Life

Which Lens Are You Looking Through?

I hope Facebook never does away with its “Memories” feature. For years now, it has been my source of inspiration, encouragement, smiles and much needed messages. Here is one I decided not to make public and only saved it as a reminder to myself. I was going to publish it but changed my mind. I knew what it meant to me then. Needed to see it again to reassess what it means to me today.

Facebook Memory: November 28, 2021

Reading Will Smith’s book WILL. Sooo many gems in this book. Here’s one I just had to share. Something to think about when making decisions.

“It’s amazing how skewed your vision can become when you see the present through the lens of your past.”

There’s no way we can move forward if our mindset is stuck in the past, or we continue to react to present situations based on past experiences.

Decided not to share this with anyone. Don’t believe they’d understand. However, I’m posting it privately so that it shows up in my memory next year.

Which lens are you/am I using to view the present? Are we looking through the lens of the past or the lens of the future? Something to really ponder on.

I have yet to read Jada Pinkett Smith’s book, but I did read Will Smith’s and LOVED it. So much of what he wrote resonated with me. I remember writing that we must have had the same zodiac sign or something (we don’t, I’m a cancer and he’s a libra). Then, after listening to Jada’s conversation with Jay Shetty, I was like maybe we are alike also. Maybe it was the era of when we were born, or being young adults in the 90s. I just view things a little differently than most.

See, this is the perfect example of how my year long celebration has been going. I’m tasked with an assignment/assessment of a situation that I need to deeply examine before moving forward. My decisions will set the stage or trajectory for my next 50+ years. Yeah…THIS is what I have been working with since turning 50. My jubilee year has not been the celebratory year I expected; however, it has been the year that my future self is dependent on.

That’s all I have to share at this moment. Not going to assess and decide today. Nope, this requires a lot of thought and assessing. I just needed to see it today. Trusting God for more affirmations, confirmations, and revelations. I am listening, God.

Anyhoo…Welcome to Shaun’s world! It’s deep. It’s complexed. It’s me. It’s who I am becoming. God has so many great things planned for my future. Stick around and see how it all plays out.

Shaun

Life

Smile

When you read the title, did you smile?

I hope so.

That was my intention.

If not…

Let me try again.

You are loved.

Did that work?

No…

Let me try this.

You are AWESOME!

That didn’t work either?

How about…

You make me smile.

Yeah…

I know that worked.

I felt your smile.

Now it’s your turn.

Make someone smile.

Smiles are free. Keep them going.

Enjoy your week!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

This time I remembered it was Sunday. I don’t know what I was thinking last Sunday. Laughing

I didn’t really know what to write for today’s Hello Sunday so I went searching for inspiration. Well, I didn’t have to search long. When I opened X (I really wish he wouldn’t have rebranded Twitter), I had a notification that someone had retweeted one of my tweets from months ago. It was a comment I had made during former First Lady Michelle Obama’s book tour for The Light We Carry. It was a quote from her father—“You fall. You get up. You keep moving.”

Your faith will sustain you.

That’s today’s message–

You fall. It happens. Life happens.

You get up. Brush yourself off. Your story isn’t over.

You keep moving. That was only a small part of your story. God has so much more in store. Soooo much more.

Praying you have a wonderful Sunday. I love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Giving Thanks

Thankful for family time. I’m blessed.

Giving thanks for my two hearts!♥️♥️ Y’all, they really know how to brighten my day. We just watched Good Burger 2 together (not as good as the original but still good), and we are planning to play video and/or board games later. Loving this time with them.

I hope you are enjoying your Friday as well. Stay safe and be blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

Thankful: Part 2

About to get up and finish cooking. Was still laying here thinking about this past year. Seems like I have lost much more than I have gained. I know every season isn’t going to be a harvest season, a cheerful season, a winning season. That’s life, right?

With that being said, there are things that have remained constant like my babies and their unconditional love, those strong, SOLID friendships I spoke of in my last post, and God’s love, mercy and grace. Those have never changed, and I am so thankful and blessed that they haven’t. No more questioning God. No more asking “why” or “why me.” Leaning into what’s constant, what has remained, while releasing the other.

Thankful and blessed.♥️

This is Year50

Shaun