Tag: authenticity

hope

No More Hiding God’s Greatness

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! When was the last time you publicly celebrated your achievements? Is it something you find easy to do? Asking because I have always found it difficult, until recently. Now, I celebrate even the smallest of successes.

I wish I could say that after I shared my post five years ago (see second screenshot below) that I began publicly acknowledging my achievements, but it didn’t. It took me years to finally become comfortable enough to share even a few. As you will read in my post below, I didn’t even tell anyone about my role as the president of our state’s dietetics association (2016-2017). When I tell you it felt like I was leading two separate lives. And to be honest, I guess I was. I didn’t know how to be Shaun and LaShaundrea. I believe I’ve written about this before. It took me years to find a happy medium between the two, which didn’t actually happen until Year50.

Anyhoo, today things are different. I am not hiding anymore and I am celebrating all my achievements. I mean, how can I fully represent God if I continue to downplay the magnitude of His greatness in my life? Y’all, He’s been too good to me. As I have said many times before, I am beyond blessed.🥰 ~Shaun

Facebook Memories: September 3, 2019

Post #1
Post #2, which was the caption when I reshared Post #1.

hope

Everyone Can’t Handle Your Truth

Shaun Bradford

This is so true. Everyone cannot handle our truths. It took me a very long time to realize this—basically, a lifetime. For years I believed people wanted to know the authentic version of me. I thought I could be free and open with people who seemed to like me. It took many heartbreaks and letdowns to learn that most people didn’t want to know the real me, they only wanted to interact with and know the version they could tolerate (not accept). This is why I only have a handful of close friends, and my closest get to experience all of me.

In one of my very first blog posts (June 2018) I wrote—

“It’s not easy being transparent in a world that glorifies what’s fake and shuns reality. Reality isn’t pretty. Reality shows vulnerability– the bumps, bruises and scars.”

This blog site, “It’s Shaun’s World,” was originally created to be a space where I could be authentic and transparent. I really wanted to share my world with others. However, over the years I learned to tone it down and only release bits and pieces of me in small doses. Not everyone likes happiness. Some don’t like quirkiness. And many don’t like when people share their vulnerabilities with the world. Those are things I guess are supposed be kept private or only shared with friends or a therapist. I believed people wanted to know the human side of people—because that’s what I want to get to know, the real—when in reality they only want a character.

Anyhoo… I could go on and on. Here’s what I shared two years ago.

Facebook Memory: August 16, 2022

“Being transparent has its limits. Our lives were never meant to be an open book for all to read. Knowing when, what and with whom to share is vital. Everyone can’t handle your truth.♥️”

Yes, unlike in 2018, I now know this is true. Everyone can’t handle my truth—which is the reason I sometimes write posts that I never share—even when they’re my true experiences. Not everyone would or could understand, and that’s okay.

Well, that’s my truth for now. I pray you have a lovely Friday and beautifully, blessed weekend. Love you!♥️

Shaun