Tag: calm

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

I’m just going to jump right in. A few days ago, after reviewing several pictures I had taken with a guest speaker at an event, I began criticizing my appearance. Y’all, it was like I couldn’t stop.

Transparent Moment:

I rarely take full body pictures because 1) I do not know how to pose (y’all my poses are terrible 😂) and 2) I’m not comfortable with my weight. So after taking the pictures the guest speaker, I began to openly critique every photo – I looked too fat, too short, the camera wasn’t positioned right, needed a better camera (HA.. there’s absolutely nothing wrong with mine). Y’all, I was on a roll. Couldn’t stop myself. The criticism was flowing like running water. Sadly, it wasn’t until I got in the car that I realized what I had done. Ouch! Up until that moment, I never realized how much I criticized myself. And to do it in public was completely embarrassing! It’s one thing to do it at home (which is still wrong) and another to do it in public. As I sat in my car tearing up, I promised myself that I would never criticize myself in public again. I can only imagine the impression I left. Sigh

Here’s a full body picture from another day. I’m learning that the only way I can fully embrace myself, as well as become more confident, is to stop hiding what I consider flaws and imperfections. And the negative self talk has to go, TODAY! How can I promote self-love if I’m not truly embracing all of me?

For me, there’s something so cathartic about releasing issues into the atmosphere. Once out, I imagine the words braking into fragments until they become tiny particles floating away into the universe. Release & Breathe

Thank you for reading! Praying you have a wonderful week.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Since it’s still heart month.

Happy Sunday!

I’m currently reading – The Life You Long For: Learning to Live From A Heart of Rest by Christy Nockels. So far, so much of her story has resonated with me. Especially the part about being so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life trying to achieve goals and the lifestyle you have always dreamed of that you neglect to live. The funny thing is you believe you’re living until you actually begin living. As Christy calls it, it’s living from a heart (place) of rest. In other words, living from a place of peace and contentment.

As Christy has noted in her book, it takes a moment to get to a place of rest and once you get there, it’s still challenging to remain in that space. Because as we know, we cannot control the things that happen around us, but as pastor and author, Joel Osteen would say, we can control how we respond.

For a few weeks now, more so the last two weeks, I have been thinking about the freedom of choice. As we know, socially and economically, everyone does not have the same level of freedom when it comes to choices; however, all of us do have the freedom to make choices, even small ones. Although it is impossible to control others’ actions or events happening around us, we can control our reactions and actions, which is a choice. So when I refer to the freedom of choice, this is exactly what I’m referring to. Nothing intense. Nothing political. But personal choices that we make daily.

Since I have been living from a place of peace, I have noticed that my choices are different, they’re better. I respond to situations much differently than I used to. The things that used to make me anxious, no longer bother or upset me. I’m also learning to be kinder to myself. Which is BIG! Y’all, I really was my own worst critic. I’m also less judgmental. I have always loved people’s uniqueness, even my own, but that didn’t stop me from judging. Yes, I’m human. Overall, life is so much better than before and it’s all because I have chosen to make it better – I have chosen to live from a place of peace. Now, I would be lying if I said my life is always peaceful, that nothing happens that throws me for a loop. Y’all, every day.. yes, EVERY SINGLE DAY I’m faced with things that challenge my peace; and every day I make the choice of how I respond. To me that’s freedom! And I’m loving it.

Word of advice – which is what has gotten me to this place of peace – if it disturbs your peace it’s too costly. Let it go.

As always, thank you so much for reading. Praying you have a peaceful week.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday! Today’s blog is a repost of last year’s Hello Sunday! written on November 8, 2020. It is about hope and optimism. You cannot have one without the other.

Enjoy your day!

Shaun

Hope & Optimism Today’s a new day! A new week! AND a new beginning! Today’s Hello Sunday is about hope and optimism. I believe hope and optimism are …

Hello Sunday!
Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday! Wishing all of you a fabulous day. Today I am carrying over yesterday’s suggestion to take things easy. For some reason, I found myself really tense yesterday. I could feel it in my back and neck. My daughter suggested that I get a massage but I declined. Woke up this morning feeling better but still tense. I know what happened. I allowed the mental stress of last week to build up. For months I managed to avoid being super stressed. Then last week it happened. Looking back I can see what happened. Making a mental note not to allow it to happen again. I cannot afford to go backwards. I must continue moving forward.

On a more positive note! Yesterday, I attended the first day of our national dietetics conference. Honestly, I had no intentions of attending the virtual conference. Virtual experiences just are not the same as in person experiences. Well, at the last minute I decided to attend and I am glad I did. During yesterday’s session, I had the opportunity to chat and tweet with other registered dietitians. Of course it was not the same as interacting with them in person, but it made me feel somewhat normal again. I’m attending more sessions today and tomorrow. Hopefully this is the last year we meet virtually. I need human contact. Smile

You know what, I can already feel the tension easing. This week is going to be a stress-free week because I am going to intentionally make sure it is.

As always, thanks for reading. Please enjoy your week!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today is the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Ida is due to make landfall in a few hours. August 29, 2005. August 29, 2021.

Katrina was a Category 3. Ida is already a Category 4, nearing a Category 5.

So what am I going to do? Stay put. There is really no where to go. Most of MS is in its path. And if it’s anything like Katrina, it is going to eventually work its way up the East coast. All I can do is pray damage and casualties are minimal. Fortunately, I live far enough from the coast not to experience the storm surge, but not far enough from strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and possible tornadoes. Mentally, I am not prepared to deal with what is predicted to come. Trying to enjoy every moment of peace and calm, before the storm.

Katrina… Katrina was devastating. During Katrina, our power was out for several days. That was the most discomfort we experienced. However, so many lost so much more to include family members. For years… yes, years… we were reminded of the devastation – twisted trees, blue-tarped roofs, and dilapidated houses. And that was just here in Hattiesburg, which is more than a hundred miles from where Katrina made landfall. And the Gulf Coast… from Pascagula to New Orleans, the damage was surreal. Communities were literally gone. GONE! Now here we go again.

Y’all, I’m not ready. Not at all. Praying for God’s mercy, grace and protection.

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Starting a little late, today. Decided not to rush things. Months ago I added “LaShaundreaB’s Wellness Wednesdays” to my calendar. I added it to ensure I did something just for me at least once a week. Whatever I wanted to do. Whether that was pampering myself, reorganizing my closet, watching a good movie, reading a book, or just relaxing. I knew I would need time to slow down and breathe. So today, I am sticking with my schedule. I am taking care of Shaun, first. No rush. Everything else can wait.