Saw this quote and thought I’d share it with my natural nurturers—those who can’t help but love on others and put them first.
“This year, your assignment is you. Water you.” – femalempire.co
As the quote says, we are the assignment this year and must water ourselves. Whatever we’ve poured into others in the past, we must now pour into ourselves. This doesn’t mean we’re being selfish or will love others any less. It just means we are making our purposes, dreams, and aspirations a priority so they can finally grow. It’s our time to flourish.♥️
Good morning, and Happy Veterans Day to all who have served in any branch of the military. Thank you for your service!🫡
Thirty-two years ago, when I enlisted in the Air Force, I was clueless about the path my life would take. It was a journey I was definitely not prepared for, but one I’m glad I took. Until today, although I always hear “Thank you for your service,” I never considered “service” to be service.
Since childhood, I always wanted to be of service to others. However, I thought I would do this through the Peace Corps, volunteering, or later working for the United Nations in some capacity. I never considered the military as service, mostly because it was not what I had imagined as service. Hmmm… I guess taking an oath to sacrifice our comforts and possibly lives for the freedoms of others and our country is an act of service. The ultimate act of service.
Here are a couple of photos from the beginning of my official service career.
I was tired, but I made it! I didn’t know my own strength.Smiles were not permitted. We meant business.😁
Y’all, I still can’t believe I was in the Air Force. Forever an airman—always aiming high.🇺🇸
Shaun
A thought…
Thinking about my life and my lifelong mission to serve, does anything ever look like what we imagined? Or happen the way we imagined? When I really think about it, I have been serving in some capacity since childhood. As the oldest child, I served my siblings. As a teenager, I served as our church’s historian. In high school, my sister and I started the first recycling club (this was in the late 80s—we were going to save the planet 😊). I have been doing the work, but never considered it service.
What were/are some of your lifelong dreams and aspirations? When you think about it, have you already been doing them in some capacity? Have you already been living out your dreams?
Have you been limiting God? Limiting Him to only what you see, know, and have experienced? If so…STOP! Stop limiting Him. He’s not a genie, but you have Him confined to a bottle as if He were one. Instead of allowing Him to work freely, you have limited Him to what you believe you want. The funny thing is, God already knows what you need to reach your fullest potential. And whatever that might be, may not even be on your radar at this moment. Remember, God knows and sees all.
Listen, I am receiving this message as I write. It’s definitely for me too! Whew!!
Open the bottle and let God free! Let Him do His thing! I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited!
Thanking God for loving me like only He can. I am definitely blessed. Y’all, I needed this revelation.♥️
Every time I share this quote, I am reminded that I am living the life I imagined.
Facebook Memory: February 20, 2022
And so, she decided to start living the life she’d always imagined.
Author Unknown
The last time I shared this quote was a little over 2 years ago. Back then I thought I was living the life I had always imagined. Little did I know that was only the beginning. I’m not sure if I’m quite there yet, but it definitely feels like it. That’s what peace will do for you. God is good.
Are you living the life you’ve always imagined—spiritually, emotionally and mentally?
Now, here I am two years later (2024), again saying I am living the life I have always imagined. Of course, there is so much more to what I imagined, so many more aspirations and dreams to achieve. However, here and now, and even back then, the life I imagined was about peace and freedom. Basically, the freedom to walk in my truth; create my own path; and embrace my uniqueness. It’s about setting boundaries and creating an environment that fosters peace and love. Therefore, I am living the life I imagined.
I pray you are living the life you have always imagined or getting there. Wishing you a beautiful day. Love you always!♥️
In 1992, my goal was to help end world poverty. Carol Moseley Braun was my inspiration. I had so many goals. When you’re young you tend believe that you have all the answers. Well, poverty is still here and will always be here. My goal is to help improve the quality of life of those living in poverty. I may not be able to save them, but I can help them.
Oh, I also wanted to be the Surgeon General of the United States. Boy did I have goals!😊
Carol Moseley Braun – First Black woman elected to the United States Senate (1992). In 1999, she became the Ambassador of the United States to New Zealand and Samoa.
Transparent moment…
My decision to return to school was not one that I made rashly. I know myself, and I know that this would have been something that would have hung over my head for years. I would have been okay with not finishing; however, I also would have wondered what would have been had I finished.
Today, I have a little over one week left in this term. I am mentally drained and a little discouraged. I am doing well, but not my best (yeah… I know this). I needed to see this memory today. I needed to be reminded of my “why.” I can do this!
That’s all for today. I may or may not make a second post today. Praying you have a wonderful weekend.
Was looking through Facebook memories and old journals to find inspiration for today’s blog. I could not find a journal entry from this date 20+ years ago, so I decided to include my Facebook post from last year, June 4, 2022.
“Just me being me.🤷🏽♀️😁 Y’all, life is good and God is sooo amazing. I’m so grateful for His mercy and grace. And the way He loves me – INDESCRIBABLE!! Whew! Getting emotional just thinking about it.☺️ Twenty days until #Year49, and I’m going to enjoy every minute because I KNOW #ImBlessed! 🙏🏽♥️”
As I mentioned, I could not find an entry written on this date over 20 years ago. However, I did find several entries between 1991-2002 written either the day before or after June 4. Y’all, I weep for that young lady. She was so lost, hurt and broken. For years, even decades, she accepted any and everything that was thrown her way because she felt unworthy and unlovable. When I tell you her self esteem was shot. I can see now that she was punishing herself for that one decision she wish she had not made. That one decision caused her to enter a downward spiral that led to self hatred and mental abuse. She consistently punished herself by allowing others to misuse and abuse her. She felt she deserved the pain because she had not lived up to the dreams and goals she had set for herself. Y’all, she did not know she could recover. Sadly, it would be decades before she realized that one mistake did not define her and that all of her dreams and aspirations were still in tact.
