real short.
Speaker 1:Anyone on here. Have you had a stroke or have a family member who's had a stroke and their mood changed Like less patience. They're more to the point, more bolder. If you have put it in the comments, we're trying to see something. But yeah, I remember you told me that I want to. Um, take us back to that day, mincy when you, when you because you were 39 right correct.
Speaker 2:Yes, did you know I was 39 I didn't know that until you just said that I'm like, oh my god. Didn't know that until you just said that I'm like, oh my god. Wow, that's young girl.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes million years, think I'll be going through anything like this to be 39, you're about to hit 40. And you get that type of back. No, I was planning for my 40th party everything. I had everything planned, everything planned out, everything when I was laying in the hospital. You know anticipate. Well, when I was laying in the hospital, I had my whole party planned out. This is what I was doing. I had my dress, I had my centerpiece, everything was together.
Speaker 2:I didn't have to do anything and when that happened, I was like Lord, like what is going on? Fighting for my life, definitely life changing. But I thank God that he took me through that situation, because I wouldn't be where I am today without the grace of God and his hand on my life. I mean, I found purpose. You know, I became a minister in 2009 and left the church and then I went to another church in 2013,.
Speaker 2:But I did not continue in ministry because at that church we didn't have to. You know, I got ordained but we didn't have to go through any type of training, get credentials and stuff like that. So when I did get up and speak, you know it used to be like well, how can I tell somebody something when I never went through nothing? But he really has to know me, like, okay, you say you got this faith that you believe. Now I'm putting you to the test and do you really believe? So I truly believe, it was through, you know, the testing of my faith that I pulled through the way that I, you know I had that foundation.
Speaker 1:Amen, I like that. You said that I know, but so many people don't know what you went through, so I've got to take them back to that day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're going to, we're going to, we're here, Now we're about to reflect back and then we'll just bring it on back. So take us back to the the day. What happened? Okay, it happened november. What started? November of 20, 2021? Uh, we went to my husband's grandmother's funeral. Everything was fine. I got up, it was dressed and everything Went to the funeral, went to the repast and we left. We came home, changed clothes and that's when we went over to my husband's mother's house. My mother-in-law and we were leaving and my friend had messaged me on Instagram and so she says, well, will you meet me at the Sky Bar? And I said, well, we're around the corner, we'll meet you there. So she didn't call, so we going. Well, I can't see you, tyra.
Speaker 1:I was giving you the spotlight. Oh, I'm like this is all new to me.
Speaker 2:no, I was giving you the spotlight sometimes I do that when you get into it okay yeah, so I made.
Speaker 1:Papa, I should have warned you okay, I warned you do you prefer me to stay on, I can, I'll go back and work but okay, I'll stay here because I feel like I'm talking to you Okay okay, amen, amen. Tell me the sky bar. She wanted you to come to the sky bar.
Speaker 2:Right. So we get there and, as I'm asking in the car, I get this bad headache like out of nowhere and I'm like what is going on? And so I tell my husband like, oh my God, my going on? And so I tell my husband like, oh my God, my head is turning so bad. He said, well, maybe you need some food. So we go in order some food. And he's like they're like 30 minutes. I'm like, oh my God, like I can't wait this long. So sit down and eat. Well, I couldn't eat. The food came out and I couldn't eat. So he said, okay, let me finish my drink and we'll get up and leave. And I couldn't eat. So he said, okay, let me finish my drink and we'll get up and leave.
Speaker 2:And so, as we're exiting, I started to throw up and I grab onto him and my vision just go blurry and it comes back instantly. I grab onto him and I said, oh my God, I can't see. So he walks me to the car. I remember laying back in the seat and he's spinning home and, for whatever reason, I remember him pulling in the driveway, getting out the car, and I don't know what he was doing in the house. I need to ask him because I'm curious to see why he left me in the car. I call him and I said what are you doing? Why are you leaving me in the car? And so he comes outside and I'm like I can't walk and I said, well, let me just crawl up the stairs and keep my shoes off. And so he guides me and then leaves me in the house. I kick my shoes off and crawl up the stairs and then he takes out my clothes and I go to sleep.
Speaker 2:And as I go to sleep I feel myself getting ready to vomit again. So I try to get up out the bed and I remember I can't walk. And so I crawl to the bathroom and my body you know, because the coordination is in the back can't guide itself. So I end up in the next room and I bumped into the dresser and he jumps up and he says well, what's going on? And I said I don't know. I said I'm just trying to go to the bathroom and I couldn't even like control myself to even lean over in the toilet. It was that bad. And I remember him standing over me looking and I said well, get the waste basket, just in case I throw up again.
Speaker 2:And so he gets the basket, lays it on the side of the bed and I crawl back in bed and go back to sleep. I lean and then I feel myself again getting ready to throw up. I lean over and I fall on the floor and he jumps up and he says but what's going on? He said be careful, because that morning we were getting dressed for the funeral and I had brung the urn up. I didn't urn downstairs, I brung it up and laid it on the side of the on the floor. It's on my clothes. So the urn was on the side of the bed and I remember him saying be careful, you know cause you might hit your head on the urn.
Speaker 2:And so, um, I get back in the bed and I remember him giving me a stand back. Um, he stood on my head, gave me a stand back and he went downstairs and cooked breakfast and he comes back up and I couldn't eat the breakfast. So by this time my friend calls and she says you okay? And I said I don't remember what I said. She said you don't sound well and she said where's the one? I said he's downstairs with his friend. And so she calls him and tells him I guess, get me to the hospital. And so he comes up and he says well, do you want to go to the hospital? And I say, yes, let me take a bath first.
Speaker 1:Took a bath, everything.
