"Don't Wait for the Weight" by Monica Marie Jones

The latest in the "Souls of My Sisters" series geared to African-American women features new celebrity contributors and essays on faith, family, career, self-esteem, friendship, and love, which includes "Don't Wait for the Weight" by Monica Marie Jones.

Being a young woman today means belonging to an ever expanding global community, filled with new opportunities--and complicated challenges. With change comes choices, and making the right ones isn't always easy. The journey can seem overwhelming--but you're not alone. Whether you're dealing with issues of self-esteem, dating, domestic violence, cyber stalking, or racial profiling, within these pages a diverse gathering of women, including entrepreneurs, activists, and entertainers, have words of wisdom, inspiration, and practical information for you. So if you're headed to college, in the midst of your quarter-life crisis, or getting your career or family started, look to your sisters and their heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, but always encouraging real-life stories.