Random Thought...Unpredictable Mumbling

2017 has been one for the books! I have experienced more loss than I care to recount, and I would be a liar if I did not admit I was excited to see it go! There was love and love lost...lessons that I should have learned a long time ago, were revisited because clearly, I did not learn all I needed to learn the first time around. 2017 dealt me one of the biggest heartbreaks I have had outside of being a divorcee (I so would like to go into details, but my petty ain't set up like that 😂.) There has been death, so much death...I have been stretched in so many ways...and I  AM TIRED! With all the bad, there has been just as much good. Her Future is thriving, and put down roots in Galesburg, IL. Jeremiah started high school in one of the best schools in the city. Prayers that I have been waiting to be answered, were answered. I was inducted into a wonderful organization...40 Under 40 YWPL...and informed that I would be acknowledged by She Rocks It! I have met some wonderful people, s...

"I met God And She's Black" Now more than ever, I am convinced that this quote is true. I am in a great season of my life, and a part of what's making it so great is the fact that I am currently meeting and being surrounded by so many wonderful black women. And they are ALL doing their thing! These black women have started businesses, organizations, writing books, raising children, loving their partners, and being unapologetically black. What's so amazing in all of this, they are moving us all forward. The work they have committed themselves to is not only for them, but it's for all of us. I watch as they work to create products and services that are designed for us, so that we can see ourselves in mainstream, and have a place to turn when we need some uplifting. This excites me, and motivates me to keep going. I often say, no one is coming to save us, we must save ourselves. Black women are here doing the work, to do just that...save US! So, Black wom...

"I am not the exception, I am the norm" - unknown I cannot recall if I read the above quote, or if I heard someone say it. But wherever I was when I heard it, it struck a chord, and I made it a point to write it down. Just to be clear, I love this quote. This is one that I would make a life mantra. One of the things I love most about myself, is that I really want to see as many people win as possible, and that desire intensifies when it comes to young black women.  For those of you who may not know, I am the founder of a non profit, Her Future: Teen Mom Empowerment Group, and this quote describes the reason I started this work. I feel like I tell my story so much, but here goes again. 18 pregnant, in college, no clue what I would do...fast forward, 34, career, founder of a non profit, Masters Degree, and that baby I had is the bomb!  Thing is this, I am not the exception, and if I can help it, I will never be. I know so many women who were moms before they may hav...

Today I was out of sorts. I felt liked I had reached the end of myself. I was irritated and frustrated about everything and nothing. Joyful and sad all at once. If I can be honest, I get like this from time to time. Feeling unsure of myself, uncertain of my steps, unmotivated, and questioning everything about my current existence. Often, I am not sure of what causes these feelings, or why they rise, and most times, I just ignore it, and bury myself into whatever task lies before me, because truthfully, it's easier that way. Sweeping it under the rug, masking it, being "productive", accomplishing more, is so much easier than getting to the root of what's bothering me. The problem with that, is that at the beginning of the year, one of the goals I set for myself was to begin this journey towards healing, and that is one goal I refuse to leave incomplete. I've realized when I get like this, it normally means there is something coming up that needs to be worked out. ...

I have to start this post by first saying thank you to my friend Tara Pringle Jefferson . Tara is the creator of #HereWeGrow a National Self Care Retreat that happens yearly. She is the reason that I was in New Orleans for 5 days, thus the reason for this change that I feel. So, Tara, THANK YOU for your hard work, and commitment to giving black women a space to BE, and for reminding us the importance of taking care of ourselves.  I have so much to say about this weekend, but I am going to use a filter (some stuff is too personal to share) and I am going to try and keep this as short as possible. Preparation: Leading up to the retreat, I was all over the place. I just could not seem to get it together. Life was really hitting me hard. The week of, I had at least 2 breakdowns, there were a million things to do in order to get my children settled, and I was nervous about flying Spirit (which was actually ok). I wasn't able to take a deep breath until I to the airport. Maybe this ...

I am a mom. I am a single mom. I am a single divorced mom. I am a single divorced mom of two boys. A couple of days ago the boys and I were on our morning commute. We get to a red light and I noticed a mom and about five kids on the bus stop. I could tell they were all with her because of the way the girl’s hair was combed; they all had very similar braided hairstyles, and all the kids were shining like new money. One little girl looked very sad, so sad that it was noticeable. I told my boys, "I hate to see children look so sad", to which Jacob, my 8yr old replies, "Unless it's your own children". A little taken a back, I asked him why he would think I would want my children to be sad. He begin to describe times in which I have had to discipline him, all which he thought were unfair and unjust, with my most recent offense being not allowing him to bring a change of clothes for after school. I mean, he does not do my laundry, and two outfits a day ain...

Hello! I'm Lauren, and this is about the 3rd time I have tried my hand at blogging! I am back because I realize how therapeutic writing is for me, and because I want to get my thoughts out! (mainly this, LOL). I live a busy life, and so do my friends, so a lot of times when I have something to say, they may not be available. So, I figured, what better way to get my thoughts out than to share them with the world (or at least my extended circle who decides to read this)... There is no rhyme or reason, no real theme, and I will only post as I feel, so don't look for anything consistent. I just want a place to release. Some days it may be about motherhood, other about my career...I am sure you will hear about my dating woes from time to time as well. So, don't expect anything fancy over here, just my random thoughts and unpredictable mumbling's ... I hope you'll subscribe and join me on my journey through life. ~Lauren