Tag: God

Life

Year50: Where The Real Second Chances Begin

Shaun Bradford
Beyond blessed!🦋

I have written numerous posts about second chances. How God is so gracious that He gives us multiple opportunities to get things right, or to achieve our goals and dreams. Over the years, I felt like so many opportunities and time had slipped away. Honestly, I had given up on pursuing certain dreams and aspirations because I believed I had missed my chances. I felt like so many doors and windows had closed and would not reopen. But God!

Now, here I am at age fifty embarking on a new decade, and embracing the second half of my life. Had no idea 50 would be so liberating. As I shared in my previous post, my kids are grown! Like, they are adults. The only responsibility I have is me. The only person I actually have to make decisions for is myself. This is my second chance at adulthood. My chance to pursue my dreams. Smiling

Y’all, God is so good! I promise not to waste time on trivial things. It’s funny because earlier in my adulthood I deemed the years leading up to 50 as my trial and error years, and the years after 50 would be when I lived. Whew!! Y’all, I actually manifested how I wanted to live and then became agitated when my life followed what I had spoken. God really does have a sense of humor, but it’s all based on love. He gave me the experience I asked for (be mindful of what you speak). I am so grateful and blessed that He loves me the way He knows I need to be loved. As always, I am truly blessed.♥️ ~Shaun

This is the blog I shared a year ago on this day, April 20, 2023.

Second Chances

Life

I Am Responsible For Me

Shaun Bradford

I took the following excerpt below from my Wednesday Writings dated April 20, 2022. A few posts ago, I wrote about not knowing how to be single. How, for almost 30 years, my kids have basically been my life. Well, two years ago I was entering my empty nester phase. Didn’t know what to expect. Here’s what I wrote.

Wednesday Writings: April 20, 2022

… in that split second, it dawned on me that I.. yes, me.. am responsible for protecting, supporting, encouraging and loving myself. I.. yes, Shaun.. am responsible for ensuring I live my BEST life. Yes, it’s on me, solely on me. 

Perhaps what my soul is believing for is tied to me believing in myself and loving myself like I’ve never done before. That the only way I can live my best life is to care for myself like I care for my babies. To want for myself the same things I want for them. As many of you know, my son will be graduating in one month. As I’m trying to prepare him for this new wave of freedom he’s about to experience, I’m also preparing myself as well. It’s been about 30 years since I last rolled solo. Anxious to see what lies ahead. 

I said it had been 30 years since I rolled solo. I meant unattached. No man. No kids. Just me, myself, and I. My son will be 21 this year and my daughter is 29, which means they are grown! So, it is time that I explore life without being attached. Not necessarily dating because I am not into the dating thing. Never done it well and now not interested in trying. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still want to get married again. I loved the companionship. My marriage wasn’t all bad. Most of the time it was pretty good. I was the June Cleaver/Claire Huxtable I wanted to be. I made my life what I wanted. I just never loved my husband. He was the rebound guy and I was told (yes…by God) I needed to release him. That that was the only way I could stop pretending to be happy and actually be happy. Listen, you can only pretend for so long. Once the facade starts crumbling, it doesn’t stop until all of you is exposed. Then what? Then, you start living from authenticity.

Anyhoo… I got real sidetracked. Laughing. Well, now, it’s just Shaun, the single lady, and Mother, the advisor. Smiling

Loving life. This is Year50…♥️

Shaun

Life

The Last Dance

Shaun Bradford

So, in the late nineties I was a basketball fanatic. I lived and breathed basketball. Never played any sports in my life, but I loved watching basketball. When I tell you I used to be so hyped during basketball season! I knew the stats on so many players, and was obsessed with collecting basketball cards (spent way too much money). Don’t know when or how I got started collecting cards, but once I started I couldn’t stop. I am so glad that phase only lasted a few years.

Fun fact: I wanted to be a sports journalist back then. Even saw myself doing interviews.☺️

Here’s what I shared while watching Michael Jordan’s documentary, “The Last Dance.”

Facebook Memories: April 19, 2020

As you can tell, I was so excited! Michael was the GOAT! I imagine I was smiling for days. What a wonderful time in history. I even have the newspaper article from the win somewhere. Thought I had shared it, too. Maybe I shared it while watching another episode of the series. If so, I’ll share it with you later.

Y’all, I just love my life and my memories. My journal entries keep me entertained! If something happened back then, I probably wrote about it. I even have magazines from back then. So many stories and relationships documented. What a life we have lived.

