Tag: dreams

Life

Living in My Dreams

Shaun Bradford

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it.

Maya Angelou

That was one of the quotes under today’s Facebook memories. As usual, I’m in tears (always emotional).

Several blogs ago, I mentioned that it had dawned on me that I am actually living in my dreams. That, in my 20s, I was too naive to recognize it and took so many opportunities for granted. Do y’all know I could have traveled all of Europe at the drop of a hat and didn’t because 1) I did not want to be there, 2) I didn’t want to travel alone (my boyfriend didn’t want to go anywhere) and 3) I always believed I would have other opportunities. Just reminiscing about how I so carelessly disregarded my blessings and opportunities makes me cringe. I had the world in my hands and didn’t even recognize it. Y’all, I had been given what I asked for – to work for an international company and travel the world – and because it did not come the way I envisioned, I blew it off.

Side Note: So I saw myself at the United Nations. Even saw myself in the Peace Corp. But I never ever considered that the Air Force would provide some of the same experiences. I mean, two weeks after basic training I was in Germany. When I tell you God will give you what you ask for! Whew! It was just a little too much. (Laughing)

Okay… Back to my story.

I will say that my life changed after I found out I was pregnant. It was the strangest feeling (I can still feel it now). It was like the blinders fell off and everything was new. By then, I only had a little over two months left in Germany. I booked two weekend tours – one was a tour along the Rhein River and the other was a tour of the Black Forest. I so vividly remember holding my stomach, which was still flat as a rock, and saying, “Now I have someone to travel with.” And I did.

Wish I could say that after I left Germany I readily embraced my blessings and opportunities, but I would be lying. Three years later, almost to the date, God dropped me in Turkey for two years. One of my dreams was to visit the Mediterranean region. And I was there! Receipts of how God works in my life.

Well, while I was in Germany, there were weekly tours to Cyprus and Greece, but I never went. Sadly, I was placed right there in the area – only a few hours away – and still did not go!! Y’all, I was there two whole years and made up excuses of why I couldn’t go. I did travel to a few places in Turkey, though. However, I didn’t take advantage of all of those opportunities either. I was near most places I had read about in the Bible and acted like it was a common thing to be so close. UGH!!

Okay…

I’m seeing a pattern here…

“Aha” moments all over the place!

I hate that it has taken me so long to recognize I am absolutely blessed. No, nothing has ever happened the way I imagined, but it has and is happening right before my very eyes. This time, I’m living in it!! I’m taking it all in. I will admit, I have missed some great opportunities, but it’s okay. Just like God dropped me in Turkey, He’ll send more opportunities and blessings. However, THIS TIME I’m embracing EVERYTHING!

I am actually living in my dreams! Blessed♥️

Y’all, this is all I have for you today. I pray you are living in your dreams. One way to know is to block out all distractions… you know, the worries, lack of, and negative energy… and only focus on the precious things you have (opportunities, health, family, love, etc.). Are you living in your dreams? I bet you are!

Have a blessed day!♥️

Shaun

Life

I’m Already Living In My Dreams

Shaun Bradford

Much too often we limit ourselves to what is familiar… to what we know and see.

When I was in my twenties, God gave me a taste of what I said wanted but I was too naive to recognize it. For decades, I saw myself in international spaces. Wrote in my Senior book (high school journal) that I wanted to work for an international company. God gave me the Air Force. Said I wanted to travel to different countries. I lived in Germany and Turkey. Shoot, even said I wanted to live in the city I’m living in now, eight years before I actually moved here; and the move was not intentional, it just happened.

So, here I am actually living in all I have spoken… in all I have dreamed. No, nothing is or has happened the way I envisioned, but everything has happened and is happening.

For years, I have seen myself standing in front of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland admiring the flags of different countries. I have seen myself walking its halls and interacting with people from all nations. Well… I am already doing it through my blogs and social media platforms. No, I am not physically at the U.N.; however, everything I saw myself doing, I’m doing from the comfort of my home. Now, this does not mean I don’t want to go to Geneva, Switzerland because that’s still a dream of mine. What it does mean is I now recognize the gift I have been given and I am eternally grateful that I am living in my dreams.

