Tag: hope

Life

Listen to the Vibe

Shaun Bradford

It is not even 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning and I am wide awake. Actually, I have been up for a couple of hours, now. Today I was supposed to go to Mobile to continue my birthday celebration with my sisters. They had a day full of wonderful COVID-19-safe events planned. Unfortunately, the celebration must be postponed.

You see.. yesterday I began feeling sick. More than likely it is sinus issues, but I do not want to chance it. The day before yesterday, Mississippi had a spike in new COVID-19 cases. Y’all, over a 1,000 new cases were reported in one day. Yesterday there were half as many. As much as I want to celebrate with my sisters, I have to stay safe and make sure they remain safe, also. Y’all, this virus is something serious!

Right now I am having an early morning jam session. Zhané’s Vibe is currently playing.

Oh… before I go, we did decide to have a video call later today. So the celebration will continue, just not in person.

Forever Grateful

Shaun

Life

My Love-Hate Relationship with Twitter

Shaun Bradford

I have this love-hate relationship with Twitter that is driving me crazy. I created my first Twitter account a little over six years ago to follow other registered dietitians, celebrity chefs, people in academia, and a few colleagues. Slowly, I began adding celebrities, television shows, and began following my followers. About a month later, I recognized I needed another account to separate my professional life from my guilty pleasures of tweeting during my favorite shows. Sadly, those two accounts have transformed into five accounts. Yes, I have five Twitter accounts. This is where the love-hate relationship comes in.

I love Twitter. Y’all, it is my favorite social media platform. I love it because the interaction is constant, especially while live tweeting during shows. Also, unlike Facebook and Instagram, I only know a handful of my followers. Which is what originally drew me to Twitter. I saw it as a place where I could freely express myself and not worry about being judged. Hmm… So I thought. Here is where the hate comes in.

So, why do I hate Twitter? Well.. not necessarily hate, because hate is such a strong word, so dislike.. why do I dislike Twitter? Twitter seems to magnify my insecurities more than any other platform. Honestly, I feel like I am always being judged or scrutinized based on my tweets, replies, and retweets. Since about 90% of my tweets are related to my shows, I feel like an imposter (yes I suffer from imposter syndrome) when attempting to tweet something serious and meaningful. This has really affected the way I interact with followers on my professional accounts. Anytime I attempt to tweet something of worth, I feel like I am being judged. I also have to admit (being very transparent right now) this is one of the reasons I stopped blogging professionally. I began to feel like an imposter.

Right now, I feel like I am at a crossroad. Like I have to decide between professionalism or my guilty pleasures. Tweeting during my shows is my outlet. It is when I unwind. It is where I feel most comfortable being myself. However, I realize it is hindering me professionally. I need to start tweeting more from my professional accounts. I need to start blogging professionally, again. I have so many decisions to make. Is it possible to do both and not feel less authentic? Life…..

Shaun

Life

Authentically ME

Shaun Bradford

Yesterday was so AMAZING! I laughed.. and danced.. and sang.. and ate.. took selfies.. and danced some more. Yesterday I let loose! As the old people used to say, I cut a rug!! LOL! I had no worries or complaints, ONLY laughter and love. Yesterday, I was me– authentically ME!

Before I end, I have to give a shout out to my two. Y’all, I know I say it all of the time, but I truly have the BEST children in the world. They know me so well! They embrace my quirkiness, which allows me to be free. I am so blessed to have children who love ALL of me.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday. Y’all, they made me a selfie wall. Lol. For those who know me, know I am the worst photographer but I LOVE taking pictures, especially selfies.

My babies and I celebrating my 47th birthday. Selfies!

#Year47

Shaun

Life

Three Years Shy of Half a Century– YAY, Me!!

Shaun Bradford

One day a princess was born. Her mother named her LaShaundrea. Today is LaShaundrea’s birthday. Now a queen; nevertheless, always a princess at heart.

My response to the UK’s #247Challenge
#NationaWritingDay

Thanking God for allowing me to see another year of life. Y’all, I am three years shy of half a century. Yay!! Yeah, that is how I view 50. It is not half of 100 but half a century. That term just makes me feel regal. Hence, I am a queen! Lol.

So, every year I set a theme for my birthday year. Last year’s was “New Beginnings.” Over the past few days, I have been trying to come up with a theme for this year. I am stuck between “Just Be” and “Being Present.” Both are about being authentically true to myself. I am who I am and I need to fully embrace me. I need to embrace my thoughts, beliefs and decisions, even if they are unpopular with others. This year, I am giving myself permission to be a little selfish and a little less selfless. Do not get me wrong, this does not mean that I am going to be rude, or disrespectful, it just means I really need to put myself first.

Anyway, looking forward to another blessed year. Yes.. a very blessed year. God is good!

#Year47

Shaun

Life

Up Thinking

Shaun Bradford
Hopeful.

I really need to be asleep. Have to be on the road in a few hours. Today we are honoring my great aunt, Aunt Deloris. She will be 75 next month. She told us that she wanted her roses while she was still here, and ain’t nothing wrong with that! So, today is her day. I cannot wait to see her. Wish I could love on her but with cases of COVID-19 steadily increasing, I will love her from afar. Being in her presence will be more than enough.

Anyway… I cannot seem to turn off my mind. Been thinking about events that have taken place over the past month. Especially events in Mississippi.

In June 2014, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer 1964. I watched the documentary (click link attached to Freedom Summer 1964) a few days before my 41st birthday. Side note: Since the city of Hattiesburg had a significant role in the movement, the documentary was shown at The University of Southern Mississippi prior to being aired on television (which aired on my birthday- Woohoo!). After watching that documentary, my brain started working overtime. I had all kinds of ideas about doing a follow-up documentary about Mississippi, 50 years later. I had so many questions and was eager to find answers.

As I stated earlier, the events that have taken place over this past month reminds me of Freedom Summer 1964. However, this time the white people who are marching and volunteering along side Black Mississippians are actually Mississippi residents. Unlike Freedom Summer, they did not travel here from other states. Many were born here. Some are descendants of those who opposed change in the 60s. In the documentary, someone said, “Crack Mississippi and you crack the whole South.” Well . . .

Hopeful. Very hopeful. Change is here. Change is happening. Mississippi IS Thriving!

Anyhoo.. I need to go to sleep. My alarm goes off in less than two hours. I’ll probably hit the snooze several times before I actually get up. I am so excited about seeing everyone… from a distance, that is. Lol

By the way, I am way too sleepy to proof this. So forgive any errors.

Shaun

Life

My Smile

Shaun Bradford

Today’s a new day – Smile! Can’t you hear Kirk Franklin’s I Smile? Well, I can! Lol

Y’all, smiling does something for my soul. It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel hopeful. It makes me feel loved.

When I smile— I am present. I am in sync with the world. I am loved. Yes.. I am loved.

Self-love. It falls right beneath God’s love. Y’all, there is nothing like it. I have discovered that when you love yourself, smiling comes naturally.

So, I smile.

Shaun