My Best Friend Missed My 52nd Birthday

Some wins feel unreal until you say them out loud: a Fox 5 appearance, celebrating another year of 2D Fit, launching a Yoga Alliance recognized school, and watching a community continue to grow. I'm riding that wave of gratitude and momentum while sharing what's been happening behind the scenes and why "blessed and busy" fits this season of my life better than anything trending online. I also take a moment to thank you because seeing 3,203 downloads reminded me that this podcast has reached farther than I ever imagined.

Then the conversation takes a turn.

In a few days, I'll turn 52. While I still feel fierce, I'm also learning to navigate the changes that come with this season of life, including a few surprises I wasn't expecting. As I reflect on another birthday, I'm reminded that some milestones bring gratitude, some bring perspective, and some remind us of what's missing.

We talk about lupus in plain language, the reality of invisible illness, friendship, loss, and how grief can sometimes show up years later when life shifts and seasons change.

This is one of the most personal episodes I've recorded. I hope it makes you reflect on the people, moments, and memories that matter most.

🎙️ My Best Friend Missed My 52nd Birthday

2D FIT


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Transcript

Affirmations And A Mindset Reset

SPEAKER_00 0:02

2D 2D, my 2D family, my 2D tribe, my 2D gangsters, all right, my 2D supporters. Not my 2D say to you, to all of you. Listen, I hope that this episode, that this podcast finds you in a finds you in a healthy, positive state of mind. You get what I'm saying? I hope that this episode finds you feeling feeling like the bomb dot com, right? Um where do I start? Well, I could start with those affirmations, right? Every time. And you've heard me say this before, and I'm gonna say it again until it's going out of style, and then after it goes out of style, I'm still gonna say it. You hear me? Those affirmations, those powerful words at the beginning of the episode. I don't know about you, but for me, it just makes me feel some type of way, some type of blissful way. It gives me hope, it inspires me. You know, all of those things that are crucial for our daily lives, at least I think so. All right, um, but yes, thank you so much for tuning in. A lot has been happening with me and 2D fit. A lot of great things. You know the saying out there, what is it saying, okay, that they that they hashtag all up on that social media. What is it? The hashtag book and busy that's not me, honey. I'm not booked and busy. I am blessed and busy. Now go hashtag that, okay? Darn, say it again. Thought that out thought that you will never ask. I am hashtag blessed and busy. It is June. We are six months, what, five, six months into the year, and just in that short period of time, so so many blessings, so many phenomenal things that I imagine would take a year or two to accomplish or slay nah, six months. I've had a lot of blessings,

Career Wins And Big Milestones

SPEAKER_00 2:59

and I am so grateful, you know. I'm gonna share it with you because I want you to know what's been happening, okay? So Fox Five. Fox Five, your girl was on Fox Five News Station on the Marissa Mitchell show. She is a phenomenal lady, and let me tell you, I was a fan of Marissa before having the blessing to be on her show. So to be on her show, it was a remarkable experience. And the supporters, oh, I had a support team, and they made sure I was right. You hear me? So, shout out to Susanna, um, Tanya, my my lead poll instructor, Trina, Natasha. Shout out to you ladies. I am so grateful for you and your support, not only for making sure that I was right for Fox Five, or that you know that the brand was represented, but just for everything that you do as a whole. I'm truly grateful for you. Um, let's see, what else? Oh, how could I forget this? 11 years to decelebrated 11 years in April, and that that alone is something else. It it feels like just yesterday when my husband surprised me with the studio, gifted me the studio, something that I did not ask for, mention, or had on a vision board, none of that, okay? Eleven years ago. And look at me now, look at 2D now. So remarkable. That is also a blessing, a ultimate blessing. And what else? Oh, 2D Fifth Elite Academy. I don't know if you know or not, you know it now. I have a yoga school recognized by Yoga Alliance. I can certify yoga instructors now. And under 2D Fit Elite Academy, not only am I certifying yoga instructors, honey, I am certifying fitness instructors, poll instructors. I am including a development program to help instructors find their true voice and to amplify their God natural given talents so that they too can inspire women empowerment, self-confidence, self-love, sisterhood all over the world. Yes, yes, yes, I know, I know what you might be thinking. Yes, darn, it's only June. Honey, I know, okay? But I am on a mission to fulfill this vision of 2D fit. The virtual community is popping. And ladies, also, or you know, to to my audience out there, I was in the running to become uh Miss Muscle Fitness Hers of 2026, okay? I did not win on paper, but the support and the way that folks rallied behind this competition, I won before the competition was over. Do you hear me? Yes, yes, yes, 2026, and it's only June. And look at all that has been happening with 2D, and you know, from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful. I am grateful. You know, this moment reminds me of the episode, okay, one of the the popular episodes of 2D Fit and Ish, and that is living a purpose-driven life. If you have not listened to Living a Purpose-driven life, oh my word, please listen to that after you listen to this episode, okay? I meant every word when I recorded that episode back then, and everything that I said stands today. Stands today. I am not for play play. I am so serious right now. Stands today. Folks on the outside might say, Well, Don, you're you're doing that thing, okay? You've accomplished a lot, but in my heart, because of my purpose, I have more work to do. I got a lot of work to do, right, Anitra? I've got a lot of work to do, and I am up for it. I am up for it. Now, before I dive into today's episode, ladies, okay, because that alone is a podcast episode within itself, all right? Um, but that's not why I am totally here. Before I dive into today's episode, I want to share with you that 2D Fit and Ish has 3,203 podcast downloads. I fell out the chair when I saw that number. I didn't expect that. I did not expect that, and I want to thank you. I want to thank you for the downloads, the shares, you know, the dimensions, all of that, okay?