Speaker 2:He ran the bath water, had my clothes, I took a bath and I I remember calling my mother At this time she lives in Arizona and I said, mom, I'm not feeling well and so I'm going to the hospital. She said she immediately heard in my voice that I had a stroke. So I get out of the tub, get dressed, I go downstairs Well, he carries me downstairs, him and his friend gets me in the car and they rush me to Beaumont, farmington. I get there in a wheelchair. They did a CAT scan and that's what revealed that I had the stroke. And so they rushed me in the ambulance to Roe Oak, because that's where the NEO team is located. They asked my husband did he want to ride? He said no, he'll drive. But I did ask him how does she feel? He said well, he felt like the car was just gliding like the car was just gliding.
Speaker 2:He felt that the car was gliding itself and he had this, you know say well, hold on, you know, just let me, you know, catch his breath, because everything just happened so quick. So we get there. They said we got to shave your head, we got to put an EBD drain in your head, and I'm like what, what is going?
Speaker 1:on.
Speaker 2:So I had to have two angiograms that revealed that I had the stroke due to arterial venous malformation, which is the ABM that I was born with.
Speaker 1:I'm going to type that.
Speaker 2:Look that up, real quick Put it up on the screen Arterial. Arterial Venus. This is A-R-T-E-R. My sister will call me, I'm sure she will. I can't see you. I see you.
Speaker 1:My sister calling you. I told you people was going to call you spell it for me A-R-T-E-R.
Speaker 2:Spell it for me A-R-T-E-R, a-r-t-e-r, i-o. I think it's io arterial venus b e n I o u s. I'm just reading it from something you're doing it I'm not I thought you was reading it here.
Speaker 1:It is here. It is here it is. I found it. I can get it out the book, but I want to copy and paste it. This gives you time to gather yourself to. I want to put it in. This is what.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Okay, I put it in the chat. So you didn't know you had that right. No, didn't know you had a stroke right so at that time, because I want to walk it down so at that time you had a stroke. They're telling you how to show you come here, you're going to go to the, going to the club, get a headache, start feeling dizzy, laying down, can't? Your coordination is off. Next day you get your head shaved and they're telling you you have a stroke, or in the middle of the night, that's the thing, yes I mean, think about that at 39, just like that you had a headache hmm, we get a headache.
Speaker 1:Got a headache that won't stop her. Her vision was blurred. She can see, and then it came back. So take us from the shape they shave your head mm-hmm, they shave my, my head.
Speaker 2:It's called an EVD drain, where it regulates your pressure.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Alyssa. So I had the tingling of the arteries and the veins in my neck. That's where it started. That's what caused the brain brain bleed, the hemorrhagic stroke. Now I thought that because I would get like um pain in my neck prior, because I had an accident um a car accident in 2015, so I would get massages regularly, not knowing that's what was going on. Not knowing that's what was going on. Wow, yeah, no this is I.
Speaker 1:I can't, I'm trying to slow it down because you're showing us signs that we, as women, we we like, oh, that's this and that's this. I'm saying that because when I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer my breath. They asked me didn't you have pain? Didn't you have? Weren't you tired? Didn't you have? And I'm like I run a salon. Yeah, I have pain, yeah, I'm tired. Like I have children, I have a. Yeah, because we do a lot of things as women, so you don't think, you don't think you're sick right you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:You don't think so. You're saying I got a headache, I have pain here, you're going to get massages, you're sick, right? You know what I mean. You don't think so. You're saying I got a headache, I have pain here, you're going to get massages. You're doing the things not knowing. You have the at a mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:So they told me I had like, from the accident, supposed to have some type of bulging disc, like in my neck something, and that's what it was. Not knowing that had this going on a birth defect so what happened after that?
Speaker 1:so you're in there, they, they do the, the shave, they that you have surgery correct cranian enemy surgery right now Y'all gonna excuse me. Today it's all my words.
Speaker 2:It's brain surgery. So I had brain surgery in the back of my head. So I had 20 staples. Couldn't walk, couldn't talk. My vision was impaired, couldn't do anything, right Nothing. I'm on a catheter in icu at 39 39.
Speaker 1:I just want y'all to get I'm still going. You're in the prime of your life, you're about to celebrate your 40th, you're gonna plan your party and you can't even regularly function as you were. Mentally, what's going on with you? What's going on with you Emotionally? What's going on with you?
Speaker 2:You know what? I was always in a good space Amen. It's weird, but I truly believe God had his hand in my life. I did not even fear, even with the surgery. When it came, when they talked to me and my husband and they told me what they had to do, I looked at my husband and told him all I can do is trust God. At this point, what can I do? Nothing. I can't do anything, so it's in your hands. So God definitely had this hand on my life and I would say it was purposeful. You know we don't understand why we go through things in life, but we do and it's for our good. Like you said earlier, you know, yeah it is.
Speaker 1:There's so many parallels when I listen to you I didn't even know like. I just just parallels in my life. The things that come to to me can put us on track. We think we're going on track, we think we're on our right track and we're living there. Something happened to stop us, but he's actually aligning you right.
Speaker 2:That's it. That's what he did, because my thing is, because we were actually before I even had this stroke. I had this stroke in November of 2021. Here we were, right before COVID. I think COVID hit like on the.
Speaker 1:March of 2021?. Covid hit in 2020.
Speaker 2:Right, but I'm saying in 2020, me and my husband were actually going through the fertility specialist trying to conceive. This whole time I had this ABM going on, and so when COVID hit, we stopped. And just to think, I remember laying on the bed getting my angiogram and I asked them. I said, well, is that a reason why I never conceived? And they said, well, good thing you didn't, because you could have died, you know, from the strain. And I was like, oh my god, like Minzy, yes, yes, so you know, I, I just thank god, like all things, what all things work together for good, to those who are yeah, love and calling you are.
Speaker 1:You are loved and called what?
Speaker 2:yes, yes, I didn't know that y'all.
Speaker 1:So I'm just kind of okay.
