Life

Stay Present

Let’s not be so consumed with the past or the future that we miss out on the present. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. All we have is now.

Believe me, it’s possible to plan for the future and still be present. Try it!♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Today is the first Wednesday of the year! Which means I have well over 100 (closer to 200) more Wednesdays of writing. I know it sounds like a lot, but I can do it. I will get it done. Smiling

Not really sure what I want to write about today. Yesterday, I realized I didn’t do an end of year review for 2022. So many people had posted wonderful videos recapping their 2022 and I didn’t post a thing. Even on New Year’s Eve, I only posted three things that really summed up my entire year – I conquered fears, found myself again and released control. And truthfully, that about sums up everything that happened last year.

This year has already started off differently than past new years. This year actually feels different. It’s like I’m seeing things differently. It’s as if my entire life is changing before my eyes and I actually feel it happening. Honestly, it’s the most present that I have ever been. Maybe it’s the awareness that I’ll be 50 this year. Maybe my entire being feels it. It’s so hard to describe. It’s such a wonderfully, strange feeling.

Short story—

At some point during my teenage years, I imagined myself living two drastically different lives – the first 50 years and the remaining 50+ years. As you can see, I have always seen myself living a very long life. Smile. The first half was for… Y’all, basically it was for doing what I have done – find myself and retire. Y’all, that was just an “Aha” moment. At the time that I declared I would live two lives, I didn’t refer to it as “finding myself.” I always thought of it as this exploratory phase. During my first 50 years, I would take chances and try different things until I discovered what I liked and didn’t like; what I wanted to do and didn’t want to do. Then I would take all of this information and experience and decide how I wanted to live the second half of my life. Listen!! You don’t have to believe me, but God will give you exactly what you ask for and most times you don’t even know He’s doing it. Sitting in awe right now! It wasn’t until late last year that I even realized I retired before I was 50. For some reason, I hadn’t really recognized my retirement from the military as the “retire before age 50” that I had asked for. When I tell you God forever amazes me!

So, Year 50 is loading. Although I still have several months to go, I can already feel the change taking place. I know most of you reading this probably think I’m crazy, but I am so serious. My life is changing.

I know how I imagined myself living the second half of my life. Not going to share. I don’t have to speak it into existence because I already spoke it decades ago. I’m just going to take it all in and let it happen.

Well, I guess you can also mark this as my first “random rambling” for the year. As always, thanks for reading. Remember to stay present and your day!♥️

Shaun

Life

It’s Already Done

Whatever you are praying for, know that it’s already done.♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday: Happy New Year

It’s a New Day
a New Week
a New Month
and a New Year

Ahhh… Can we say, New Beginnings!

Today is literally the perfect day to hit reset. It’s the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Today, we have the opportunity to start with a clean slate and create anything imaginable.

As you can see, I am really feeling this day. Smile

Year 50 loading……

God is good.

Happy New Year!♥️

Shaun

Life

Trust

For most, trust does not happen over night. It takes time to build. Once in place, handle it with care because once it’s broken it can take a lifetime to repair.♥️ ~ Shaun

Sooo… short story. Right as I was posting this to my Facebook page, I started receiving notifications that someone was sharing my posts. I was like cool! Until I looked at who had shared them. How about someone stole my profile picture and banner and began sharing my posts. Talk about WILD!! Why do people do these things? Why pretend to be someone you’re not. At least they used a different name, but my same picture!! Disgusting and disturbing.

Trust… can’t trust nobody!! Shaking my head, laughing.

Y’all have a great day!

Life

Covered By God

There’s no greater feeling than knowing you are covered by God.♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

Dedication

Dedication (Merriam-Webster): Self-sacrificing devotion and loyalty

Whew!! What a definition! Listen, dedication requires heart and commitment. If your heart isn’t in it, consider letting it go. However, if your heart is there, STICK WITH IT!♥️

On this date five years ago (2017), I posted my second blog. Here’s what I wrote in my journal–

Just published my second blog. Some may read it. Some may not. Either way, I have to keep up what I’ve started. We shall see. With God’s help, it’ll be done. Amen

Today’s entry will make 583 consecutive daily posts under It’s Shaun’s World. I’m not sure how many I have in total, which would include my blogs under The Research Diva/I Am LaShaundreaB and Nutrition with LaShaundreaB.

I guess you can say my heart is definitely in it! ~ Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Sometimes we win. Other times we lose.

Sometimes we seize great opportunities. Other times we don’t.

Question

How do you cope – or attempt to cope – when things don’t go as planned? You know, after you have experienced a loss or have been disappointed?

Here’s what I wrote on this date in 2018. It was in response to the following quote — “Things didn’t work out [loss, disappointment, setback] because better things are in the works.”

Facebook Memory: December 18, 2018

Good Morning! We’re two weeks away from 2019!! Can you believe how fast this year passed? It’s crazy! Here’s today’s social media find. I know you may have set goals for this year that didn’t happen. You had it all played out in your mind how this year was going to be “Your Year!” And you feel like it was everything but your year (believe me, I know the feeling). However, from years of experiencing God’s love, mercy and grace, you KNOW better is coming! Things didn’t work out because they weren’t supposed to. Whatever’s coming is going to blow your mind! Y’all know how God loves to show out!!😉💃🏽💃🏽 Here’s the thing, you cannot settle when you’re feeling down. You cannot stop believing because you don’t see anything happening. You must continue to push forward! Y’all, the best God has is on it’s way! Don’t give up!!

I like how I wrote–

“Things didn’t work out because they weren’t supposed to. Whatever’s coming is going to blow your mind!”

Looking back, I am pretty sure I was trying to encourage myself after what I considered a loss or disappointment. Transparent moment: This is one of my ways of coping. It’s how I remain hopeful.

Did it work?

Does it work?

ABSOLUTELY!

Although we still have two weeks left, I am exiting 2022 knowing that some things did not go as planned because they just were not meant to.

AND…

I’m entering 2023 KNOWING (had to make that BOLD because I’m feeling it) better is coming! Amen

Y’all, I am truly thankful for God’s love, mercy and grace. I thank Him for holding me up when I just knew I would fall. I thank Him for holding my heart together when I thought it was shattering. I thank Him for walking with me while I was afraid. I thank Him for encouraging me and restoring my hope, daily. We all know life is not easy. Y’all, I am beyond grateful God is in this thing with me. I’m Blessed

Only two weeks left in 2022! I pray you had an overall amazing year!♥️

Shaun

Life

December 12th

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, 2021Written 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

Validated By God

You only need ONE stamp of approval and that’s God’s. Be Blessed.♥️ ~ Shaun