On November 28, 2021, I was reading Will Smith’s memoir, WILL. Meant to share this yesterday but forgot. When I tell you I took sooooo many notes. If you haven’t read it, it is so worth reading. Here’s an excerpt from my entry.
Shaun’s Journal Entry: November 28, 2021
“JL or James Lassiter asked Will these questions while trying to figure out what Will really wanted. Will had no real direction just wanted not to ever be broke again and to be able to have fun.
Questions:
What is the dream?
What are you trying to build?
What do you want?
Stephen Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said there are only two human problems: (1) knowing what you want, but not knowing how to get it; and (2) not knowing what you want.”
Again, I loved this memoir!
I believe we must ask ourselves JL’s questions from time to time to see if our answers have changed. Is our dream still the same? What are we trying to build? What do we want? Even though I am now on the other side of 50, the core (which I believe is most important) of my answers remain the same. I know what I want.
For years, I used to dwell on what Steven Covey listed as the first problem—knowing what I wanted but not knowing how to get it. However, today, I don’t even think about how I’m going to get it anymore. God is finally the captain of my ship and I’m sitting back enjoying this ride called life. I trust Him to get me to wherever I belong. He knows best. Listen, life is so much better when we allow God to lead, and when we’re obedient.
Question:
Do you know what you want? Your core desires, not the superficial ones.
This is all for now. Thanks for reading. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!♥️
Life doesn’t stop because we do. No, it just continues on. So, take a breather when you must, but do get back up and continue going right along with it. Life is just too short and way too precious for us to stop and allow it to pass us by.♥️
So much has happened since last year. Around this time last year, I was experiencing what I considered a spiritual pruning while also trying to adjust to life on this side of 50. The only definite thing was that I knew these next 50 years had to be different from the last.
Here’s what I shared last year.
Shared on November 23, 2021.
After asking myself the same question from a few years ago—am I someone who has fully embraced my true, authentic self?—the answer is “yes.” A year ago, I was close but not entirely there. Today, I can confidently say that I have fully embraced all of myself while still growing and evolving—as we know, both are continuous. As I have mentioned several times this year, I love this space I’m in—living life, loving God, and dancing to the beats (because there are many) of my own drum.
Y’all, I wanted this side of 50 to be different, and it truly is.♥️
Last night I shared how the song, “Shower Me With Your Love,” randomly started playing in my head. I hadn’t heard it in years, probably decades. That’s not a song that people just play everyday. Well, after that song ended, the next was “I Do” by my favs, Bell Biv Devoe (BBD), which was followed by “Smile Again,” and then Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” and “Stay.” When I tell you I felt like a teenager/young adult in love. Those were the days! Then, just a little while ago, I saw that Whitney Houston’s “How Will I know” was released on this day in 1985.
Listen, I just love my life!! Despite the craziness, love is beautiful and music is life. I’m sooooo loving this space I’m in.
Are you thinking about settling for something less than what you dreamed possible?
Well, here’s what I wrote two years ago and a year ago when I shared this graphic.
Caption from November 14, 2022:
“Have you ever settled because you were too anxious to wait? OR…because you believed that what you were offered was the best you could get? You know– “You better take what you can get.”
Nah! NEVER settle for less than what you desire. Believe me, you’re worth it and more!”
Caption from November 14, 2023:
“Don’t do it. Don’t settle.
If you’re not careful, temporary decisions can easily become permanent. Be patient and keep waiting. God’s got you.”
Word of advice—based on my experience and the knowledge I’ve gained over the years—be careful not to tie your dreams to persons, places, or things. Instead, connect them with what’s in the core of your heart—your passions, your purpose, your values, and the essence behind your dreams.
If you have been following me for a while, you know that going to the United Nations and working with people from different nations is my ultimate dream. However, the core of that dream is to serve others while spreading love and hope. And guess what? I’m already doing it and am preparing to do more. Y’all, I am living my dream. As I have mentioned in past posts, it looks nothing like I imagined; however, it feels like everything I imagined and more.🥰
Listen, I genuinely believe our dreams are God-given, and they are too important and too dear to settle for anything less. Go after your dreams!♥️
“We are all connected” is the hashtag I used with my caption about purpose on November 1, 2022. Here’s that caption—
Facebook Memory: November 1, 2022
“Purpose is not self-centered or self-serving. Purpose is so much greater than us.
I believe our true purpose in life is to fulfill another’s need. There’s something that we provide – different things for different people – that allows them to fulfill their purpose.”
Embrace your purpose. It’s so much bigger than you!♥️
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