Celebrating the Woman Next Door

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This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing six women in our community who are selflessly giving to others while raising families, supporting their loved ones, and building their careers while maintaining their health and wellness. Whether they know it or not, their stories inspire other women near and far. Visit centralfloridalifestyle.com to read the full article.

Tonya Matheny MetroWest

Born in San Francisco, Tonya Matheny discovered her passion for dance at age 7. She joined the Palm Beach Ballet Company and later moved to NYC, training at Joffrey and Broadway Dance Center. After returning to Florida, Tonya owned three dance studios, choreographed for Miami Vice and Miss Florida contestants, and founded Ready Set Dance, celebrating its 20th year. She resides in Ocoee, where she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Ryver and Rekker, and giving back to her community!

What is your favorite way to practice self-care?

Self-care is difficult for me; running a dance studio is sometimes a 24/7 job! I love getting together with friends, and admittedly, I am addicted to facials when it comes to relaxation. I enjoy trying new things, and one of my most recent adventures was taking fencing classes! I also love volunteering and helping others—that is just so satisfying.

How do you prioritize your time and energy to achieve your personal and professional goals? What tips can you offer others?

Prioritizing is something I have had to learn to do. It wasn’t until recently that I gave priority to my personal life. Learning to step back, delegate, and let others help has been a recent lesson within the past two years. Taking at least one day off a week or going on mini weekend vacations is a great way for me to de-stress and recharge personally and professionally.

What is your WHY?

My “why” is that I don’t want to see women feeling lost and adrift, wondering, “Is this all there is to life?” or “What’s left for me?”

I want women to feel empowered and not let things that have happened in their past stop them from living the life of their dreams. I want them to reclaim their joy and passion.

I also want to help people who have been abused, bullied, forgotten about, abandoned, etc. I want to show them they are great and that it is a privilege to know them and be their friend.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? What did you learn from it?

My biggest challenge has been homelessness. Getting proper sleep, eating correctly, having privacy, losing friends because of it, having people treat me disrespectfully, staying safe, having people ask me personal questions or telling me ‘I need to do this or that,’ etc. I have learned to rely on myself and have found who my true friends are.

How do you manage stress and maintain your mental health?

I meditate and practice gratitude. Even though I wake up on a bus stop bench or the ground, at least I woke up. A lot of people did not wake up this morning.

Jamia Wilson Winter Garden

Jamia Wilson is a former Division 1 basketball player, police officer, jiujitsu practitioner, and a 2021 Bikini Overall Champion bodybuilding competitor. As a C-section mom who overcame postpartum depression, Jamia understands the challenges of new motherhood. She helps other moms reclaim self-care in a supportive environment, empowering them to appreciate their postpartum bodies and regain confidence through her brand Lioness Fit Mom.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the woman, mom, and wife I am becoming. I am proud of my brand, Lioness Fit Mom. I wanted to create a platform that offered a safe place for moms, and I did that. Not only do I provide personal training to women wishing to start their fitness journey, but I also have a clothing line that caters to women of all shapes and sizes. My vision for Lioness Fit Mom is coming to fruition, and I am proud of myself.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? What did you learn from it?

I was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Feb. 17 of this year. I am learning that courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

I have learned that there will be days when you are happy and smiling. There will be days you are filled with anger and exhaustion. There will be days when all you want to do is cry. There will also be days when you have thoughts of giving up. DONT.

Yesterday we FOUGHT. Today we FIGHT. Tomorrow we will FIGHT HARDER.

I want my fellow Breast Sisters to know that WE GOT THIS. I GOT THIS. Let’s fight together. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.

How do you stay motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Here is the thing. You will never always be motivated. Motivation is the starting point. It is full of excitement and ideas. But what happens when things get hard, and the excitement fades, but your end goal is the same?

Learn discipline. Practice discipline by creating habits and daily routines and stick to them! The feeling of motivation is temporary. Motivation produces emotion. Discipline produces results. Motivation fades over time. Discipline grows. Motivation sets the goal, but discipline brings it to fruition.

Michelle Markey, the owner of Unlock Your Words, helps businesses and nonprofits extend their digital reach with meaningful, memorable messaging. She intertwines unique stories into brand strategies, ensuring standout social media content. Launching her nonprofit, Special Needs Family Network, Michelle supports families with tailored resources. She is a freelance travel agent, a homeschooling mom, and the current Ms. Titusville Petite, competing for Ms. Florida Petite in 2023. Michelle will also finish eCornell University’s Digital Marketing 360 Program next year.

