Tag: believe
Hello Sunday
“Some opportunities only happen once.”
I wrote this on May 30, 2015 when I had the opportunity to do a promotional video for Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience. When I received the email, my initial thought was- “Is this legit?” After the writer assured me that it wasn’t a joke– because I’m very leery of things I receive online– I became afraid. Y’all, so many thoughts filled my head– “How will I look on camera?” “Will I say the right things?” “How many people will see the video?” “Why me?” The more the questions flowed in the more fearful I became. So I replied to the email and politely declined making the video, but I did provided written feedback. Y’all, I really loved the 21-day series. I participated in multiple ones. They helped me manage my emotions during some really difficult times. If you ever have the opportunity, please sign-up. And guess what- they’re usually free!
So that was six years ago. Now let’s fast-forward it to a few months ago. I was contacted by someone doing PR for a show I watch. They asked if I would do a short video about how I liked the show. Unlike the first time, this time I was offered a small incentive, which should have encouraged me to do it, but I declined. Again, the same thoughts came rushing in with the first being “Is this legit?” Once again, fear had won. Later that evening, I saw a video that another viewer had submitted and thought to myself, “I could have done that.”
So, do opportunities only happen once? My answer is no. If it is something that is meant to be– like me being heard as well as seen– the opportunities will continue to come. A little over a week ago, I was contacted by a journalist from a TV station to do an interview. This time I wasn’t afraid. I accepted the opportunity. Do I care how I’ll look, or if I’ll say the right things? Of course! However, those thoughts no longer control me, nor does fear.
Y’all, I am so grateful God doesn’t give up on us, especially when we have given up on ourselves. After the first opportunity, I was sure no one would ever contact me again. Honestly, I felt like a failure. But God had other plans! As I’ve said many times before, I’m so grateful for second, third, fourth, and even 100 chances. God is good.
Shaun
Trust & Patience
Wednesday
Speak life and believe. Every day. All day.
Yesterday I had decided I was going to blog about balance, balance and peace. However, this morning it was laid on my heart to blog about the importance of speaking life over our lives and the power of belief. I know it sounds like I’m about to preach a sermon but I promise you I’m not. This will be short– very short.
So this morning I woke up with Donald Lawrence’s song “I Speak Life” playing over and over in my head. Even though I kept hearing it, I still had plans of writing about balance. Well, that was until I read my journal entry from six years ago– May 26, 2015. That entry was the confirmation I needed to proceed in this direction. My guess is that this blog must be written, if not for someone else, for me for whenever I need it. Because more than likely, I’ll need to read it again. You know, that’s just how God works. His messages are always available when we need them. Anyhoo.. testimony time.
My Testimony:
It had been exactly two months to the day that I had been separated from my ex. Although my life seemed pathetic, I was happy. Y’all, I was back to driving my little, raggedy Dodge Neon– which was falling apart but was drivable and reliable. I was also about to lose my house and eventually did. With all of that going on, I woke up that morning not knowing if I would be employed a few months later. One of the grants I was working on was wrapping up, and the other didn’t have enough funds to pay my entire salary. However, there was an instructor’s position open. Although I had never considered teaching, I applied for the position. I applied for it with the request that I was allowed to continue to do research. The department chair at that time informed me that all of the other instructors only taught courses and they needed a full-time instructor. Instead of worrying about it, knowing I really needed the job and should’ve taken what was offered, I gave it to God and confidently told a friend, “God’s got me.” Listen, I spoke and believed God had me covered. I wrote about how I went about my day basically praising God all day. Everyone who knows me knows I’m always full of praise. Y’all God really is that good! Listen, by that evening God had worked everything out. I received an email from the Chair saying they had found a way for me to teach 50% of the time and do research the other 50. Whew!! When I tell you there’s power in speaking and believing! If it does not happen, it’s not that your belief is not strong, it just means God has other plans. And believe me, His plans are always better.
That testimony was only one of many. Whenever I find myself wanting to speak something negative, God blocks it. I’m constantly reminded, and I remind others, that words have power. Whether you speaking them over your life or about others, they’re powerful; and once they are said, you cannot take them back. Motivational speaker Les Brown said that even the smallest amount of doubt spoken can change the flow of God’s blessings (paraphrased). So remember to speak life and only speak life, and don’t forget to believe.