Speaker 2:Wow, yes. So after I um went for my, my um evaluation, at you know, when I went home and I came back within a week, the doctor tells me he says, well, the surgeon, well, now you can go have a baby now. And I'm like, no, michael, let's to get well. And so I did revisit the fertility specialist, but in the back of my mind I'm like, okay, God, I'm kind you, but I don't know. So, and then to find out, and a few months ago, that my fibroids came back. Yeah, I had a myomectomy in 14, 2014 and just found out that they grew back. So that's a whole other issue, you know. Yeah, so I have an appointment to go see my gynecologist in a few weeks.
Speaker 1:Tell me, okay, I want to know a little bit because I want to do a compare and contrast how was your life prior to the stroke, as it compares to how it is now? And I don't mean, like you said, you weren't as bold and you weren't, I'm not talking about that. I mean, what type of things did you do?
Speaker 2:that's different now, if anything, how did you live? I lived mainly the same. I always been, you know, you know adventurous, love to travel. Um, it's just more. It's like it's more now like I have I found purpose than what I I do now. I'm not more intentional, um, but it's like I really, I'm still really the same so you do the same things, but that your, your reasoning, your meaning is different.
Speaker 2:Behind your why? Yeah, yeah, I love that why it's just to be doing it. Um, it has to be purposeful and it has to have a meaning. You know all the times we just do stuff to please, or yeah, that's my friend, but I'm real picky now about who I associate with. You weren't like that before I was, but not to this extent.
Speaker 1:Why do you think you're like that Like? What difference does it make?
Speaker 2:Because you know I would say I take my space now. More is more sacred, Like my peace is my everything, and I don't want to have my peace disturbed, you know, by going here and there and everywhere.
Speaker 1:Amen. I love that. You know. I already know the answer, but I know. Start to cry a little bit, a little bit. First of all, I see you everywhere ever since it started, when, when you first started writing the book, though things just started popping off.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like the lord started whispering, putting you in rooms that you weren't even in yet, just saying your name in rooms, like wait a minute. This person called and this person I said come on, and I love that for you and you keep on. So tell me about some of the things you have going on, because I literally, when I say I see you everywhere, I'm like oh, she's got this and she got this, she got you, sent me a few pictures and I want.
Speaker 1:What do you want to showcase? First Tell me and I'll pop it up.
Speaker 2:We'll say the garden, that's the newest thing. Well, you know what? Yeah, we can do that.
Speaker 1:Tell me, because I don't know about this. I'm hearing it too for the first time. Tell me about this.
Speaker 2:I know, tell me about this, I know so, um, my cousin, um char. She's had a garden at this particular um uh garden for a few years now and I kept saying I want to get on the list, you know, because there's a waiting list that you have to get on. So people have been on the list for years. And so I finally decided to get on the list in February and in June they called me Wasn't even a year, wasn't even six months. They called me and told me to come and pick out my plot.
Speaker 2:And so I picked it out in June I think it was like June 16th, something like that and I've had it for a month now and I hadn't had anyone to help me like till the ground, because the person prior to me had rows that were going in ground, so that particular plot gets a lot of water. And so I decided I wanted to do raised beds and so I had to get someone to till and my husband had worked in seven days and I didn't have anyone to help. So I called a friend of mine and she says I said you know what, I give up, this is too much. And she was like no, it's not, I'm going to get out there and help you. So that's her in the black. That's Audrey.
Speaker 1:And I called Okay, here we go.
Speaker 2:That's Audrey here okay, here we go. That's Audrey here, audrey, uh-huh. And then I called my cousin. I'm like look, lawrence, can you help me? Uh, till. And he was like sure, that was his first time tilling, so we get out there. And when I tell you, when I got to that pot, the weeds were, the grass was so tall, it was like taller than me.
Speaker 2:No way, oh my God, like it had grown so tall within a month. And I'm like Lord, okay, we instantly got to work, took us six hours. We teal, we raked, we pulled our weeds and we got the job done. My mom came, she helped a little bit, but the three of us got the job done within six hours. And the lady that actually the manager over at the garage, she says, oh my God, you came out here today. She was like I thought you did this in two days. I said no, it was the. You know, one day we were out there, we got it done.
Speaker 2:So the Lord began to speak to me and while I was out there and told me to name it the garden of perseverance, and I looked up perseverance and it's the meaning. The meaning is the quality of continuing to truly I'm sorry, the quality of continuing to try to achieve something despite difficulties or setbacks, sticking with the task even when it's hard. So that just reminded me. You know of what I went through. You know, even though I went through the stroke, I was determined. I had the willpower, I persevered through. The whole year I was in physical therapy, occupational speech. I was determined to get that, that life back that I once had, and so I dedicate the garden now to my business, which is the Mind Juice Center, and also other stroke survivors as well.
Speaker 2:It's a garden of peace. I mean, it's beautiful and I'm just thanking God for what he has truly birthed in me through, you know, this pain. I don't take it for, you know, for granted. I get up and I thank God because there was once a time that I couldn't even walk or I couldn't even bathe myself. I couldn't even like see, couldn't even see. I had to do everyday eye muscles to strengthen my eye muscles and my eyes. My handwriting is still not the best, but I went through. I really went through. But I the garden to those that you know that might just want to come out and breathe or put their hands in dirt or, you know, just a place where others can pray and, you know, find healing and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:I love that so much. This is what got me through, Like my cousin, the same woman I think she's on here. What's her name? Rashara. It probably says I've seen Pizza Parviz. She came and helped. Yep, there she is. She came and helped me plant a garden in my backyard during my recovery. This is what helped me the whole year I was off work. It helped me to overcome what I went through.
Speaker 1:I love that too, hanifa. Yeah, I love that too. It's so beautiful because it just shows such a level of compassion and generosity. You have a generous spirit where you want to give back in multiple ways, and I just love that so much. I love the, the grace that you have and the space you hold for people, right, you know? Yeah, that's really cool amen to this garden.