On your toughest days, what motivates you to put one foot in front of the other?

On difficult days, I focus on my children, knowing they learn lifelong lessons from me. I hope they grow up to understand that making mistakes is okay if you learn from them and that you can overcome challenges.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? What did you learn from it?

My biggest challenge has always been self-belief and stepping into my power. I’ve undergone mindset work, therapy, trauma healing, and self-growth to overcome poor self-image and other issues. Seeing my progress makes it easier to move forward. Learning to believe in and advocate for myself were significant obstacles I had to overcome.

How do you prioritize your time and energy to achieve your personal and professional goals? What tips can you offer others?

Achieving goals and success depends on alignment. Staying aligned, guarding your energy, letting go of what doesn’t serve you, and remaining present all propel you forward. My biggest tip is to take charge of how and where you spend your time and resources. You only have one life, so enjoy it and work towards your purpose.

Stephanie Murphy, a businesswoman, policy expert, and former U.S. Congresswoman, was the first Vietnamese American woman elected to the House of Representatives. During her three terms (2017-2023), she overcame partisan gridlock, securing the Employee Retention Credit, gun safety laws, and investments in infrastructure and energy. Murphy was also a leading voice on trade and national security. A refugee who escaped communism, her journey from poverty to policymaking is inspiring. She holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.S. from Georgetown University.

What is your WHY?

My true north is the desire to honor the memory of my late father by living a life worthy of his sacrifice—risking everything by putting his family on a boat in search of freedom. It’s also my hope to make my children proud of me once they are old enough to understand who I am and what I’ve done. Finally, I desire to continue paying back the debt of gratitude I owe this country, which first gave me sanctuary and then gave me an opportunity.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

The biggest challenge and opportunity I’ve faced is raising kids. I’ve learned that I can’t control everything and that I’m learning on the go in this significant life mission. I wonder if I’m doing it right or if I can do it better.

How do you prioritize your time and energy to achieve your personal and professional goals?

I believe that work-life balance equilibrium is unachievable for me. I subscribe to the idea of living life in chapters. Some chapters focus more on personal responsibilities, while others emphasize professional aspirations. Whichever chapter I’m in, I need the courage and confidence to believe it works for me, my family, and my career.

Brittney Tyler

Brittney Tyler, a Senior Executive Director at Apopka Health and Rehabilitation Center, has dedicated 10 years to long-term care. Appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators, she’s the District 2 President for the Florida Healthcare Association and is part of the 2023 Florida Leader class. Brittney is a University of Central Florida and Nova Southeastern alumna and a servant leader who enjoys community service, mentorship, and family time.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my son Marley Trail! I am a new mom, I have a 17-month-old, and he is truly a blessing from God.

Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far?

No, I believe that life’s challenges are opportunities to learn. If you’re complacent and not taking risks, there’s no reward. Unfortunately, this is a work in progress because fear sometimes gets in the way of my pursuing new ventures.

What is your favorite way to practice self-care?

Self-care is essential! It includes spending time on weekends doing my hair and nails. I always say, “If I look good, I’ll feel good and perform my best.”

How do you stay motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Another work in progress for me. I aim to exercise 2-3 times a week minimally and pack lunch to save money. It’s challenging with apps like Uber Eats, but it benefits my physique and financial goals, making it a win-win!

AdventHealth for Women’s focus on Whole Person Care

AdventHealth for Women offers a whole person approach to health care that embraces women at every stage of their lives. The AdventHealth for Women care network includes eight Baby Place locations throughout Central Florida, the highest level of NICU care, high-risk pregnancy experts, advanced gynecology, urogynecology and a multi-disciplinary pelvic health program.

Our world-class providers offer personalized care close to home with more locations and more options. From well-woman care to minimally invasive treatments, you’ll always have a choice of experts in a variety of specialties. And our specially trained Women’s Health Navigation team helps manage your health throughout your lifetime by finding providers and helping to coordinate your whole family’s care.

AdventHealth for Women is focused on delivering nationally recognized health care that is coordinated, comprehensive and convenient. Learn more at AdventHealthforWomen.com.