Tag: growth

hope

Leap, You Won’t Regret It

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! For the past few years, I’ve been sharing the same message on September 16th—Take the leap!

This past weekend we celebrated one of my sister-friends’ big leap. It was a leap she had been toying with for years, and Friday she did it! We’re so proud of her. It’s her time to shine!

Here’s what I shared last year.

Facebook Memory: September 16, 2023

“How badly do you want it?! Listen, take that leap and go after it! Remember, you only have ONE life.”

In 2021, I wrote, “Take the leap. Then, keep leaping.”

Listen, taking major leaps takes courage. Not only do you have to deal with fear, but you have to be mentally prepared. From my experience, the decision to leap usually happens when what you want—the “how badly do you want it?”—outweighs your fear. It’s in that moment that you ask yourself “What do I have to lose?”, and you leap. I’m not going to lie, it’s an amazing feeling, almost euphoric. As I told my friend, bask in that feeling. Give yourself time to soak it all in. Then, give yourself grace and time to adjust. Because, believe me, when reality sets in, it sets in! That’s when you exhale and allow life to flow.

Thinking back to all the major leaps I’ve taken in life, I have yet to regret one. Every last one was necessary. I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am today had I not leaped. Y’all, God is so good.

That’s it for now. I pray you have a wonderful day and week. May they be filled with love, peace, joy and blessings.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

No More Hiding God’s Greatness

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! When was the last time you publicly celebrated your achievements? Is it something you find easy to do? Asking because I have always found it difficult, until recently. Now, I celebrate even the smallest of successes.

I wish I could say that after I shared my post five years ago (see second screenshot below) that I began publicly acknowledging my achievements, but it didn’t. It took me years to finally become comfortable enough to share even a few. As you will read in my post below, I didn’t even tell anyone about my role as the president of our state’s dietetics association (2016-2017). When I tell you it felt like I was leading two separate lives. And to be honest, I guess I was. I didn’t know how to be Shaun and LaShaundrea. I believe I’ve written about this before. It took me years to find a happy medium between the two, which didn’t actually happen until Year50.

Anyhoo, today things are different. I am not hiding anymore and I am celebrating all my achievements. I mean, how can I fully represent God if I continue to downplay the magnitude of His greatness in my life? Y’all, He’s been too good to me. As I have said many times before, I am beyond blessed.🥰 ~Shaun

Facebook Memories: September 3, 2019

Post #1
Post #2, which was the caption when I reshared Post #1.

hope

I Am Enough

Shaun Bradford

I just love TikTok’s #OnThisDay reminders. They’re just like Facebook memories and old journal entries, a reminder of how far I’ve come.

Here’s what I shared three years ago on TikTok (August 25, 2021).

♥️

Ha… I finally know—from my heart to my soul (without any doubt)—that I AM ENOUGH. What a wonderful space to finally be in. Y’all, I speak about loving this space I’m in all of the time because I know where I was. When I tell you this side of 50 is so different from the other. I wanted it to be different, but I’m not sure if I actually believed it was possible. But God! As I wrote in my previous post, change was what I desired, so I changed.

Y’all, God is truly amazing. I’m forever in awe of Him.

Please enjoy the rest of your day!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Obedience Saves

Shaun Bradford

I am so much stronger and better equipped because I listened and obeyed. –Shaun

Shared last year, July 31, 2023

Hey y’all! So, I had written several paragraphs—several long paragraphs—and when I finished, I heard not to share any of it. And I obeyed.

Obedience.

Growth.

I’m listening God.

Praying you have another beautiful day.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

hope

Questions I Asked Myself

Shaun Bradford

Hello! How are you? Yep, I’m speaking first. Smile. You are much too important for me not too. Believe me, you really do matter.💕

While reading past journal entries, which I do pretty often, I came across a few questions I had asked myself. I was in the process of addressing a few hurts and making this side of 50 different from the last. Although I did not have an answer for them at that time, and some I am still working on, I began to intentionally observe the things that were happening around me and to me, and how they were affecting my life.

Here’s what I asked myself:

1. What is it about me that the devil does not want to succeed?

2. What does God have for me that is so great that I must stay broken so that it will not happen?

3. Where do I see myself if I do not heal?

Several posts ago I wrote, “Healing begins when we acknowledge our pain.” I saw the future of the unhealed version of me and the future of the healed version, and decided I wanted the healed version. Which meant I had to push through the pain.

Now, just being transparent, I am still a work in progress. Just like weight gain and weight loss, neither happens overnight. Both happen gradually. And for those who happen to lose it fast, if their behavior doesn’t change and their mindset isn’t right, the change won’t last. I want my healing to last so I am putting in the work to make it happen. The successful, healed version that the devil does not want to succeed is my goal.

Have you had to ask yourself similar questions? Just asking because I know I can’t be the only one who has needed to heal, or is healing.

Be Blessed!♥️

Shaun