Tag: hope

Life

It Is That Simple

Shaun Bradford
It really is that simple.

I do not have much time to write. I need to get ready for work. So I am going to make this short.

Been following this guy Gary Vee on social media. I started listening to him because I liked his no-nonsense way of motivating people to pursue their dreams. According to him, no dream or idea is unobtainable. All we have to do is go after it. Honestly, he says what people already know, but need someone to actually voice it. For example, on his Instagram Live, he invites people to chat with him. Some have already started businesses while others are just getting started. Most of them come with questions about how to move forward. Like, they are in a place where they feel vulnerable, unsure of themselves, and unsure of their next moves. Gary steps in, says a few cuss words (which makes his advice even more interesting) and gives it to them straight. Most of the time the thing that holds people back is FEAR. After carefully listening to their stories, he tells them what they are afraid of. Some are afraid of failure. Others are afraid of others’ opinions. Of course there are so many more fears out there. Think about why you have not pursued your goals or dreams and I am pretty sure fear is in there somewhere. As I said, he just voices what people already know but are afraid to admit.

Anyway, one of his big takeaways is– do it! Want to start a business? Do it! Basically, nothing is stopping you, but you. Another takeaway, that has really motivated me to move forward, is to stop overthinking your moves. This one was a big for me. I tend to overthink things. Especially things that I believe I will be judged on. Most of it is associated with my professional life. HA! I tend to let go and have fun in my personal life. Lol! My professional life is where the whole perfection thing comes in. Here is what Gary Vee has to say about perfection, “Perfect is based in insecurity.” How true is that! It is exactly what I have been writing about over the past year or so– facing my insecurities.

Okay.. I really need to go. Just felt like writing. Yes, I could finish writing later, but I am pretty sure you would get a totally different blog. So I am going to post this one.

Check out Gary Vee on social media. His style of delivery is not for everyone. Lol! However, I love it! It has me moving forward.

Word of advice– do whatever makes you happy. Whatever that may be (as long as it is not causing someone harm- thought I needed to add this tiny disclaimer- Lol). Forget perfection. Forget others’ opinions. Just do it. Do you! It really is that simple.

Y’all know I am talking to myself, right. Lol

Enjoy your day!

Shaun

Life

Evolving

Shaun Bradford
Evolution is necessary.

I had written so much more, but decided to delete it all. Sometimes less is more. Bottom line, we were not meant to remain the same. Smiling because I see so many people evolving. It is a good thing. A very good thing.

I see you!

God is working.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Thought I’d switch it up. Smile.

Hello! Hello! Hello!

It is Sunday, again! I hope you have something AMAZING planned. I am having brunch with my son this morning. Guess I forgot to tell y’all that he is finally back from his summer vacation. I missed him so much. Honestly, it is nice having someone to laugh with, again. Laughing alone is sad, but also entertaining at the same time. I often found myself laughing at myself. Life… Anyway, I do have to confess, the empty nest life is not so bad. Kinda looking forward to it. Lol. But for now, it really is good having him back home, and I am going to cherish every moment God has granted us together.

Okay… y’all enjoy your Sunday! Hope yours is as sunny and delightful as mine.

Shaun

Life

Psalm 23

Shaun Bradford
Makes me feel like royalty.

My first thought was to save this for my weekly Hello Sunday blog since it sounds like a Sunday message. But this is how I am feeling now– in this particular moment. So I am sharing.

After checking Facebook and Twitter this morning, I began to feel discouraged. Every post/tweet was about chaos and doom. If someone was not sharing stories about us going to a cashless, socialist society, then they were sharing stories about injustices and living in the last days. Sometimes.. no.. most of the time, it is so overwhelming. However, this morning, as always, God reminded me that He is still in control. Our job is to trust Him in spite of what we see.

Story time:

When I was a little girl, I spent my summers with my great-great grandma, Madea. Every morning Madea would get up, pray, and read one chapter from her ginormous white Bible. That chapter was Psalm 23. It was her morning ritual. Y’all, she did this every morning before she started her day. To this day, that entire chapter is instilled in me. However, verse 4 is my secret weapon. Whenever I feel afraid, that one verse seems to calm all of my fears. I dare you to recite it when you are afraid. Whew! Talk about peace like no other! Personally, it kind of makes me feel like royalty. As if my daddy is The King and I am His princess. Like nothing can touch me. Sounds crazy– huh? But it does.

Anyway, without further ado, here is Psalm 23. Enjoy! And use it!

Psalm 23 KJV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Amen. Y’all, God is with us. Trust Him.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Thankful for life.

Thanking God for life. I had written an entirely different blog and decided to save it for another day or space. Today I would like to focus on God’s greatnesses.

Y’all, I am always amazed at how God works. How He connects the puzzle pieces of life. This is one reason I write and document everything. It allows me to go back and review past events and follow God’s work. If you do not journal, search your social media posts or look at old photos. See where you were a year ago, three years ago, or even ten years ago and compare it to where you are today.

