Women Cultivating Women -WCW

01/02/2020

This year, I'm going to really figure out what's next for WCW. If you're in the group, thank you for rocking with us this far. However, be forewarned that she will look nothing like her former self. If you've requested the group, hold tight. I haven't accepted new members lately or allowed posts because we have been going through an evolution and are in transition.

Old WCW was a hodge-podge of my things + random things that are everyone else's and typical "women's empowerment" blah blah blah. That never sat right with me.

FULL STOP. ✋🛑

I just didn't know what else to call it or how to execute what I really wanted to do.

Just know that if you're looking for "empowerment," now is the time to exit the group. There's no way I can empower you. There never was. Anyone who tells you they can is not gonna be someone you can depend on.

The New WCW will be ALL ME. And it's going to require ALL YOU. There will be no co-opting, no copying and pasting, no free-for-all, none of that. It took me awhile to see what my therapist and my mentors were saying. I'm here now. I will burn the whole thing down and start completely over if I need to, and whoever is ready to roll can roll.

🙏

04/18/2019

Do you ever get tired of setting the same goals year after year, only to let them taper off somewhere between months three and five? Whether you celebrate a new year on January 1st or are part of …

12/27/2018

It seems women are far more forgiving and trusting of men than we are of each other.
http://lorensthoughts.com/2018/12/27/i-dont-trust-women/

  As we close on 2018, I would really love for the sisterhood to put a few things to rest, not the least of which is the disdain and shade we throw around at other women. Of course, we all hav…

12/11/2018

A short message of encouragement to all mothers.
http://lorensthoughts.com/2018/12/11/mom-enough/

It is NO SMALL FEAT to maneuver another human being (let alone several) from infancy to adulthood. . .

01/12/2018

12/29/2017

We AIN'T accepting basic human decency as currency for our hearts.

12/29/2017

"Talking" ain't DATING.....

12/22/2017

So many women racing to the top of their professions, but racing to the bottom of their personal lives. Can't get to either fast enough. You CAN be successful in both.

STOP lying to yourself.

That man and those fake friends/associates you're carrying AIN'T good for NO PARTS of your life.

LEAVE. 👏 THEM. 👏 IN. 👏 TWENTY. 👏 SEVEN. 👏 TEEN. 👏

SIS.

10/23/2017

When you've worked hard to become the person you are. . .
When you've released way too much so you can be free. . .
When you've spent countless seconds, minutes, hours in prayer and in wise counsel. . .
When you've forgiven yourself for so many failures that you didn't even realize at the time were failures. . .
When you've forgiven yourself for so many of other people's failures that you believed were yours. . .
And forgiven them once you realized. . .
When you've rebuilt yourself from the inside out intentionally. . .
And fought past excuses. . .
And fought past blame. . .
And given YOURSELF the closure that you needed. . .
When you've learned acceptance and how to live within it and still hold onto yourself. . .
When you've learned to love yourself unconditionally. . .
And not allow others to determine how and how much you love you. . .
When you've studied yourself. . .
And learned yourself. . .
And study continuously to stay abreast of the latest advances in you-ology. . .
When you've labored intensively at establishing boundaries. . .
And enforcing them. . .
Not only with others, but also with yourself. . .
When you've figured out and are confident in what you have to offer. . .
And you've figured out what is valuable to you. . .
And what you can vs what you will not accept. . .
And FINALLY, when you VALUE the body of work that YOU have accomplished. . .
Because it is tedious, painstaking, emotional work. . .
. . .You will not let just any ole body take residence in your mind, your spirit, your life. . .
And dismantle everything that it took your soul to build. . .


lorensthoughts.com 💭📝

10/16/2017

I got 99 problems, but my friends ain't one!

10/06/2017

SISTERHOOD STORIES: Tassany & Lauren's Story

I'm blessed to have quite a few of these types of relationships, but if I had to chose, I can highlight one in particular.

Lauren Feaster.
I met her through our sorority. I knew about her, being a new member in undergraduate. But once she graduated, I met her at our graduate chapter's meeting. That was back in 2009.
I remember sharing with her some wings at a later event that night. And I really like her ora & demeanor. So I called her afterwards and asked how she saw herself contributing to our sisterhood/what her skills are and what she wanted to do? Told her I'd take her under my wings, with one condition, that she continues to act youthful, go out, and meet new people! She laughed and said, OK! The rest is history. She's become my sister, my friend, and even my sounding board too!

Tassany

08/23/2017

By Desha Cunigan
Follow her story- Life As De'Sha

On my journey of self discovery
I decided to stay away from make up, weaves, and no slayed eyebrows .... this is only temporary. Durning this journey I finally decided to regrow my hair after my 3rd Big Chop. Let's just say I didn't know it would effect others as much. Let me explain.

People would say, "Oh I don't like your hair short " or "Why do you keep cutting your hair? " I never knew MY personal choice to change MY physical appearance mattered so much. Not all comments were bad some would say, "You are so bold " and "Your hair cut is so cute on you, you can rock any hairstyle ". With all these different comments and concerns I would of went back to my old self but, a deeper lesson had to be learned.

I use to think that I had to fit in. Hair slayed, eyebrows on fleek, and dressed to impress and if you caught me slippin I would of said,
"If you can't accept me at my worse then you can't have me at my best " well if my worse is in my natural state then what was wrong with God made originally?

Today I am able to look at myself in the mirror and say I'am beautiful. That is the most rewarding part of the journey. It feels so good to touch my coils, see every strain of hair on my eyebrows, and not wake up several hours early to beat my face to the God's.

