For a long time, I have wanted to do something to empower women. My first attempt to do so involved building relationships. I thought that if I could build a few very solid relationships and pull my sisters up, they would in turn pull another woman up and the cycle would continue. The failure in that plan lies in a combination of things.

First, I was fighting the "crabs in a barrel" mentality. Some of these women wanted to stay down. They enjoyed being the victim and we all know that misery loves company, so of course they wanted to keep or pull me down with them. Others who felt like they had already risen to "enlightment" or "self evolution" either didn't care about the sisters in the valley or wanted to keep them them there. The failure was massive.

On another occasion, I attempted to form a co-op (of sorts) with a few other women. I wanted ladies to be able to find services, support, and comraderie all in one place. I was thinking that I still wanted women to stick together and that maybe I was biting off more than I could chew by trying to "conquer the beast" all by myself. Unfortunately, that idea died before it began. Finally, I had to look at other methods of helping my sisters rise.

Sometimes, you just have to do things on your own--and that's when it hit me! My own life was in such shambles that I masked my own problems by trying to "reach out and help: my sisters. What about me? What about my mess? What about my proverbial "front door?" That's when I realized that I would be worth nothing to anyone until I got my own life together--I could give no one guidance or help no one "rise from the ashes" until I had risen from them myself. You can't advise on or assist in matters you know nothing about--nor can you offer advice that you are not willing to take (or have not taken) yourself.

So I began my journey. Exactly when my journey began I'm not sure, but I can consciously say that I have been on this journey for at least the last two years. At last, I can tell my sisters how to experience the truimphs I have--or how to achieve their own successes. I can help them help themselves by embarking on their own personal journeys--journeys they alone must travel and milestones they alone must reach. This makes the journey easier because you are traveling for yourself--marking your own accomplishments. It also makes the journey harder because no one can do it for you. It's a do-it-yourself project--you have to start it and travel it alone. You can share your experiences with others on similar journeys, but your journey will be unique. Sister, I guarantee you--the rewards will be great. All you have to do is stand up and declare...

"I'M TAKING MY LIFE BACK!!!"