Happy Wednesday! Today’s blog is a hodgepodge of Facebook memories I that I’ve shared on this date over the years.
Okay.. Here’s the memory dump!
“In time it’ll be revealed.”
My response to a video Bishop T.D. Jakes shared:
THIS MESSAGE RIGHT HERE!!💃🏽 I am unique. There’s no other like me. There will never be another like me. God placed me in this world to fulfill a purpose that only I can fulfill. He made me exactly who He wanted me to be. So when you see me doing me, know that it’s all a part of God’s plan. He’s shaping me and molding me to fulfill His purpose. Whew!!
“What’s for me, is for me.”
This is all I have for you today. Hopefully you were as blessed by the memories as I was. Listen, knowing that what’s meant for me will not miss me and I’m the ONLY one who can fulfill a specific purpose, makes me want to sing and dance. Y’all, I’m blessed.
Obedience. For the past few days I have been seeing and hearing the word “obedience” everywhere. Even read a past journal entry this morning that referenced obedience. From past experience, I know that when something rings this loudly in my thoughts and surroundings, it’s a message. And to be completely honest (transparent) obedience is something I have been struggling with lately. Not necessarily being obedient to God now, but thinking about past requests for obedience that I obeyed and am now feeling somewhat out of place. However, the flip side of actually following through with the request is I feel more free and at peace. Weird, huh? Here’s an example.
Moment of Transparency:
One of my most recent struggles has been with Twitter. If you have read any of my past blogs over the years, you know that I have multiple accounts on multiple social media platforms. I know it may seem odd to have so many accounts, but for me, it’s my way of compartmentalizing the content I share. To me, it just makes sense to have multiple accounts. Anyway, I have had this one Twitter account for a little over eight years now that I have been struggling with letting go. The message I have gotten from God over the past few years has been to let it go, but for some reason, I can’t completely do it. Maybe it’s the memories, the connections, the friendships (virtual friendships) or the history that has me attached. Giving it up feels like I’m giving up a piece of me or eight years of memories. And y’all, the only thing I was asked to do was to log off. I wasn’t asked to delete it, just log off. Simple, right? Not really.
Well, at the end of last year, I was finally obedient and logged off. I did great for a while. Then a new movie came out that I really wanted to tweet about but couldn’t because I was no longer on that account. Although I shared a few tweets from one of my other accounts, it wasn’t the same. And y’all, my shows were getting so good! All I thought about was tweeting, but couldn’t. Talk about agony!
Honestly, logging off was one of the best things I could have done. It was so freeing. I felt so much lighter. What I didn’t realize then, which I do now, is that I was addicted to that account. Not Twitter, but that particular account. I couldn’t function without constantly checking it. Even when my mind wasn’t thinking about tweeting, my finger would find the Twitter app, open it and mindlessly scroll down my timeline. Y’all, it was really bad! And I know what had me addicted. It was the constant interaction and feedback I received; and when I didn’t get it, I would feel ignored or rejected. So I would tweet until I got the response I desired. Ha! Can’t get any more transparent than this, right?(Smile) Listen, I was a mess. I had to log off. It was so necessary. Y’all, my mental and emotional well-being was in jeopardy!
A couple of months ago, I decided to log back on to start sharing my quotes. So far things are going well. Confession– I have shared a few tweets outside of my quotes but I haven’t engaged in any tweeting activities. Yesterday, I was reading tweets that had been shared on Instagram. One post encouraged followers to LIVE tweet during the shows, which was something I used to do. Y’all, there’s nothing like LIVE tweeting. Anyway, after seeing the posts, I began feeling sad because I missed the action. I missed the conversations. I missed my people. I was so tempted to go back and pick up like I never left. But I couldn’t. Y’all, I never want to feel that weight of addiction again. It was too much!
Obedience. Fortunately, I can say the only thing I actually lost from being obedient was the addiction. The true connections and bonds I made over the years, as well as the memories I’ve created, still remain. Grateful
So, that was just one example of a recent struggle I’ve had with being obedient and releasing something. I also struggle with being obedient and receiving things. Now that’s the big one!
Well, this is all I have for today. Thanks for reading and enjoy your day!
It’s 3:45 AM and I have been awake for over an hour now. Can’t sleep. I seem to have so much on my mind. If you have read my last few blogs, you know I’m going through some kind of transition. Every time I think I have it figured out, or a name for it, things change and I find myself back at square one trying to figure out what’s happening to me.
Am I lonely? Been house sitting for my sister for over a month and a half now with very little physical human contact. Pepé, her dog, provides some company, and as much as she’s grown on me, she’s still not human.
The next question I’ve asked myself is, am I depressed? I know depression comes in many forms. Perhaps I’m experiencing depression and not know it.
Am I bored? Now that one is difficult to answer. I have plenty that’s keeping me busy, but is it fulfilling? And at this moment the answer is, NO!
Before I began writing, I was searching for receptionist jobs. I have never been a receptionist before, but I do have experience with customer service. I mean, that’s what I have been doing almost my entire adulthood, serving others. I’m thinking being a receptionist, even part-time, will fill the need for physical human connectivity. Plus, it’s something totally different from anything I’m currently working on. I need variety in my life.
I can also volunteer, which I plan to do more of when I get back home. Volunteering will give me a chance to interact with more people without a certain time commitment.
As you can see, I have a lot on my mind. How do people make it without physical human contact? I kind of feel like I felt those first few months after the COVID-19 lockdown except my children were home with me then. This time I’m all alone. Am I becoming a recluse?
Perhaps I’m just homesick.
