hope, trust God

Seven Years Later

Shaun Bradford

Hello and Happy Monday!☀️

For a few days now, I’ve been dreading this day because I didn’t know how my emotions would be when I woke up. Would I be sad? Would I grieve? Would it just be another day? Well, today I woke up feeling neither sad nor grieving. However, after scrolling through my Facebook memories, I decided to share my experience from seven years ago.

On October 5, 2019, my brother celebrated his 46th birthday. Several days later, he was admitted to ICU, and about a week or so after that, he was gone.

While checking my Facebook memories to see if I had made a birthday post on that day, I saw the post below and decided to share it. Y’all, this particular post drove my anxiety level through the roof! I logged off social media afterward because I was so overwhelmed. You know how you can feel something is about to happen, but can’t pinpoint what? Well, that’s where I was. The caption in the post kind of explains what I was experiencing.

October 5, 2019

The confusion and tears were so real.😔

Here’s what I shared in my journal entry on the same day:

Oh, today and sometime last week, the “Everything happens for a reason” popped up on social media. When I mentioned it today, I only referred to this particular time period. About an hour ago, I remembered that this year started off with the song by Zhane, “Reasons.” For about a month, it was my theme song. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Now, here I am, close to the end of 2019, and I’m hearing it again. God is working.

In the post, I used the hashtag #GodIsWorking, and as you can see, I ended my journal entry with “God is working.” Even though I was experiencing anxiety like crazy, I still believed that everything that was happening—and, unbeknownst to me, would later happen—was still under God’s control. I trusted whatever God was doing.

Now, here I am seven years later…

A lot has happened in seven years. Y’all, I’m sooooo glad I stopped hearing Zhané’s song “For A Reason.” Talk about traumatized every time I heard it after my brother’s death.

Oh, and I had forgotten to mention that my mom (not my brother’s mom) was admitted to the hospital the day before. What a crazy time that was!

My thoughts are still the same today as they were back then— “Rest assured, God’s got you [us]. He already has everything worked out. Just trust Him.”

The other hashtag I must mention before I end is the last one in my post— “Your purpose is too great to give up.” Whew! Talk about powerful! I had no idea what was coming. I’m so grateful I didn’t give up!

Today’s going to be a beautiful day because God is in it and still in control. Despite everything that happened seven years ago, I still trust God and His plan.

I pray you have a wonderful day and week. May both be filled with love, joy, and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

empowerment

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday☀️

Facebook Memory: October 4, 2022

Where you begin rarely looks like what you envisioned. Give yourself space, time and grace to grow. Don’t give up. You’ll get there!♥️ 

Recently, I decided to prioritize myself and my needs first. In doing so, one of my goals is to get 5-6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Right now, it’s about 3-4 hours. When I wake up, I usually stay awake for 1-2 hours before falling back asleep. Then, I only sleep for another 30 minutes to an hour.

Y’all, this new self-focused version of me is something I must be intentional about working on because it’s definitely not something that is happening naturally.

Yes, growth is a process.

This is all for now. I pray you have a wonderful weekend. May it be filled with lots of love, laughter, peace, and joy.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

Life

Hands Off The Brakes, Part 2

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

I’m just going to jump right into this ramble. I have a lot to unpack. Today, I’m more focused on the release than the structure of how it flows. Please bear with me.

First, when I saw Tyler Perry’s post about this being one of his most powerful films, I already knew it was going to be deep. So I intentionally waited until the end of the day to watch it. I needed to be able to sit in whatever he was bringing. Yeah… he can get deep like that.