unknown 9:37

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Thank you for that. Um, and and I'm I look, I am gonna mention the top three cities, okay. I I have many, but the top three, Washington, D.C. Okay, right around the corner, all right. I appreciate you, Washington, D.C. Number two, uh, Fort Washington, Maryland. Fort Washington, Maryland, the hub for 2D fit. And listen, to have the support of your community means the world. So thank you for Washington, Marlin. Number three, okay. Hesta

Downloads Love And Listener Shoutouts

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Germany. Hesta Germany, listen, thank you for your support without fail, okay? For every episode you show up, and to know that warms my heart. Do you hear me, Germany? So high five to you in the air. I appreciate your support. Thank you. Thank you. So you heard me say that I'm here for another reason. And I'm pausing right here, okay, because I I've I've marinated, I meditated, I prayed about it. I'm like, okay, how am I going to transition from sharing great news to something that how can I say this that is heavy on my heart? Well, well, well, can we have a conversation, okay? Let's just have a conversation, alright? I want to talk to my friends out there, my supporters, okay? Real talk, okay? Heart-to-heart conversation, alright? Conversation that we're gonna have, that I'm gonna have with you. It might not be perfect, alright, but I'm not deleting, I'm not starting over. I am going to speak from the heart. Alright? So ride with me on this, ride with your girl on this, okay? I'm asking you for your attention, alright? Alright, so um, well, your girl will be 52 in a few days, right? I I know, okay, I

A Hard Turn Into Real Talk

SPEAKER_00 12:20

know. 52 when I when I share that, a lot of folks look at me uh, you know, as if they're dear and hitlice, right? But yes, I will be 52 in a few days, and I feel good. I feel good. In fact, I feel fierce because I am fierce, damn it. Okay, and I embrace everything, every change that I am going through right now. Um, not saying that I like all of it, but you know, as I was sharing with um Anitra, okay, her name again, all right? Because Anitra and I, shout out to you. We we have some we have some deep conversations, okay? I appreciate her, um, Zen Queen Anitra. But as I was sharing with Anitra, um, you know, I told her, I said it's part of life. So the best thing that we can do is to teach, educate ourselves on how to manage