I am truly blessed.

I would like to thank all of you for reading my blogs and helping me fulfill my dreams. I so appreciate you!♥️

If you don’t mind, please leave a comment and let me know where you are reading from. Thanks

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

News Flash!

Our dreams and goals require that we work for what we want. We must also be patient and trust God’s timing while we work. Eventually, our hard work and dedication will pay off.

Have a blessed Sunday!♥️

Shaun

Life

Celebrating One Year of Inspirations

Shaun Bradford

Happy 1 year anniversary to #ShaunsDailyInspiration!🎉🌟🎉

Earlier this year, I decided to create my own artwork to accompany my quotes, and I’m so happy I did. Y’all, the entire experience is where I feel most at peace. It’s also my quiet time with God. Yep.. It’s my happy place. Smiling

Before I end, I just want to thank God for allowing me to find a niche that I look forward to doing daily. Y’all, I wake up ready to create and inspire. One of my lifelong aspirations has always been to spread love, peace and hope throughout the world. To this day, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing still inspires me to remain hopeful that one day the world will sing in perfect harmony, even if it’s only for a moment. Hopefully, Shaun’s Daily Inspiration will contribute to making this happen. Hopeful

Y’all, God is good! Be Blessed.♥️ ~ Shaun

P.S. If you’re on Facebook and would like a daily dose of inspiration, please follow me!

Life

It’s YOUR Dream

Shaun Bradford

It’s YOUR DREAM! Be careful not to water down your dreams to fit someone else’s narrative or beliefs. It’s not about them. They have their own dreams. It’s about YOU. I wholeheartedly believe, if God gave you the dream, you can have it.♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

December 12th

Shaun Bradford

After doing a Christmas light tour in New Orleans City Park – which had me feeling like Princess Tiana – and watching Volume One of Harry and Meghan on Netflix this weekend; then, reading last year’s blog, I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy. Y’all, I’m actually ready to try this love thing again. I’m ready to have my dreams come to fruition.

Most of my childhood I heard I needed to get my head out of the clouds. That what I wanted wasn’t possible, wasn’t real (still hear the same thing today). I was 18 years old when my belief took its first hit. Yes, at 18 I still believed I could have whatever I dreamed. NO ONE could convince me otherwise. Then, with every hit afterwards – disappointment in myself, heartbreak, mistake – the less I believed.

Y’all, I needed to see this blog today. I needed to be reminded that my dreams do matter. Yesterday, Pastor Michael Phillips said whatever we had given up on was still possible. And I believe him. All of my dreams are still possible!

The statement that I refer to from December 12, 2014 (blog below) makes me smile. No one was going to rescue Shaun but Shaun. Looking back, I needed to go through the entire experience alone. Believe me, I didn’t want to, but I had to. It was the only way I could find my way back to me, which is who I began searching for eight years ago (story for another time). This time I know what I want and I know that I don’t have to settle – not just with love but with all aspects of my life. Smiling

December 12, 2021– Written after reading Will Smith’s memoir, WILL.

There is no way I can go into another relationship broken. I must realize there is no knight in shining armor to rescue me from myself.

JOURNAL ENTRY, DECEMBER 12, 2014

Hello Sunday December 12, 2021

Last year’s blog is sooo worth the read: Hello Sunday December 12, 2021.

Enjoy!

Life

Never Lose Sight of Your Purpose

Shaun Bradford

It’s so easy to become distracted by the need to complete tasks and mark things off our checklists that we forget our purpose– our Why. Today, I encourage you to remember your purpose. Remember why you initially wanted to make a difference.♥️ ~Shaun

Life

Wait

Shaun Bradford

Be still and wait. Yes.. wait!♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

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!

Shaun