Speaker 1:You have a few. I want to put something else, because I know that I see you walking a lot, so let me put this up here. Is this the same thing as you do this every month?
Speaker 2:No, or is this something else? That's something different. So the Lord had been speaking to me because I was walking prior to my stroke and I think a lot of that walking like. One day the Lord woke me up. I was like get up, go to the track. So from that day forth I was walking three miles every day before your show yes, I'm at the track walking.
Speaker 2:so that became a part of me and so, um, I remember when I couldn't walk because I went from a walker to a cane and from the cane I began to get my balance. I was, like I said, I was in physical therapy. They really worked for me and I'm on the treadmill I'm doing, you know, trying to strengthen my legs up, trying to get them back right. So when I was able to go back to the track that I normally walk, at my husband because he would have to like if we were not walking, he would have to hold my hand. That's how bad my balance was.
Speaker 2:I couldn't even turn my head like left to right while I'm walking, because my balance was still off, so he would have to hold my hand and I remember him taking me to that particular trail and I just started crying because it brought back, like so many memories. There was ones where it was second nature. You know, I get out doing it and then now, now where I am, I can't even do this. So now, um, I began to walk, me and my mother, every day. We'll go walk 30 minutes and gradually get up to an hour. So now I'm back at three miles a day, and when I do, good, go, but God is good.
Speaker 2:And so I wanted to do a nature walk, trying to put together a sisterhood, something that I recently done, a few months ago, with some of my stroke survivors. And so I'm like, okay, I can put this together and you know, name it braces, where we're praying, we're walking, we're meditating, we're decompressing. Women can come, you know, rise, heal and just feel the presence of God, you know. And so that's another, I guess, piece of me that I've done in my healing. That's what got me over to this place where I'm at now is walking.
Speaker 2:That's where I find my you know, my healing and my, um, I speak to, I talk to God. So, um, just something I want to do, you know, something once a month and be with that sisterhood. Something once a month and build that sisterhood. Oh, go ahead. No, my first event was actually last month.
Speaker 1:Okay, um, so will it be something different each month, or will you have this walking, oh, the walk each month. Yes, well, ladies and gents, who membersomever's on? I don't know, is it for women or for everyone? Is it for everyone, or how does it go?
Speaker 2:It's just for the ladies. It's just for the ladies. Okay so, ladies mark your calendars.
Speaker 1:Saturday, August 30th, 8 am to 9.30. Look at your calendars. Pull out your phone If you're local, because some people are not local. I know Miss Judy is in North Carolina.
Speaker 2:I see my stepdad down in Buchanan. Is he still on here? I don't know.
Speaker 1:I got to go through the. Oh, right here, donald, yes, yeah, hey.
Speaker 2:Donaldald hey, don't leave for watching. And cheryl, so he saw me have to drive, he did, he did hey, cheryl, yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:So ladies get safe. Saturday, august 30th 2025. Let's come out and support Menzie on this nature walk, 8 to 9 30 am, if you're able. There's my sister, that's your sister. Okay, I'm going to put that down and then let's talk about your mission and your vision. And this is the sisterhood you're establishing, correct? Okay? It says the brief sisterhood exists to create a safe faith feel and empowering space where women are reminded that their current season does not define their entire story. Amen, through connection, compassion and christ-centered encouragement, we uplift one another to pause, breathe and embrace healing, resilience and growth, one chapter at a time. Life feel seen, supported and spiritually empowered to turn the page, knowing that every challenge is just a chapter, not the whole story. And I love how you play it on your book. I love, love, love, love, love. Thank you, that's good stuff and it's on yes, I love.
Speaker 1:That. That's good, minzy, and you're going to be so successful in this because your heart is in the right place and the Lord has gone before you already. Oh okay, alyssa, I see you Hold on, I got it. Alyssa needed it back up here, okay.
Speaker 2:Yes, Alyssa, come out and join.
Speaker 1:Okay, let me do it too. Let me pull out my phone and see what's happening for august 30th, because y'all this is live. If you're watching the replay, put hashtag replay. But right now we live, so we're pulling out our phones. And if you want to play put out your phone.
Speaker 1:What'd you say? Laughing in color right now, with all the bloopers, because I promise you my brain was not working in accordance with my mouth. I don't know what was happening. At least that's what it sound like to me. That may not have been what it sound like to y'all. Okay, august the 30th. Oh, okay, my nephew birthday party at 3, so I definitely could come. 8 to 9 30. Let me put that in right now nature walk 8 am to 9 30. This is going to be so cool.
Speaker 2:It is 7 225 just to do something different. You know the everyday hustle, bustle we go through. Okay, got it for us to pause, heal and rise from whatever situation we're dealing with amen.
Speaker 1:Oh, alicia, yep, 8 to 9, 30. Come on now, let's walk together, you guys. We're gonna come support us, come come support minzy, so let's take this off. And then it's one other thing you sent me. You're having another sign. You know what this is. Now let me tell you something. I'm so proud of this girl. Ever since her, even before the book was out, she's pre-selling. Since it's been out, she's everywhere having multiple book signings, she's doing pop-ups and having multiple book signings.
Speaker 2:She's doing pop-ups and selling her merch and speaking, and just I am proud of you.
Speaker 1:I'm proud too. I can't believe it, I know you, I'm just being obedient, I'm like okay so sunday, july 27th, starting at 3 o'clock to 5 pm, menzeria, aka Menzi, will be at 22721 Plymouth Road, and this is another. Is this your event or are you at someone else's event? No, this is my event. Okay, yeah, that's cool. So you guys, guys, take a picture of this or a screenshot.
Speaker 1:Yes, come out, thank you but one thing is just having your life like like go from what you thought it was going to be and then it changes to something else. It's so real. When you were talking about you talked about your grandma's funeral. It made me think of my grandmother's funeral, which was in 2020, and literally the day after her funeral I was fighting for my life, not cancer. Yeah, like in a real way. Like so, when you were talking about the different things, I'm like wow, because, yeah, I battled cancer, got diagnosed in 2016, had all the different chemo, and all that stuff was in 2017.