Turning 52 And New Body Changes

SPEAKER_00 13:27

this season or this change that we are going through in our 50s, right? Teach ourselves how to manage man. So, you know, for instance, there are a lot of ladies out there who experience hot flashes. Are you ready for this one? I have cold flashes. Yep, I sure just yep, I sure do, Jess. I have cold flashes, and that is that is the weirdest thing ever. Now, don't call me or message me for specifics, okay? Ask your doctor about it. I am not the doctor, okay? You know, many folks say, hey, Don, you should do an episode about the menopause, perimenopause, pre-menopause, and all that kind of stuff, but no, not right now, okay? Because I'm still trying to figure out things for myself. But but listen, but listen, you know I'm passionate about my 2D family, my 2D community. So I am working on some projects that and that would um allow me to add menopause coaching to my virtual program. So stay tuned for that. Not right now, okay, but I am working on some things um uh outside of everything else, okay. So stay connected to me so then you can stay in the loop, right? But you know, I've been absent from the podcast this year, mainly not because of my schedule. You know, I know that I said I've been blessed and busy, and I shared all of the phenomenal things that that I've been doing and what's in as far as um you know what's going on with 2D, but but it wasn't my schedule, right? To to be honest, I have been mentally trying to prepare to to have this talk with you, um, which is the support, the reason behind the title um my best friend missed my 52nd birthday. The big five two. I told myself that if anything this year, I will release an episode during my birthday month. So here I am. Let me give you some background. I want you to hear me like you've never heard me before. Okay, I want you to I want you to listen to this. You might hear me speak to my best friend as if she was in the room. I might even address her. So if I do that, I am asking you for your understanding. As I said early on, I'm not gonna delete this. We're having a conversation. This is me raw form. I'm not perfect, and I don't want to be perfect because frankly, that shit is boring. Okay, so um my best friend, Miss LaFon, Miss LaFawn King, met her in kindergarten. So we were come on down. So we were best friends for forty-three years. Forty-three years. She was my one and only best friend, like that, right? And we had separation, like you know, when I left for college and moments in high school, but our friendship was always solid, you know. In in any storm, we we found each other at the right moments. You know, one of my memories with LaFon is when she introduced me to when she

Forty Three Years Of Friendship

SPEAKER_00 18:09

introduced me to my first slim gem. You know those um jerky sticks. So she gave me my first slim gym, and we sat at her papa's store on the step to eat this slim gem, okay? Because her papa had a had a store, you know. Uh when you can go there and soda, your bread, you know, it just you know, it was a store. And we laughed and and we did what little girls do, you know. In fact, when we went on the school field trips, LaFon had the best snacks. I'm telling you, okay, she had the deal pickles, everything. LaFon had the best snacks when we went on field trips. Because, like I said, her papa had the store, right? Um, so fast forward when I moved to Merlin and I found out she lived close by, I became ecstatic. Okay, I was so excited to know that that LaFon lived in Merlin as well. Because, like I said, you know, once I left for college, we were in contact, okay, but we were not close by. And we, you know, there was some time in between, right? Because when I moved to Merlin, listen, hear me out. When I moved to Merlin, I I didn't know anyone. I had no friends, I had no family up here. Um, in fact, I didn't even have a place to live, but that's another story for another time, all right? So I was so excited to find out she was close by. To find out that she was close by. Um but but but I didn't know how to feel when LaFawn told me about her lupus. I didn't understand it. So for those of you who don't know, okay, lupus is an auto and an autoimmune disease, okay, and it attacks the body, the organs, everything. This mother, this mother, lupus can physically break down the body, you know. The way that I understand um lupus is um it, you know, lupus is a security company. Okay, this is an example. Lupus is a security company, and let's say you have an intruder in your house, so the security does not know what to secure, it does not know what to secure in your house, so it burns the whole house down. So instead of protecting the house, it can physically break down the house, such as your kidneys and your organs and shit, the things that that that keeps us alive. You know, like you know, sidebar, you know, people know people who know me, the constant complaining it, you know, from folks, you know, it just irks me, you know, when folks complain about breaking a nail, they have a piss fit, or you know, complaining about drinking water, or having to do XYZ, or uh I can't stretch, all that kind of stuff. You have people fighting different types of diseases and illnesses that no one Knows about, okay, because illnesses like lupus or that fibro myology or I don't know fibro, okay. I have an episode with Trina. Go back and listen to that episode. You know, they have illnesses like that, and you know, in which you will not know that they are going through something. In most cases, they look well, but they are not. So I'm not one to talk on the phone for long periods of time. Okay, I know I'm switching gears, okay, but I'm gonna get back to my story, all right? Because that that alone amps me up everything that I just said. But you know, me, I'm not one to talk on the phone for long periods of time. You know, I'm busy, I got shit to do. But LaFun, we will talk on the phone for three to five hours. And snapshot, listen, we'll snapshot our our conversation, our time so that we can keep records and laugh about it later. All right. Um, you know, I will clean the house, go to the grocery store, do my laundry, and be on the phone with LaFawn the whole entire time. You know, LaFawn was always wanted to ask how Dawn is doing. Not to the fifth, not to the fifth, she will always ask how I am doing. My family, right? She genuinely checked on me all the time. And for real, for real, she holds that crown today. But you know, when we when we have our conversations, I will let her go for it on the phone. You know, I know everything. I know everything. And one thing for sure, LaFawn loved her girls. She loved her daughters, you know, and her grandbaby. It was always fun talking with LaFon, you know. I would invite and and joke with her about coming to pole and aerial, and I always used to say, LaFon, I'm gonna get you right. We got a lot of work to do. But um, wait a minute. But um, deep down inside, I knew that was not possible. But it made her happy, you know, you know, so you know, y'all just keep inviting folks. You know, some of y'all ragged folks, okay, will stop asking or don't invite people, invite people because they say no most of the times, okay? But so what? So what? You cannot judge what they have going on, you don't know. And little do you know, your invitation, regardless of the response, shows that you care and that you go to them. That alone will make someone smile, you know. So I will always invite LaFan. I knew that you know she was not physically able to do a lot of things, but every time I did that, she would just laugh and smile and she loved it, you know? So I'm gonna fast forward. I hope that you are still here, okay? Please, y'all, listen to this story, okay? So I am going to fast forward to October 2022. I had an outdoor flip and sip boot camp. Okay, I was teaching and running around with a broken toe. I had a broken toe during that time, all right?