I’m going to go ahead and end here. I’m finally sleepy. I would attempt to review and revise but it probably won’t do any good. Too tired. I just needed to talk. Thanks for reading/listening. Enjoy your day.
“God knows exactly what you need even before you know you need it.”
I wrote this two years ago. As always, my Facebook memories are so timely. As I shared in last week’s Wednesday Writings, something is changing. Something has changed. I can’t quite explain the feeling because I’m not exactly sure what it is that I’m feeling. I thought it was empty nester’s syndrome but it’s so much more. Honestly, I have never felt this way before. It is not a bad feeling just an uncomfortable one. It’s like I’m entering a different space, a different dimension. Kinda like when you go to a new school or move to a new city or state (or country) and nothing’s familiar. Physically I’m in the same place. However, mentally and spiritually (because it’s beyond mental) something has changed.
Today, I needed this reminder that God already knows what I need as well as where He’s taking me. I have to trust Him completely. My job is to keep showing up. Amen
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and feelings. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Seems as if the atmosphere is shifting and it’s shifting at an extremely fast pace. Maybe it’s only in my world. I do have a lot going on. Well, what seems like a lot at the moment. Most of it is related to transition. I’m transitioning from a full-time caregiver/parent to as needed. At the moment, I’m not really sure how to cope with this awkwardness. Of course I have plenty of things to work on and keep me busy, but socially there’s a void. There’s a void that I’m not exactly sure how to fill. It doesn’t make it any better that I no longer have coworkers or work in a public space. I’m a very social person but even being on social media is different. The connections don’t provide the same feelings as in person connections. They don’t fill the void.
Y’all, I’m just thinking as I write. I know in an hour or two I’ll feel differently. However, at this very moment, I feel alone. Crazy part is, I don’t want to text, call or video chat, I need physical, human interaction. I need to feel their energy (positive only). I’m tired of going to the store just to see and interact with people. Yes, I strike up conversations with random people. I know that I can always volunteer, but I want to be around people who don’t need me. I want to be around people who want to socialize. Even if we’re only watching a movie or in the same space. Guess I need to be more careful about what I put out into the universe because the last place I want to end up in is jail. Lol. I kinda scared myself with that last statement– watching movies or just in the same space with people. Whew! You never know how the universe will answer.Gotta be more careful. Anyhoo.. I really have to figure this one out.
Well, that’s as much as I feel like writing. Thank you so much for reading. Enjoy your day!
Three years ago I took a picture of a water bottle my son had picked out for me that said, “Dream it. Do it.” He– at 15 years old– reminded me of what I had been telling him and his sister for years, “If you dream it, you can do it.” I bought the bottle. Took it to work with me every day. Then, eventually decided that seeing it on my desk wasn’t enough. I needed to see it all the time. So, I took a picture of it and created a screensaver for my phone. That was my screensaver for two whole years.
I wish I could say that every time I picked up my phone I was motivated to really go after my dreams. Ha! That would make a great story. However, what happened was, after a while, I forgot it was even there. I saw it but didn’t see it. It wasn’t until last year, three months after I resigned from my job, that I realized it was there. Here’s what I shared on July 2, 2021 (yep.. a Facebook memory):
This has been my screensaver for about two years. I scroll pass it everyday but never really notice it. You know, it’s just there. Well, this morning the words caught my eye- “Dream it. Do it.” Can’t help but smile. I’m finally doing it.☺️ God is so good. Humbled. Grateful. Blessed.
Shaun’s Facebook Memory. July 2, 2021
Yesterday when I came across the memory, I smiled again. This time with tears in my eyes. Never did I imagine my dreams would take me this far. And I know it’s no where near where I am destined to go. There’s so much more to come. I feel it!
Last year, I was happy that I had finally taken the leap to venture out on my own. This year I’m proud of myself for everything I have accomplished since:
Began blogging daily (today makes 414 days of continuous blogging.. Woohoo).
Created RDN Saturdays to spotlight Mississippi Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (relaunching it this fall).
Created Shaun’s Daily Inspiration for my inspirational quotes.
Began drawing and created my art collection Shaun’s Smile, which serves as a backdrop for Shaun’s Daily Inspiration.
Won Mississippi Public Health Association’s Vonda A. Webb Nutritionist of the Year award for 2022.
Created a few videos on TikTok and Instagram.
Finished my first real contract job doing trainings via Zoom. Before, the contracts were only side jobs.
Currently preparing to launch my newest venture/adventure, Nutrition with LaShaundreaB, this fall. It’s a Culinary~Nutrition experience!
Now those were a few of my professional achievements. Here’s what I have accomplished personally and spiritually:
Established a better, stronger and more stable relationship with God.
Began trusting God to lead.
Learned how to relax and enjoy life by being present.
Found self love. Yes, I’ve learned to accept and love myself just as I am.
Became comfortable with being my authentic self.
Discovered that some relationships are not meant to be lifelong. Temporary relationships are just as impactful and meaningful as long term relationships.
Learned to let go of things that no longer served me, which opened spaces for new ideas and opportunities.
Most importantly, I got to spend more quality time with my children. The best gift ever!
Of course there’s so much more that has taken place over the last year. So many things I attempted that where not the right fit for me. Good thing is, they were not a waste of time but learning experiences that I have been able to glean from. So they served, and continue to serve, their purpose.
To circle back to the quote on the water bottle– “Dream it. Do it.” Honestly, the life that I’m living now has far exceeded anything I have ever dreamed. I’m not sure what’s next, but I’m not going to waste time trying to figure it out. I’m just going to sit back and trust God to continue to lead. I’m blessed.
Well, that’s all I have for you this Sunday. Thank you for reading and please enjoy your week!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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