Anyhoo… yesterday was already emotional for me. I saw that a magazine article I interviewed for had been published. According to the date, it was actually published two days earlier, but I had just received the link. I had so many mixed emotions about the article. I second-guessed everything I had said. I kept thinking, maybe I had overshared or didn’t share enough. But the biggest thing was what my siblings would think about what I shared. It was nothing bad, just my take on our reality growing up. I wish that I could’ve shone a better light on my mom in the article. It doesn’t mention that she graduated early from high school and went to college. It doesn’t mention her surviving abuse and paving the way for me and my siblings to have better lives than she did. There was so much I wish I’d mentioned, but didn’t. So yesterday, when I received the link to the article, I hesitated to share it with them. I shared it with my daughter first, and she said it was a great article. She couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to share it. But I know my siblings…

I finally got the courage to share it with them and let them know I was going to post it on Facebook. It was my homage to my mom. The sacrifices she made were so that we could be who we are. So that I could be who I am. Here’s the link to the article if you’d like to read it— Conversations with LaShaundrea Bradford

Back to Tyler Perry’s movie, Doing Life, without giving too much away. The story isn’t only a love story but also centers around a sick mother and her three adult daughters and their dynamics. Unlike the mom in the movie, my mother was never harsh or cold. Now, she wasn’t the hugging type and did yell a lot, but she never cussed at us or called us out of our name. Not even when she was frustrated with us and in pain. In all honesty, she was a people pleaser, and she got her heart broken so many times, but it never stopped her from doing for others or giving. That was my mom.

So when I said I was feeling so many mixed emotions, that’s what I meant. The next is about the main storyline itself. I ended my last post with, “Every woman deserves a Carousel.” Well, Carousel was the main male character, and Anika was his love and one of the sick mother’s daughters. Again, not going to give anything about the movie away. I just loved the way Carousel cared for Anika. He kept telling her that he had her, and y’all, he did!

I don’t know about you, but that’s what I’ve always longed for in a relationship. For a man to have my back. For him to be someone I can truly count on. Not someone who talks the talk but can’t walk the walk. Carousel was that man. Whatever he said, he backed it up with action! Now, I know this was just a fictional story, but I truly believe men like Carousel exist. I always have. Hence the reason I want to get married again. I want my Carousel!😂 So, yeah, that was the other part of my mixed emotions.

Y’all, life is something else! It definitely be lifeing. You never know what people are going through unless they decide to share. Like I just did. Smile

Welcome to my world!

This is all for now. It’s Self-Love Saturday. Be sure to do something extra special for yourself. You deserve it!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration

Ummm… why didn’t nobody mention that I was misspelling BRAKES!!! I just caught this!🥴

Life

Hands Off The Brakes

Shaun Bradford

Tyler Perry’s Doing Life! What an emotional ride with a beautiful ending.

Finished the movie about ten minutes ago and the tears are steadily flowing. So many mixed emotions. If you’re a romantic and love a great love story, you’ll love this movie. I’m not going to give anything away because I hate spoilers. All I’ll say is, every woman deserves a Carousel.♥️

It’s on Netflix, y’all! Check it out. Definitely going to rewatch it this weekend.

empowerment, Life

God Placed Me Where I Could Grow

Shaun Bradford

Happy Friday!☀️

Wasn’t it just Monday?! Smile

Since it’s Friday, here are two flashbacks from this day six years ago. Both resonated with me this morning.

October 2, 2026 – Facebook Memories

God placed me where He could grow me.

I feel this.

I understand this.

Fannie Lou Hamer—an American icon and leader from the Mississippi Delta. (She was born and lived not even an hour from where I was born.)

Mrs. Hamer’s statement reflects where I currently am in life.

“When I liberate myself, I liberate others.”

Even though this week has been all about me, I know this journey isn’t only about me. I’ve spent most of my life putting everyone’s needs before my own. Not intentionally. It just happened that way. However, this week, I realized I could no longer effectively help anyone until I helped myself first—until I liberated myself.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mrs. Hamer had breast cancer when she died. She suffered in silence while putting others’ needs before her own. Let that sink in…🩷🕊️

If you’d like to read more about Fannie Lou Hamer and her work as a Civil Rights grassroots leader, here’s a good source from Women’s History.org: Fannie Lou Hamer.