Speaker 1:Chem, hemo, the double mastectomy, the radiation all of that was in 2017. Then fast forward to 2020, since I talked about the lymphedema, right, so I have this I don't know if you can see so I have this bigger arm, this bigger hand, and if I get cut mizzy and get an infection, what happens is it can go all the way up and like, literally, I, I had sepsis, my body went into sepsis, shot all my organs, everything starts shutting down um I blacked out.
Speaker 1:When I remember coming to, they were like um, your kidneys are filling at an alarming rate. About three days, you only have three days and you're gonna be out of here, right, yeah, this is in 2020. Like literally the day after my grandmother's funeral, wow, and I had that when you said what can I do, man, I can relate to that because I said and I was like wow, I really don't have any control over if I live or die.
Speaker 1:That's right guys telling me that I can die in three days or I will die in three days. We have to rush to give you emergency dialysis and we have to do these things. And I'm like wow. And so I'm like lord, I know you, you know you here with me when I leave absent from my body, I'm gonna be you.
Speaker 2:I taught my children about you.
Speaker 1:I'm just saying all these things like have your way. At the end of the day it's what you decide.
Speaker 2:I don't have any.
Speaker 1:So I have peace. I literally have peace, even though my body was hurting. I was in pain, girl. It was poking me everywhere. That's why I was resonating with that, I can feel. That's why I asked you, and when you said there wasn't really nothing I could do, I just had peace, I'm like that's how I was. Yeah, that's how I was, because what can you do? But, trust and rest is the one.
Speaker 2:That's right, you can do all things that's, that's why it's so important to put your, your build, that strong foundation so that when stuff like this because it's going to happen, you're going to go through something you're able to stand, and it's so important that we build that relationship with god we have to get stronger because started to see it in a new light.
Speaker 1:I really really understood that. Wait a minute. I am really just of like in this world, but not of it.
Speaker 2:Of this world.
Speaker 1:I really belong to you and you are the one who has the final say and I end up. I was in there ministering to people, girl. I was doing everything, and the doctor was like why are you so happy? Like, why are you smiling? Don't you know you're in a bad situation?
Speaker 2:That's what they told me. You're not supposed to be here, You're a miracle. The doctor told me we haven't seen a person that's coherent in 30 years.
Speaker 1:It's a witness With that amount of blood?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I understand.
Speaker 1:Witness.
Speaker 2:I knew everything that was going on.
Speaker 1:You are a witness right now to the glory of God. You are a witness to the reality of him.
Speaker 2:Yes, what he can do, Gloria you're a witness to the reality of him. Yes, what he can do. And to go through all of that and to come out with no medication I don't take no medication, no, you are busy.
Speaker 1:It gets better and better.
Speaker 2:Yes, I was like I came in here without no medication and I'm leaving. Amen. Yes, this is no word. I just began to give him back his word. This is what you said. That's what you said.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you said that I'm you know what that made me think of you guys, I'm about to put this up here because she has this thing. Go here and go grab it. She has a strength of your faith in 30 days. Download, it's free. It's on, uh, divinejewsoncom or thrivingafterstrokecom. I'm just so used to the divine juicing right but that is your faith is so it's refreshing. It's refreshing because so much happens all the time. It's guaranteed, we're guaranteed to go through things we are all in the part.
Speaker 1:It don't help anybody you know you have to get to a place where you're like okay, lord, it's me and you. When I got the cancer diagnosis, I was at the salon. Girl, I'm working, waiting on my name my the doctor called like can I? I got the, can I tell you? Or you want to come in?
Speaker 1:I'll just go and tell me that's why I got one more client left and she told me you have carcin inducted whatever they call it cancer. I'm like, huh, okay, you got to come in. All right, inductive carcinoma, something like that. I said, okay, got off the phone. I'm sitting there thinking about it, but I'm like, okay, in this moment. I got a client coming in this moment. Falling out is gonna do me no good I have to take care of my client, clean up this salon and go home. You know what I mean. You still got stuff to do I hear the news.
Speaker 1:Happy about the news, you're gonna laugh and talk and everything with my clients still, but the hearing the doctor said over and in my head like wow when I'm laughing and talking while I'm using the flat irons. Girl, what I'm doing here in my head? I can't. No, this is insane. Still locking up. Go in cook dinner, wow. Still locking up going cook dinner, Wow yeah all the things cuz I'm like not right now, not right now. Again, I'm get to it.
Speaker 1:Not right now all the things? And I finally went in and said I was my husband and I said you know, like you hear anything, cuz he knew I went get all the tests. I said, yeah, they called me and he like well, what happened? Like you, when did you know? Like I'm like they call me at the salon? And then he just started crying. And I started crying because that's why I didn't cry.
Speaker 2:I didn't cry, I was just like right, elissa, that's what we do I was just like and that's how my husband was, he was more scared than I was. Yeah, all I can do is trust god, you know because what do you?
Speaker 1:it's a very getting a diagnosis stroke, cancer. You don't even to me. I don't know what it was like for you, but I was just in a state of like, wow, I, I would have never wrote, never. I was just in a state of like, wow, I would have never wrote, never thought that was in my script of life. I would have never thought that was in my book of life in heaven.
Speaker 2:I didn't even know the warning signs.
Speaker 1:Girl.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's my main mission too now is just to bring awareness. Um, so that that's my main mission too now is just to bring awareness. I do host a world stroke day in may where I bring awareness. You know, I have people come out where my last year I well, this year in may, I did um like an exercise class where I had some instructors come, and we did um step aerobics class where I had some instructors come and we did step aerobics and that was really nice. They came and did that, and then I talked about the warning signs, what to look for, you know, how to prevent a stroke, and different stuff like that, and I also combined it with my juice. So this year in May, that's why I wanted to do yeah, that's why I wanted to do the book this year, released the book in May.
