hope

I’m Ready to Share This Part of My Life

Shaun Bradford

Over the years, I have danced around writing about my desire to find love again. I’ve spoken about my divorce and sometimes hinted that I wanted to remarry, but I have never said anything directly.

Well, today I am. As I was looking for something to share for Self-Love Saturday, I found this entry in my journal written on March 28, 2019. Usually, I’m hesitant to share something so personal, but this time I’m not. No anxiety. No fear. No still small voice telling me not to. Only feelings of being free to be me.

This entry really made me smile because I wrote it to my future self.☺️

Shaun’s Journal Entry, March 28, 2019

I have to be somewhere at 10:00, but before I leave, I’m dedicating this to you.

Note to future LaShaundrea:

I love you. You will find love AND love will find you. No more one sided relationships. Who God has destined as your partner, king, lover, best friend, provider, the one that is going to love you like God loves you, will come. Everything takes time (God’s preparing him, too). Enjoy where you are. I know you don’t feel loved right now. I know you’re sad. Not depressed, but sad (there’s a difference). God is working as we speak. Everything will be okay. People will never understand your excitement, but he will and he’ll embrace it. He will love you like God loves you. You will not want for anything. Don’t worry, he won’t take God’s place. He can’t. Your gratitude will always be given to God. Amen

I love you, Shaun. 🤗🥰

I love that I thought about my future self.🥰

Today, I’m just here.

Not looking.

Just being me.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want to love and be loved, and I want to get married again. Even though I didn’t marry the right man the first time, and we had our issues, I still loved being married.

Anyhoo…

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to do something just for YOU. You deserve it!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

A Maid

Shaun Bradford

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was five, because I can actually remember back that far, I wanted to be a maid. Not a housekeeper, but a maid. I wanted to be like Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons. The reason I remember this so vividly is because someone asked me what I wanted to be, and my mom lost it after hearing my answer. She told me that she never ever wanted me to tell anyone that I wanted to be a maid. Now, if you know Florence Johnston, you know she was never the typical maid. She was anything but a maid. After that incident, I changed my answer to “a baby doctor” (pediatrician). It was a much safer answer.😂

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.♥️

hope

My Journey With God, No. 137

Shaun Bradford

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to a senior Nutrition class about my journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and where I am currently professionally. I’ve spoken to different classes over the years, and each time I’ve had more to share. I usually start my story by explaining that this wasn’t my first career.

After failing my first semester of college, I joined the Air Force. Then, after my second enlistment ended, I joined the Air Force Reserve before transferring to the Air National Guard. While in the Guard, I enrolled in a Hospitality Management program at a community college. After the first semester and my first culinary class, I switched my major to Culinary Arts. Two years later, during my culinary internship at a rural hospital, I met an RDN who invited me to shadow her for a day, and after that experience, I knew I wanted to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Seeing today’s Facebook memory, “Faithfulness and gratitude unlock doors only God can open,” reminded me of my professional evolution. Everything I mentioned about how my life has evolved just flowed from one experience to the next. Y’all, I am 52 years old, and I have only had 4 job interviews in my life, and maybe only one was structured. As I told the students, I have spent most of my adulthood volunteering and building relationships, so whenever a position or opportunity becomes available that aligns with my interests, someone reaches out. Don’t get me wrong, I still look for opportunities; however, the ones I have truly enjoyed have been the ones that have come my way.

I ended my talk with the students by saying I still don’t know where this profession or life will take me. I suggested that they stay open to opportunities and possibilities, and to volunteer! Y’all, I believe in volunteerism. For one, it’s the perfect way to try an interest without fully committing. Also, it’s one of the best ways to make connections. And if you’re like me, free-spirited, you get to do all kinds of things, which keeps life interesting.

My faithfulness and gratitude to God have unlocked some beautiful doors (opportunities and experiences) over my lifetime. I am beyond blessed.♥️

Shaun

hope

It’s Your Time – SHINE!

Shaun Bradford

Just a quick reminder that it’s your time to SHINE! Not in a boisterous way, but in a way that says “I’m here, and I’m here to stay!” No more playing small or staying in the background. It’s time for you to take the stage.

Yesterday, while catching up with a friend, she stopped mid-conversation to tell me she was happy to see that I was finally getting out more. It caught me off guard! Of course, I’ve been doing more; however, I didn’t realize others noticed. I had to share how God has blessed me with the life I’ve always wanted, and I’m finally doing what I love.

Y’all, God is so good! I am truly blessed.

Listen, YOUR stage is set and ready for you to make things happen. Stop waiting and get to it!♥️

Love you,

Shaub