Yes, I was placed here to grow.🪴

This is all I have for now. I pray you have a beautifully blessed day.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

By the way… Tyler Perry’s latest movie, Doing Life, is streaming on Netflix. He said it’s his most powerful movie yet. So y’all already know I can’t wait to see it!😁

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

empowerment, Life

The New

Shaun Bradford

Happy Thursday☀️ And Happy October!

Today is reserved for all things new.

It’s Time For The New

New month.

New things to do.

Last night I decided to start reposting on Substack (Shaun Inspires). Thought I’d give it another try. Hadn’t realized I made so many posts before I abandoned it. I was struggling with figuring out how to connect. Today, I’m not too much concerned about connecting. I’m at a point in life where I just want future generations to know I existed and that I held a space in this point in time.

Yes.

I’m here.

I exist.

Feeling like Miss Celie from The Color Purple— “Dear God, I’m here!”

Blessed to be in this space in time. Taking nothing for granted. Purposefully and intentionally setting out to do something new for ME.🥰

I pray you have a wonderful month. May it be filled with lots of love, joy, peace, and happiness.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

trust God

Thank You, God

Shaun Bradford

Stopping to say, Thank You, God. Thank You, for being You.

Be sure to take a moment to thank God for everything He’s done and is doing in your life. The things you know about and those you don’t. Thank Him for His love, mercy, and grace. For His kindness, covering, and protection. Amen

Always stay in His presence.🙏🏽♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

Life

I Had To Rest My Mind

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️ and Happy Wednesday!

Y’all, I have gotten more rest in one day than I have this entire year! No joke. On Monday, I accepted that I must put myself first—not second or third, but FIRST! I am my only priority. Then, yesterday, I rested. And not like I had been resting before. Nothing like what I’ve done previously. I’m laughing because I actually cleaned my house and did laundry. The rest I needed wasn’t physical; it was mental. I needed to rest my mind. I didn’t listen to any podcasts, or watch any spiritual or motivational videos. I put on a random show, downloaded a random game on my phone, and did housework in between playing the game and watching the show. I also responded to a few emails. But I didn’t even check my email until sometime yesterday afternoon. Oh! And I also said a few no’s. No’s without the guilt—the guilt I would typically place on myself.

Yesterday, I broke free from the box I’d put myself in. Sometimes, we create our own stress—lol, and I was definitely creating some of mine.

Yesss… yesterday, I set myself FREE!

Here’s to me doing better and being better, because I matter to ME!🎉

By the way, I retired my “Quote of the Day” posts. There’s still a quote, but it’s now part of my daily inspiration message.

This is all for now. I pray you have a wonderful Wednesday. May it be filled with lots of love and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

empowerment, self love

My Journey With God, No. 150

Shaun Bradford

YOU are your priority. Not another task. Not another goal. Not another mission. Not another person. YOU, my friend, are your only priority. Everything else is secondary.

Your Priority

My kids have been telling me for the longest that I am my only priority. The last time my daughter was here, she kindly told me that although she’s glad I still consider her and my son when making decisions, they should no longer be a factor in whatever I choose to do. She said that I need to reimagine my life not centered around them.

So what did I do? I started taking on tasks and putting other people’s needs, goals, and interests before my own. Not like I hadn’t been doing it before. Smile. But yesterday was my breaking point.

Yesterday, by noon, I had become so overwhelmed by everything I had taken on that I could literally feel my blood pressure rising—plus I was having hot flashes like CRAZY! Y’all, hot flashes are no joke!! Then, yesterday evening, I saw a post about one of my step-cousins passing from an apparent stroke. He was only a year younger than me.

After finally taking time to sit and breathe, I remembered what my daughter said, I am my only priority.

Today, I need to focus only on myself and what I want to achieve. I live to help and be there for others, but who’s here for me? Who’s helping me? Umm… no one besides ME! So I need to make sure I put myself first and do it daily, not just today. I’m not being selfish. I just want to live a long, healthy life. I have at least 50 more years of life to live.😊

This is all I have for now. Thanks for allowing me to share/ramble. I pray you have a beautifully blessed day!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.