Speaker 1:Talk about more of the juicing, because you were juicing before you were diagnosed. Right, that was your business.
Speaker 2:I started juicing in 2020, during COVID, because my husband he had sarcoidosis, which is autoimmune disease, and so I would use for him to keep the information down. And so when COVID hit, I started. I was like, okay, I was reading this book by Tony Robbins and he was saying, you know, like your, you know, like your, he was just talking about how money. You know you do things. I mean, you start a business, but it has to be a purpose behind what you are doing. So my, I started. That's when God started feeding me. Okay, start juicing, you know, to help others, to heal others. You know we gotta do something natural. So I started making a divine immune boosting ginger shot and I started advertising it on social media and reaching out to family and friends that I knew. You know, had COVID or was, you know, you know, had any other um tried? I was trying to build their immune system. And so, um, I started selling those um, have people come pick up and stuff like that. So I um, I made, within three months, $7,000. And God just began to deal with me and was like, look, this is healing people. You like, look, this is healing people. You know, this is building people immune system. So I continue juicing, and that happened in 2020.
Speaker 2:I had the stroke in 2021. As I was recovering at that time, I once I made the $7,000, I paid my car off, didn't have a car number, I just had everything lined up. You know, I had the stroke, I wasn't getting no type of income coming in for a while because my short-term disability kept getting like there was issues with that, and so the whole time god sustained me. Nothing went like bills was paid, like everything was just lining up. Um, my credit score and it stayed at 800 and I was like okay, god he's just like laid it out that don't even happen.
Speaker 2:Worry about nothing, but during that time, as I was um getting ready to host my first event for my stroke event in may of 2022 prior to that, my car that I paid off in 2021 got stolen.
Speaker 1:Right now my driveway.
Speaker 2:I told god. I said, look, I don't have no money to go buy a new car. I need you to find my car and I need my car back. Sure enough, I went to the police station, went down there. They found my car that morning, like a few hours later. Yes, they totaled the car out and I was like, oh my God, lord, like what am I going to do? And so I called them. I said, look, if I get the car back, because all I did was I went to the impound, saw the car, they just messed up the back window in my ignition. And so I said well, if I get the car back, I can get it fixed myself. Because they totaled it out, because so many of those cars were getting stolen, I get the car back. They give me a check for $7,000. I get my car back and the check. Oh my God, to me, yes.
Speaker 1:When I see Sounds like that's me.
Speaker 2:And all of it. So here I am, got my car back and money. So I'm like, okay, but yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I love that, Hallelujah girl. I looked up, you were talking about Tony Robbins. The book was Money Master the Game.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, I had.
Speaker 1:I said let me go to her book because she talked about this, but I wanna um, we're gonna close out pretty soon, but I wanted to go to and I'm still just really enjoying talking to you. You're such a walking Miracle and a light, you know, just a bright light.
Speaker 2:You are too, and I praise god for you. I really do. It was because of tyra and I met, I mean, ty. I met ty on social media, on instagram. I did, I did. We've been friends ever since I went to her event and that's where I met you. Oh, hey, sarah, yeah, let me tell you something.
Speaker 1:This lady right here, hold on, let me, where's she at? Because she out here. This lady here is the connector of connectors. Hey, ty, we're six degrees a tie Because what? This one right here? She got a conference coming up too. Y'all, if y'all not following her, follower, yes, follow her on facebook. I? Um, let me see something I wanted to read that I thought was really I should have looked at this before. But you know what I'm not doing? None of that. I'm really not putting no extra pressure on myself, menzie. I'm not. I'm not putting extra pressure on myself. I have a lot going on. I'm in school running a business. The lord told me to get back on this podcast. I was like it ain't ready. I gotta get this and this. He said no, no, no, you just create the space. That's right, and he'll do the work. Open your mouth. Yeah, that's it, because I'm like I've done this my third time doing this and I kept putting it down. I kept putting it down and walking away and he told me to pick it back up.
Speaker 1:So I can't put it back down. I have to just let it go and let it do what it's going to do that's right yeah provision for sure it was something it was encouraging that you said. I really wanted to end it with that love you too, ty oh, yeah, is that? Yeah, you are very purposeful with what you do I try to be from the valley.
Speaker 1:This is what you have a self-care tip box. So if you have her book in chapter eight chapter eight is called lessons from the valley and her self-care tip box says when you're at a low point, listen to God rather than seeking advice from others. This is crucial because it offers clarity, reassurance and comfort when you feel lost. And this is true because sometimes so many voices can actually cause more confusion than clarity. Yes, you know, it's good to have someone who's wise counsel, but having too many, too many voices really can cause a lot of confusion in your life that's right.
Speaker 1:And then you have something that you say personally, and it it's the journey through the valleys that shapes us into who we are, and your, your journey to this valley shaped the uh mensa ria that we see today yes this strong, um, vocal, bold woman who's showing up for herself and for others, who's being so generous with her resources and her time and her heart, you know, with for others.
Speaker 1:yes, yes, this is okay. Look, I just want to read it because I just love this. Okay, look, I just want to read it because I just love this. Sometimes we travel on a journey we never imagined, and that journey is life. In this life, we will experience twists and turns that may even end up in the valley where I found myself alone and in disbelief. An unknown place where a reservation was never made, and in disbelief. An unknown place where a reservation was never made, bags were never packed, hair and nails were never done, but still headed in the valley. The valley is a place where I met fire and pressure and came out as pure gold. The most disconcerting thing about walking through dark valleys is the uncertainty, and this is so true Because you don't know.
Speaker 2:You know, you literally.