Some of you might believe life is worse now than it was before. While some of you are finally living your best life. For me, life is definitely better. However, even during my lowest moments (documented in journal entries), certain aspects of my life were really good. When I suffered financial losses, my relationship with my children became stronger. During relationship problems, I grew closer to God. Problems at work, I expanded my knowledge. Y’all, there were always positive moments during adversities, heartbreaks and disappointments. I could not see it then, but I do now. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20.

Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying that life is so good that I do not have disappointing and heartbreaking moments because that would be a lie (in Maury’s voice- lol). It is in those moments that I refer back to where I was, compared to where I am now. God saw me through everything then and He continues to do the same today. So yeah.. life is definitely better.

Please enjoy your Sunday.

Shaun

Life

I am Back! The Journey Continues

Shaun Bradford

If you recall, two years ago I allowed a bad experience to stop me from moving forward. As I said in that blog, it was time for me to get back to work. Well, I am finally back!

After a two-year hiatus, or as I would like to refer to it as– my sabbatical, I am finally back and ready to get things rolling! I learned a lot …

I am Back! The Journey Continues

Shaun

Life

You Will Win

Shaun Bradford

The song, No Weapon, says:

No weapon formed against me shall prosper, it won’t work. . . God will do what He said He would do. He will stand by His word. He will come through.

Fred Hammond

Stay strong. God is working.

Shaun

Life

Just Ask

Shaun Bradford

I’m so emotional right now! You’re probably thinking, when is she not. Lol! I am just going to drop this gem right here and I dare you to use it!

Matthew 7:7. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

I DARE you to ask!

I DARE you to seek!

I DARE you to knock!

When I tell you God will give you the desires of your heart. Whew!! Gonna share this story with you real quick. I have to go soon and get my blessing!

Not even 30 minutes ago, I shared an event on Instagram that I wanted to attend this morning. After sharing it, I went to register for the event. Well, it was $97 for one day. I was like, nah.. because I only wanted to hear and support the keynote speaker, whom I have heard speak numerous times. Well… let me show you how God works! So, I decided to check my Messenger inbox that is connected to a Facebook account I rarely use. Why was there a link to a complimentary ticket to this EXACT event sitting there in my inbox?!! Talk about MIND BLOWING!! Y’all, I am registered and ready! God is so good!

This is only ONE example of how God works in my life. I have this one friend who always says that it seems like whoever I want to see I get to see. So she started putting in a few requests. Lol! The crazy thing is, she is right. I have had the opportunity to see and meet some of the most amazing people all because I asked. And it never happens because I spent days and nights praying for it. Most of the things God has given me have been based off a simple thought of wanting something. Nothing dramatic, just a simple, “It would be nice if…” Then, BAM! There it is. One day I will have to give more examples. As I always say, God is so good! All you have to do is ask. Whew!!

ASK!

Shaun

Life

Pursuing My Purpose

Shaun Bradford

A few days ago, I decided to check my website (TheResearchDiva-RD.com) to see if I was ready to pick up where I left off two years ago. As I wrote in my most recent version of Hello Sunday, two years ago I allowed one bad experience to discourage me from moving forward.

Story time… and as always, full transparency.

So, not even six months prior (October 21, 2017, to be exact) to my botched presentation, I introduced my new business to the WORLD!! Well.. not to the world, but to fellow registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) at our annual conference (FNCE). That year was special because our association was celebrating its centennial. It was also special because I got to celebrate it with my best friend, Shawn. Needless to say, I was HYPED! New business.. 100th year celebration.. and hanging with my best friend.. PRICELESS! Oh! And not to mention, the night before I got to see the premiere of Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween. Bae-bé… you couldn’t tell me nothing! I was on cloud 9! That first day, I handed out my fancy business cards like I was a celebrity. Y’all, I was happy.

Then April 2018 happened, and it all went down hill from there. After that presentation, I began second guessing my worth, my credibility. Then July came. After celebrating my birthday with friends, I decided to apply to a doctoral program. I was eager to– 1) enhance my career and 2) prove my credibility. I felt like it was something I had to do. Was my heart in it? Honestly.. no. Recently, my sister and I had a conversation about my decision to pursue my doctorate. She said that she wondered if my failed experience led me to the doctoral program. The answer was “Yes.” Y’all, I could not lie. How could I? She already knew. Transparency.

I have written all of this to say, my two year hiatus (I like to refer to it as my sabbatical) was much needed. I can truly say I needed that time to make mistakes, expand my knowledge, and rebuild my confidence. I cannot say that I am fully where I want to be, HOWEVER, I am back on track.

Right now, I am sitting here smiling as I think about how God works. He actually builds us through adversity. I have already noticed that I am a much stronger person than I was two years ago– mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, intellectually and somewhat physically (work in progress- lol). Y’all, it was worth it.

Now, on to moving forward. Please check out my blog below, Pursuing My Purpose. I wrote it on this day, two years ago. It is the last blog I wrote under A Research Diva’s Journey. Destination– The United Nations.

I used to believe we chose our purpose. However, I have finally realized our purpose chooses us. Today I embark on a journey to fulfill my purpose– …

Pursuing My Purpose

Shaun ~ God is working!