unknown 25:58

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

But when I that that day, okay, that morning, I felt something off. You know, when I woke up, I felt that something was off. So, you know, during the boot camp, her sister called me with news. So that was the day that I felt that my best friend of 43 years that she passed away. And there I was, frozen with a full yard of ladies, flipping tires, having fun, and I was there with a heavy mind and a heavy

The Day She Passed Away

SPEAKER_00 26:54

heart, but I continue to show up for the flip and sip ladies. You can say what you want, but I show up. And I have a lot of people that would vouch for that. I show up. So there were lots of in between, you know, like for example, at a funeral service, I wanted to fight. At the farm's funeral service, and I I don't know if anyone knows, but you know now, I wanted to fight, right? That's another story for another time, right? So um, but but we are here in 2026. And this season, right? That was 2022. So in 2026, in this season, right, of my life. This is my biggest grieving moment. Like three to four years later. Last year and this year, I've had some challenging days without her, without my best friend. Because I miss her. We laughed and joked about this stage in our life. And so, I'm like, and so, you know, damn LaFon, you had me go, you have me going through this menopause by myself. You know, we were we were supposed to have fun with this together, right? So it's not about the the menopause or the pair and pre-menopause. It's just something that we vowed that we said that we were gonna experience together and have fun with it. And so it's like now,

Why The Grief Hits Now

SPEAKER_00 29:05

this year, it it finally resonates that that's not gonna happen. You get what I'm saying? And so here I am, and you know, and and I'm okay. I said that I will share this episode in June in my birthday month, and I wanted to get this off my chest. So, um so my 2D family out there and supporters, here you go. So I I did write a letter to LaFawn. You have to give me a minute. Lord, where's my mind? Okay, um, I I did write a letter to LaFawn, and I want to share that with you, dear LaFauna. Well, girl, girl, here we are. 52 is next week. And uh, we were supposed to be figuring this menopause thing out together. Already know we be comparing symptoms, trash talking, and trying to figure out who is losing their mind first. Oh, the studio? Yeah, you always ask in about the studio, okay? The studio is doing better than I imagine. So grateful. Oh, and did you see my cute ass on the Fox 5? Yep, yep, another mind map vision that came true. I stalk your girls on social media when I can. Your twin grandbabies are adorable, and you know, I have grandbabies too now. I wish I could tell you all about it.

Reading My Letter To LaFawn

SPEAKER_00 30:54

Sorry, Lafon, about pumping you up to get all those mirrors from Facebook Marketplace. We didn't have we didn't need them, but what else to do during the COVID, right? That kept us busy. And so now you have you have mirrors all over the place. But um, as as I get ready to celebrate 52, I find myself thinking about you more than usual. I wish you were here for my birthday. So many things I would tell you, and so many things I wish I could hear you say. Thank you. Thank you for being part of my story. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for the laughs, and I carry a piece of you with me every day. So happy birthday to me. As you can see, I am still doing my thing. Unapologetically. LaFawn, I'm gonna go now because as you know, I've got a lot of work to do. Best best friends forever. Love all ways, dawn, dawn.