Speaker 1:It's a faith walk and you're walking through uncertainty. And she goes on to say when you're walking in the shadows, you have no way of knowing the unseen. It's frightening. The reassuring part was that I was not traveling alone. God was always with me. David, who also found himself in the valley, wrote Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me's. In psalm 23, verse 4. While in the valley, I gained an appreciation for life and insight into my purpose and took a brave stand in my relationship with god. As james wrote, my brethren and she has this in all caps counted all joy, counted all joy, all of it, hallelujah, all of it, hallelujah. Girl, I feel that deeply in my spirit Hallelujah. There was joy in the valley because the Lord worked in my life daily during my healing.
Speaker 1:I was amazed at how fast God was answering my prayers. At 39, I found myself helpless, having to learn how to walk, talk, drive, write, type and sing again. Every valley is different and there are new lessons to learn from each of them in our lives. And then she goes on and shares some lessons that she learned. But I just love that, like I love that chapter, so much it's so full of faith and and real like reality.
Speaker 1:This is what we go through. It may not be your valley, may not be mine, and maybe you know we all have a different valley, but the you know what I'm saying. The experience are the same. The, the feeling of uncertainty is the same, not knowing what's around that corner, but we still walk, even trembling. We walk in like okay, lord, I don't know what's about to happen, but I'm going. I'm going with you that's right that's right.
Speaker 1:You said you understood the true essence of walking by faith thank you lord, because he took you from face to face and from glory to glory, and he's still taking you from faith and glory yes, he is every day, every day, actually been speaking to me.
Speaker 2:um something, if I sign was 46 and 10, where it says be still still versus be still Be still and know, Girl, I'm about to throw up If I.
Speaker 1:I promise you, I promise you, Menzie, the parallels is driving me nuts. I am not. I've been having porch meditations. Yes, it's on the porch. Be still and know, oh, I wish. I had my notebook.
Speaker 2:Yes, and you told me, stillness comes from clarity. Yes, when we still we're able to hear, we're able to see where you know. A lot of times we get busy and want to do this and do that lord, tell me no, be still and know that I am god amen.
Speaker 1:So that's what I'm doing. I'm gonna be doing a teaching on that yes, I got to download that too that's powerful started with cease. Cease from striving as I started. He's been striving.
Speaker 2:Stop striving, sit be that's right, that I'm god in all things and all things.
Speaker 1:Amen. Thank you, minzy. Thank you for your courage to share, to put your story in a book, to go around and speak. You know, to brave the, the naysayers and and the people who fall off and be open. Yeah, I know, but I but I applaud you for your, your courage and being brave enough to just withstand it all and, come what may, you still stand tall and speak your truth. That's right. You still stand tall and speak your truth. That's right.
Speaker 2:And God's word.
Speaker 1:Amen. So anything else you want to say to before we close out, because I want you to say whatever it is you need to say you too, irene.
Speaker 2:God bless you both, thank you, thank you. That's my brother, irene. God bless you both. Thank you, that's your girl.
Speaker 1:That's my brother boo. That's your brother boo. She's so pretty. Look at her hair. How do you say her name? Haysha?
Speaker 2:Haysha, yes.
Speaker 1:Haysha.
Speaker 2:Yes, I just met her.
Speaker 1:Are y'all here?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Amen, thank you, haysha at her. Yeah, yeah, um, are y'all hearing stuff? Yes, amen, thank you, isha. Um, I feel like I'm sitting just like you know, just sitting here chatting and everybody we just having a whole bit right, girl, that's what it feels like. That's what it feels like. That's what it feels like. That's what it feels like, yeah well. Any closing remarks you'd like to make.
Speaker 2:No, I just thank everyone for joining me on tonight. This is definitely an experience, something I'm not used to experience, something I'm not used to. I'm just amazed at what God is doing. This was actually. I'll show it right here. I've been doing the will of life for years, but this is something I started this year. It's called my prayer board, and so I have my. I have a no cards in sight with scriptures on the bottom, and so this will be everything I want from my future all my answer prayers, my family, my finances and then in my personal life. And I remember writing actually it's probably here, these are all of my answer prayers. I'll put them over here once it comes to pass. And I remember writing on one of the cards that I oh, my, look at God, uh-oh what. March 19th of 2025 at 12 pm, I wrote I wanted to be interviewed on a podcast and I actually got a schedule a few months after, but just to see this card. And from March of this year, I've been on a total of three podcasts and I have a fourth one coming up in August. So I've been on a team of three.
Speaker 2:So not only Work your faith. God is able, and we have to hold God to his promises. I mean, it's all in the Bible, but it's up to us to get in our word, if it's just one scripture, and meditate on that and repeat that and speak it, and that's when you begin to build your faith. So I actually, the 30 promises of God, I printed them out, put them in my, you know, in the like the love folder, and I taped this on a wall. So every day I'll get up and read a scripture and meditate on that and it be can't begins to be a part, you know, a part of you. So that's one of my other techniques that I do to, you know, increase my faith and um affirmations, you know, yeah, yeah, they work, they work, but we have to, you know, in the tongue there's power in the tongue and it's what I've been teaching.
Speaker 1:when I have the short little teachings before I bring a guest on it's because, scientifically and biologically, we're actually rewiring our brain. When we affirm ourselves and we're saying something over and over again and contemplating something over and over again, start to create a new um, like neurons in your brain, so you have some like new wires, like a new, new path, like, hey, we're going this way now. We're not going this same path, we're going to go this way now, that's right, you can do that biologically by affirming and creating new habits yeah over and over until it sticks.
Speaker 2:You know, that's what I did, like I kept telling myself I am healed. I am healed. The word said this I am healed, you know. So we have to hold God to his word and believe. And he asked us to have a small must, to see the faith, you know, in any situation that we may be going through, if it's finances, our kids, our marriages, we have sickness, you know, it's just. We serve an awesome God. We do so. I just want to thank everyone for tuning in, you know, chilling out with us. This on a Wednesday night. We can be all places, but you guys decided to join us.