By the way, I am trying my best not to get sucked into watching the escalating conflict that’s happening right now. Praying for the whole world, and leaving things in God’s hands. After I had my PTSD moment the other day, I went to read a chapter in Zechariah and ended up in the book of Zephaniah. If you are unfamiliar with it or haven’t read it in a while, I recommend that you do. It’s extremely short (only three chapters), but very telling. As much as we would like to control things, some things cannot be controlled. There have always been wars and famines since the beginning of time. We just never know when or where it will happen next. My prayer to God is always, if only for a few seconds, let the world experience total peace. That’s the harmony I seek.

Didn’t mean to end it on such a somber note. Life is so interesting…

Wishing you a wonderful day!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

It’s Time To Live

Shaun Bradford

Was looking back through my Facebook memories a little while ago. I try not to spend so much time in the past, but that’s where I find a lot of my answers. Saw the following memory this morning, but didn’t pay much attention to it. However, this evening, it caught my eye.

April 18, 2019

As you can see, I had one of my “Aha” moments. This was when I realized I had been making decisions based on pivotal moments in my life.

It was in April of 1994 that I had decided to make a few life changes. Little did I know, life was about to change me. I’ll say it was around this time in April that I had received orders (a new military assignment) to go to Florida. I was about to leave Germany and my trifling boyfriend. Already had in my mind how I was going to be FREE! We had just broken up and I felt like I finally had a handle on life. Well, by the end of the month, and I know the exact date, I was back with him.

Long story, short… I really need to write a book. Maybe in my 80’s or 90’s. That night will forever be etched in my memory. It’s the night he told me he was going to give me what I wanted…a baby. I laughed it off. For over a year I had wanted to be pregnant, but it never happened. Yeah… I was young and naive, but I really wanted a baby. I wanted someone who would love me unconditionally—and she actually does (my blessing🥰).

Six weeks later, I went to the doctor’s office for one thing and left with what seemed to be the worst news of my life, I was pregnant. Y’all, I had already made up my mind that I was moving on. Then…BAM!!

From that day on, even until recently, most decisions I have made have been somewhat based on what happened for me—no longer going to use “to me”—during that time. My baby became my priority. She became my life. Then the divorce happened, and she and my son became my life. Every decision I have made has been somewhat based on them. They have been trying to get me to enjoy life for myself, but I have been hesitant. Honestly, I am not really sure how to live as a single person. However, I believe it is finally time that I learned.♥️

This is Year50…

Shaun

Life

Embrace Your Gift

Shaun Bradford

When I went to share my previous post, a Facebook memory from 2022, on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, I decided to change it up a little bit. Here’s what I shared.

God has given you a beautiful gift that was meant to be shared with the world. Don’t keep it to yourself. Use it and SHINE!✨

Yesterday, on my way to the beach, I listened to Lewis Howes’ conversation with Tabitha Brown, You’ve Been Blocking Your Blessings! …. When I tell you that was another conversation that was God sent. So much of Tab’s story about dreams and hearing from God resonated with me. It was so nice to see that I am not alone. I know some of the things I post may sound a bit off, especially when I start talking about feeling shifts in the atmosphere and feeling the need to pray at specific times, but it’s so real. So very real. She also spoke about being obedient to God. How important it is to follow God’s guidance. How she tried doing it everyone else’s way, but it wasn’t until she started walking in her truth that she began to see her dreams being manifested. And her dreams didn’t even measure up to the blessings God actually bestowed upon her.

Listen, I needed that confirmation—which is something she also talked about. I needed to know that I am not crazy for doing what I know I have been led to do. This year, Year50, is the first time I have fully released control and have allowed God to guide and work how He sees fit. This time I actually meant it when I said, “whatever comes and whatever goes, I will be alright.” Y’all, I’m cool. I am so loving this space I am in. It’s a place of peace and surrender. It’s knowing that no matter what happens, God’s got me.

Right now, I am currently using my gifts and being obedient to God. It doesn’t matter if I reach one soul or millions, I am walking in my purpose and calling, and it feels wonderful! Y’all, I can’t say it enough, I am truly blessed.♥️

Shaun

“The Gift” by Donald Lawrence
Life

Keep Shining!

Shaun Bradford

Facebook Memory: April 18, 2022

What you have to offer is special. It’s unique. Don’t shy away from it. Embrace it and shine. You, my friend, are one of a kind!♥️

Shine!✨

That was two years ago, but the message remains the same. You are one of a kind. No one can do you, but YOU! Keep shining!♥️

Love you,

Shaun