Be Blessed,
Shaun
Hello Sunday
“Life is beautiful,” is a quote I share on May 23, 2014.
Just to be here and experience God’s greatness is such a wonderful blessing. As I look back over my life, I have had my share of traumatic experiences. Some that made me hate myself so much that I wished I was dead. So many times I felt hopeless and believed I did not deserve better. But grace! I can hear is BeBe and CeCe Winans singing “Oh, oh, oh, grace. Where would I be without grace?”
Listen, I’m so grateful God had other plans! Yes, He didn’t allow those moments to consume me. Honestly, there’s nothing like God’s love, mercy and grace. I’m so grateful He allowed me to see there was so much to live for. So grateful the wonderful experiences have outweighed the horrible. He’s just so good.
So yes, life is beautiful.
Forever Grateful~
Shaun
Begin Again, Today
Trust God’s Plan
Just Dropping In To Say Hello
About a week and a half ago, I decided to log off all of my social media accounts to include not blogging. I needed to concentrate on a few things and the noise was a bit much. Now that I’ve been off for a while I’m not sure when, or if, I’ll return. I’m not referring to blogging because I still love to write (been journalling several times a day). I’m referring to my other accounts, particularly Twitter and Facebook. They tend to give me anxiety. Always too much going on. With that said, there are aspects I do miss. I miss tweeting during my shows, saying “Good Morning” to the sisters in the Facebook group, We Are Sistas, and keeping in touch with close family and friends. The other stuff, I don’t miss it at all. It was just a bunch of noise. If I don’t see it on the morning shows, nightly news, or hear about it on the radio, I’ll live. As I said, it was just too much. If I do return, things are going to be different.
Listen, once you find peace it’s hard to go back to chaos. Just saying. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see y’all on Sunday!
Shaun
Wednesday
Today’s blog was pretty easy to write because I wrote it two years ago, May 5, 2019. Y’all, I can’t say it enough, I absolutely love Facebook memories! As I’ve mentioned in several blogs this year, 2019 was a pivotal time in my life. Didn’t realize how much so until I started paying attention to the number of Facebook posts I made that year. Well, around this time two years ago, I had finally let go of being angry at my ex for not signing the divorce papers and had decided I was going to live as a free woman despite his signature. Guess what– By the end of that month, he had signed the papers. I was actually a free woman! Go figure, all I had to do was let go.
Well, while I was trying to get a grip on being free again, I was also struggling with insecurities. I can’t lie, from time to time I still do, but nothing like back then. Now I find myself struggling to embrace “chubby” Shaun… okay… overweight Shaun (hey, I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist- I have to call it like it is) while continuing to move forward. As the fabulous motivational speaker Lisa Nichols said, she didn’t let her weight stop her from being great. And I can’t allow mine to stop me from doing the same.
Here’s my post from May 5, 2019.
For as long as I can remember, I have always found something wrong with the way I look. When I was in grade school, I was too skinny and too dark. When I was 11, I discovered bags under my eyes and went CRAZY! Yeah, I woke up one morning and the bags were there – TO STAY! I’ve always had a gap. I always loved my gap. Then I joined the military; got braces; and the gap went away for only a second and life was good.😁 But then it came back. Lol! Next, I had my first child and lost the weight. A few years later I thought I was humongous at 125 lbs.🤦🏽♀️ Life went on; however, the older I got, the more insecure I became.
Today, I seem to be insecure about EVERYTHING- my height, my weight, my voice, my accent… Crazy, huh? I never imagined that at 45 I would be worried about ANYTHING. It’s not the life I imagined. I thought I’d have it all figured out by now and that my confidence level would be out of this world! Not so!!😩😂
So, this morning, I decided to share a picture that makes me very uncomfortable. It’s one of me being myself. No posing. Living in the moment. Me being me.☺️ Yes, I know this was long, but I needed to get it out. I believe the only way I’m going to overcome my insecurities is by flaunting them. My purpose is greater than my insecurities. It’s time to let them go. I have work to do! For real!
As I said two years ago, my purpose is greater than my insecurities. I have real work to do!
Thanks for reading.
Shaun
It’s Shaun’s World 
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