It's okay to enhance your beauty but, when you are chained to it that could cause a major impact on your life.

08/04/2017

Sisterhood Stories are back with. . . . .Alexis' & Megan's Story! Check it out!

This is a picture of me and my bestie boo Megan Ford.

Megan and I met when I joined the Dallas-Ft. Worth Urban League Young Professionals in 2015.

Typically people who are considered best friends have known one another for years. Megan and I have known each other almost two years, but have officially been friends for over a year. We met while working together on the Leadership Development Conference committee in 2015. So in that sense we immediately became like family.

Megan is a very authentic individual. She says exactly what is on her mind and does not make apologies for being who she is. She knows that she is not everyone's cup of tea and she doesn't care. Those closest to Megan know that she has Epilepsy and a rare brain disease. She is an advocate for her illnesses, but she doesn't let them keep her down. Her first priority and greatest accomplishment is being the mom of a teenage daughter. She also works full-time, serves on the DFWULYP board and still finds time to be there for her friends. She shoulders all of her responsibilities with dignity and grace. Megan is the most courageous person I know.

Being best friends with someone means getting to know them on an intimate level. It's about give and take. As best friends, Megan and I are keepers of one another's secrets. She is the one I cry in front of and the one I am able to fully be myself around. We are there for one another through different relationships (platonic, familial and intimate). We learn from each other what the other is looking for and the mistakes we are making. Mistakes we know we have to let each other make, without judgement because we know we're not perfect, but progress. Seeing this part of one another, watching each other as we grow into people we wouldn’t have recognized several years ago, is nothing short of a gift.

This past New Years Eve, Megan had to be in the hospital for some tests. There was no question where I was going to spend my time ringing in the New Year. I was right by her side when the clock struck midnight. We laughed, talked, ate dinner, watched chick movies and looked out the window at the fireworks. There was nowhere else I would have rather been than at my best friend's side. No question she would do the same for me.

All these reasons and more are why she is my best friend.

06/28/2017

Ladies, it Colet Williams, resident health and wellness coach! Q: How are you putting yourself first? You know, health is so much more than what's on your plate...that is ACTUALLY secondary! So, let's hear it, how are you taking care of self?! Tell us below!

06/25/2017

Hey, Sis? Say, Sis. You got this. Look at what you've come through. Come through for yourself. Your self is powerful. You are full of so much, so much, Sis. Like knowledge. Like grit. Like prowess. Like intelligence. Take all of that and be full of YOU. Step into your fullness. Sis, TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY. You are qualified and capable. Don't shrink yourself. Don't doubt yourself. And when YOU take YOURSELF serious. . . .like for real serious. . . .you won't ALLOW anyone to treat you like you're insignificant.

Not even YOU.
Not a ninja.
Not a fake friend.
Not an entitled family member.
Not a boss.
Not a peer.
Not an employee.
Not your children.
Not a stranger who doesn't even know you.
Not a client or potential client.
NO ONE.

GO, GIRL. Go be your amazing, brilliant, powerful self.

06/16/2017

SISTERHOOD STORIES: Anna & Gauthami Part II

We met on my first day of joining a CPS sexual abuse investigation unit. I was super nervous and decided to arrive early to scope out my office and start decorating a little (I had no windows and sometimes you held interviews in your office). I showed up like at 7am and see Gauthami. She's hopped up on adrenaline and comes up to me with a big beautiful smile on her face. She welcomes me to the unit and asks me to please not tell anyone she spent the night closing out all her current cases so she can take a vacation. I wound up sitting on the floor just listening to her go on about her trip, her family, her time at CPS and on and on. Then she just looked at me and asked me about myself. Myself!?!? Who, me?? That's the thing. Gauthami is so enigmatic and she just draws you in. When she asks you a question, she really wants the answer. She has that unique ability to really listen, not just hear you and wait till it's her time to talk.

Gauthami is the girl I aspire to be and hopefully the kind of daughter I will one day have. She isn't afraid like so many of us are. She doesn't see barriers, just opportunities. And I know people say that they are non-judgemental, but she really is. It doesn't matter that she can't relate on certain levels. She WANTS to understand. She is the kind of person you need in your life. She's my biggest cheerleader and the mirror you need to see yourself in when you're starting to get out of control. Lol.

I can't see a life without my sis in it. Gauthami holds some of my deepest secrets and my fondest memories. Everyone should all be so lucky to have a Gauthami in their corner.

06/06/2017

Sis, the only thing different about your situation is your feelings. Hearts don't think, they feel. And they're supposed to. But right now I need you to THINK. If your best friend or homegirl treated you like he did, what would you do? What would be your reaction? You ain't gotta tell me. But be honest with YOURSELF.

06/03/2017

Sisterhood Stories: Gauthami & Anna's Story

This is my best friend, sister, angel and my voice of reason, Anna M. Howard! Anna and I met at child protective services where we worked in the sexual abuse unit together. I mentored her for the first 2 to 3 months that she was there. There's a beautiful energy about this woman and I immediately fell in love with her. We became the best of friends since that time.

I do not know what I would do without her. She is one of my guardian angels! She is a woman of integrity, dignity, intelligence, and beauty. She has a heart of gold and goes above and beyond whatever is asked of her. She is super protective of me and will always step up if someone hurts my feelings in any possible way. She is just amazing like that, and I do not know what I would do without her in my life!