Now, here I am 20 days before Year 50. As I mentioned last year, I am so grateful for God’s love, mercy and grace. Y’all, it is truly INDESCRIBABLE! Today, I can happily say that my life is drastically different than it was 30 years ago. That young lady is finally a woman who understands that that one decision was just part of her (my) story. Smiling
Year 50 is loading. Excited to see where this next journey takes me.
James 2:14,17 NKJV (14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Today, I would like to share a Facebook memory about faith. A moment where I spoke, believed and acted (worked) on my belief.
Facebook Memory: November 6, 2020 – My response to a video Tabitha Brown had shared.
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find! Listen, how many of y’all can relate to Tabitha’s story? I know I can!! Never stop believing!
Short story– Before I moved into my present home in 2018, my kids were even speaking things as though they were so (yes, having faith is contagious). In December of 2017, out of the blue my daughter said, “This time next year we will be in a new place.” Y’all, we, including my son, claimed it and started celebrating like we were already in another place. By August 2018, I hadn’t even found a place. However, I told my son that by his 15th birthday, which was at the end of September, we would be in a new place. Y’all, we moved into this house the day before his birthday. That’s faith! Listen, you can’t tell me what God can’t do! If it’s in His will, He’ll move mountains so that you can have it! Whew!! Tabitha got me fired up this morning. Lol! Have a blessed weekend.
Two years later, I purchased the house. Which was another act of faith.
Yesterday, Tyler Perry celebrated 30 years in show business. He posted pictures of four different studios – from his first to present – along with the caption: “Remember… wherever you start doesn’t have to be where you end… Never despise small beginnings. It takes a while to build a dream.”
No lie, not even an hour later while looking for something, I came across my first passport. Y’all, that stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t seen that passport in ages. Couldn’t even find it when I applied for my current one. Couldn’t even remember if I had ever had one. That’s how long it had been. Of course I became emotional because y’all know I’m emotional. (Smile) For me, Tyler’s post and me finding the passport was very significant.
You see, I got my first passport when I was 17 years old. I had just graduated from high school and had planned to spend my summer in the Dominican Republic to become fluent in Spanish (only stayed a few weeks because I couldn’t deal with all of the lizards – shaking my head). My next trip was supposed to be to France to become fluent in French (unfortunately, that never happened). My ultimate goal was to be a translator or interpreter at the United Nations, specifically the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Yes, those were my goals. Those were my dreams. Then, life happened and somehow that confident dreamer/goal setter disappeared. So finding that passport after Tyler’s post was pretty meaningful. While he was celebrating 30 years of achievements towards his dreams, I could only sit and look at where my dreams used to be. The place where I believed any- and everything was possible.
Now, don’t get me wrong, over the past 30 years (a little over 31, to be exact), I have tried to rekindle that same enthusiasm, optimism and confidence. I have also had multiple opportunities to achieve my goals and dreams. Sadly, every time I came close to acting on those opportunities I allowed fear and the feeling of unworthiness to stop me. Like.. Every. Single. Time. I believe they call it, self-sabotage. (Tears)
Honestly – being super transparent at the moment – I was afraid of the unknown and afraid of success – not failure. Yes.. success! In my mind, success was and still is a bit intimidating because you always have to maintain a certain level of success. Like, there’s no room for mistakes or failure.
I also mentioned unworthiness. I did not feel like someone who deserved certain things or to be in certain spaces. Although others believed it and could see it, I couldn’t. Now.. before life happened.. you couldn’t tell me I didn’t deserve the world or could not have or achieve anything I desired. HA! Then, the woes of life came. Seemed like every blow that hit me took away my confidence and feeling of worthiness. Opportunities would come (some actually found me), but I would look at myself, and my situation, and either turn the opportunity down or find an excuse to back out of it. Yep… Life.. My life.
For the past few years, I have been making social media posts about my desire to walk the halls of the Palais des Nations and work with people from different nations. Been manifesting it for a while. Well, within this same time, I have been somewhat preparing for it. Yes.. somewhat preparing. I’m not going to lie, the reason I have not put my all into it is due to some of the same reasons – fear of success and fear of not maintaining the success. With that said, I can happily and humbly say that my issue with feeling unworthy is a thing of the past. Listen, that feeling of unworthiness blocked all kinds of blessings. But not anymore. I now know that I’m God’s child and worthy to be in places and spaces fit for kings and leaders. Now, it’s time to work on the other.
Okay, to circle back to faith. I have faith that one day I will be at the UN. As I did with the house, I set a time frame. That’s what you do with goals right. (Laughing) Then, I worked towards finding a place. I didn’t just sit and wait for the house to find me. I actually had to start looking for a place.
Well, my journey to the UN isn’t going to just happen without me being intentional about getting there. I also have to start accepting opportunities – the right opportunities. Opportunities that could be somewhat uncomfortable or challenging, but necessary to help me achieve my goals.
Today, I’m going to set a time frame, tell my two believers, and then we’re going to believe for it just as we did for the house and everything else that has manifested. Y’all, they really are my faith partners. And they truly believe in me, which makes me feel amazing! Smiling
This is all I have for today. Hope you have a wonderful day and blessed week!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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