Speaker 1:Thank you, guys. So what we're going to do? I just thank you. I thank you for tuning in for another episode of Her Authentic Voice Podcast. Meet me here again next Wednesday at 8 pm EST. Because some people are in other states, so EST 8 pm EST. Because some people are in other states, so EST 8 pm live. We'll have another guest and I actually have guests lined up all the way until October or the end of September. One of the two. I got to ask my assistant, but I'm grateful for that and just know that everything you've gone through is for a reason and all those things work together for a purpose. You are going somewhere.
Speaker 1:Me being here was not part of my plan Me writing books and helping others write books. As I said, it was to be a hairstylist for the rest of my life and own salons and travel. But cancer stopped me in my tracks and the Lord said close your salon. So when he told me to close my salon, he put me on this trajectory of writing and going in this different direction where I didn't know I would do the things that I do now. Even when you were talking about ministry, even having the jewish ladies of prayer that started in 2016, that was not in my vision board, like you know. I didn't know I would. I would do these things. Can you hear me? Okay?
Speaker 1:I might get something. I didn't know I would do these things, but I know, when I look back, that it was all leading me, you know. So everything we go through is not for nothing, even the hard parts, the ugly parts, the parts you're kicking and screaming. You don't know like why am I going through this, but you end up standing on it and you feel resilience and faith and grit, you know. You know how to take a punch, you know how to keep going, you know how to be there for someone else, and that's a bold, you know. So be encouraged. Be encouraged by my story, be encouraged by minzy's story. If you don't have her book, get it. Go to her website and grab it so you can get a signed copy and go to thrivingafterstrokecom.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm going to put it up here real quick because I'm going to have Menzie pray us out, but I just wanted to encourage you guys to don't fall apart. You can have your moments of sadness and grief, but just don't live there.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Don't live there. Trust God, stand on his word, get it in you. Like Menzie was saying, even if it's one scripture, keep saying it. Keep saying it, stand on it, believe it.
Speaker 2:He is real.
Speaker 1:We are witnesses that he's real. I'm a witness and she's a witness. He is real. He's alive and well. That's right, alive and well. Amen, menzie, what I would love for you to do Is pray us out and then we'll End it after that. Let me just look to see Anyone have any questions or anything. We love you too, tandra. My daughter says that. Love you to life.
Speaker 2:Love you too. Is this only the people that's on facebook? How can I so this facebook and youtube?
Speaker 1:yeah, facebook and youtube okay, go and subscribe to my youtube channel. I'm trying to get me like 150 or something. Okay, yeah, don't despise my beginning.
Speaker 2:That's right. I started a YouTube channel too. Amen. I don't know how many people I got.
Speaker 1:Okay, ladies, okay, you ready. Yes, you want to close us out. All right Amen.
Speaker 2:Lord, god, we thank you for this night. Lord, we just thank you for what has taken place, what has been said. Lord, we ask right now that you would Come in the midst, that you would Forgive us for anything that we've done that was not pleasing unto your sight. We ask right now that you would penetrate our hearts as we sleep on tonight. We ask right now that you would increase our faith. Let's continue to walk in the Boldness and the authority that you have placed upon our hearts, father, god, lord, we just ask you to continue to mold and shape us into the men and women of God that you've called us to be, to be able to bring those that are out, that are in bondage, out, father God, to let them know that they have a voice, they have a purpose and you have a plan for their life.
Speaker 2:Lord, we just be so careful to give your name and the praise and the honor, because we understand that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. And, lord, we just love you. We thank you for life and health on today, thank you for our strength, thank you for the activities in our bodies, those things that we take for granted, and though we'd be so careful to give your name the praise in the honor in Jesus name, we pray amen amen, amen we will be careful, we will be careful thank you.
Speaker 2:My voice changed my voice so funny.
Speaker 1:I was like oh, I hate my voice no, no, no, what we, no, we're not going to do. We love our voices we do.
Speaker 2:But when I first yes, it was terrible, I mean it was my sister's like you're so cute, I'm like, yeah, it changed, it did. It's still there, but yeah.
Speaker 1:Your voice is different now than before the stroke.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, all is well, all is well, it's something that I say often as well, and I just want to be idiot. Yes, amen, amen, amen. Look at this. Samantha hall says I love you. She yeah, is that your sister? Yes, oh well, amen, I love that samantha. She loves your voice. Let her love your voice girl receive it. It's the confidence in your voice, baby. All right, I can hear tandra saying that too right, right, all right guys, we gotta go.
Speaker 1:I'm trying. I try to keep it 90, 90 minutes an hour and a half so I don't want to take up too much of you guys time, but thank you for joining me again on wednesday night, like like a menzies that you could be anywhere. So listen, remember to live, love and be authentic in all that you do. Okay, I'm? Gonna play my outro. And then we out of here, mizzy, I'm gonna put you backstage, don't leave yet okay all right, all right, y'all, thank you.
Speaker 1:This is coach tara. I have so enjoyed you guys. I love when you engage, when you talk, when you ask questions, all the good stuff. And if you want to be On the show, hold on. Let me Put something up here. This should have been On the whole time. Y'all listen. Was this my fourth show? Fifth show? I'm gonna Get it together. I'm gonna get it together. But go to my website, her authentic Voicecom, and take my website, herauthenticvoicecom, and take my free story validation assessment. Take that, and I also have a podcast form on there if you want to be on the show, and then you'll get contact about my sister, valerie. But all right, all right, I'm out of here. Love y'all.
Speaker 1:That's it for today's episode. If this spoke to you, make sure you follow, subscribe and leave a comment or review. That's how we get this message to more women battling shame, silence and the weight of old stories. And if you're serious about shifting your story, go take my free story validation assessment at herauthenticvoicecom. It'll show you exactly where you're stuck and what God is inviting you to heal next. All right, is that all right? Okay, I'm proud of you. I'm rooting for you and until next time, remember to live love and be authentic. This is your favorite Shift, your Start. Coach, coach Tara, and I'm out.
