Tag: love

Life

Hello Sunday!

Shaun Bradford
We must conquer fear!

Fear. According to the New Oxford dictionary, fear is as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Two years ago I shared the following Facebook post– “Fear is only temporary. Regret lasts forever.”

Fear.

Fear causes anxiety. It causes people to make irrational decisions. It creates chaos. It paralyzes. It is the root cause of hatred. Fortunately, fear is only temporary; however, it can cause a lifetime of harm and pain. Listen, if it is not addressed or managed, it can be deadly.

Yesterday we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Ruby Bridges becoming the first African American student to integrate newly desegregated schools in the South. Y’all, little Ruby was only six years old when she took her historic walk through a crowd of hatred. Can you imagine the fear she must have felt walking through an angry mob just to attend school? It reminds me of Psalm 23:4 – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Talk about POWERFUL! And let’s not forget the unfounded fear of the angry mobsters. Why were they so afraid?

Well, here we are 60 years later and some of those people and/or their children are still alive. Many attended school with Ruby. Some attended schools where other African American students were the first to integrate. I wonder if any of them regret their actions, anger, or fear, or are they still holding on to it and passing it along to other generations?

Here is my prayer. I pray God calms all of our fears so that we are able to think clearly, move forward, and live our best lives. Living in fear is not only detrimental to our health but to the survival of humanity.

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Sending Positive Vibes Your Way

Shaun Bradford
Stay focused. Stay present. God’s in control!

Today’s a new day! Time to get up and get going. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. Stay present and always stay focused.

Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way. Remember, you have control over what you allow into your space. Take time for a little self-care. Turn off the television. Log off social media. And relax. Meditate. Stream a good movie or show. Read a good book. Dance. Take a walk. Play a game. Love on your family and friends.

Listen, life is short, and stress literally kills. So please do something that makes your soul happy and your heart smile. Remember– You matter!

As always, this message is for me, too. Believe me, every time I write something inspirational in the morning, I always have to reference it a few hours later. Lol! Guess that’s how God works.

Staying present. Positive vibes, only!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday!

Shaun Bradford
Hello Sunday!

Today is the first Sunday of the month and the first day of November. Which means today is extra special– new beginnings all around!

Today’s blog is very short…

Stay focused on God– not others, or your surroundings, or your situation– God. Anytime negativity comes into your space, set your focus on Him. If you don’t remember anything else, remember– God’s got you!

Praying these last two months of 2020 bring you love, joy, peace and indescribable happiness. You deserve it!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday!

Shaun Bradford
Evolve!

Evolve – develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form

Oxford Languages

Evolution is necessary for growth and sustainable success. Times are changing. Mindsets are changing. Technology is forever changing. What once was the best way of doing things 10-20 years ago, no longer works well today.

This is also true with relationships. What once was, no longer is. Meaning, we change, we evolve. Unless you live in a bubble, or are dead set in your beliefs and ways, admit it, you have change. Think about it, there are things you enjoyed years ago that you no longer enjoy today. This is the same with relationships. Most of us love the person we first met. Something drew us to them and things just clicked. However, over time, the relationship became a little more complex. We began to notice our differences in personalities and preferences. Then one of us, if not both, began to change and grow– evolve.

Believe me, evolution can be difficult to accept in relationships especially when you are not growing together. In the end, it is up to us to decide whether or not we accept the other person’s change or resist it. Caution– resistance will cause problems, even result in failed relationships. Honestly, when you think about relationships they are no different than businesses and companies. When businesses and companies do not evolve, they fail. So, if you are in a relationship (any kind of relationship) where someone is evolving, ask yourself if you are willing to accept their evolution or resist it. Just know that resisting it might be the end of your relationship, or the end of what once was.

If you are not evolving, believe me, someone around you is. Face it, evolution is inevitable. You can either accept it or resist it.

Note for those evolving– Evolve! Even if it risks relationships, evolve! You owe it to yourself and God, not to remain the same.

Shaun

Life

Wednesdays

Shaun Bradford

Wednesday is the apex of a typical work week. Y’all, I live for Wednesdays. Especially Wednesdays after 1:00 p.m. Wednesdays make me feel like no matter what Thursdays or Fridays hold, I will make it.

With that said, I know Wednesday does not have the same meaning for everyone. And for many, it is not the apex of their work week. It’s just another day. You see, I was a shift worker throughout my active duty career. When I worked eight-hour shifts, they were a mixture of day shifts, swing shifts, and mid shifts. Twelve-hour shifts were either 12 hour days or nights. I never had a consistent schedule or many weekends off, so I longed for regular work weeks. I longed to feel normal. So today, I am grateful for this privilege. So grateful for Wednesdays.

It’s the little things that makes me smile and Wednesdays make me smile.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Blessed

Trust the timing of your life.
Trust your intuition.
Trust your journey.
– Author Unkown

I saw this quote on Facebook this morning. It reminded me of my life and my journey.

Trust the timing of your life…

Around the end of August I was invited to write a chapter in a book anthology. I said yes before I could talk myself out of it. I knew if I thought about it, even for a second, I would have said no. This year I promised myself that when opportunities presented themselves, opportunities that I knew I was capable of but afraid of doing, I would do them. I guess you can say I am finally seizing opportunities. Carpe diem!

Trust your intuition…

If it does not feel right, I am not going to do it. Period! My chapter is about my marriage and divorce. So far I have written several versions of the story. Some are more detailed than others. Right now, I am not sure which one to submit. Although it is my story, it also involves my ex-husband. I do not care how our relationship ended, and this is with any relationship, I refuse to publicly humiliate a person. We all have flaws and issues. Umm… Just thinking… this is probably the reason it took me over four years to get a divorce. I refused to be ugly. Ugh! Okay… enough about this.

Trust your journey…

Going with the flow and allowing God to lead. As we all have seen with 2020, life is so unpredictable. No matter what comes or goes, I must always remember that I am in God’s hands, and He is always in control. Whatever He has planned for my future is meant for my good. I will always be victorious!

Well, that’s all I have. Wishing you a fabulous Sunday! Remember to trust the timing of your life, trust your intuition, and trust your journey. God’s got you!

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
So grateful to be alive!

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (ESV). Quoted in the voice of every preacher or pastor who have ever said this on a Sunday morning.

All throughout last week, as I cleaned, worked, showered, etc., I thought about different topics for today’s Hello Sunday, like– my love/hate relationship with Twitter (the struggle is real), Charlene (another hair chronicle), and my brother (tomorrow would have been his 47th birthday). However, this morning when I woke up the only thing I wanted to focus on was the fact that I am alive. Yesss.. I’m ALIVE!

Y’all, it is such a wonderful feeling to be alive. I feel like we often take the fact that we are actually living and breathing for granted. As if it is something we are owed. Every morning I wake up and thank God for waking me. But.. do I really mean what I say? Or, are they just words flowing from my mouth? I cannot lie, it is pretty much a ritual. As with the scripture mentioned above, pastors and preachers say it, but do they really mean it?

You know, from this day forward, every morning when I awake I am going to put meaning behind my “Thank You, Lord, for waking me up this morning.” Y’all, being alive is a privilege. A privilege I will no longer take for granted.

Life is so precious. Make sure you cherish it.

Shaun

Rell, I am so grateful for every moment God allowed me to spend with you. I’m going to live for you and me, both. I miss you, baby!

Life

I Trust You, Lord

Shaun Bradford
Hopeful.

Laying here thinking. The first of three scheduled presidential debates happened last night. No, I did not watch it. I already know who I am voting for. The debate would not have changed my mind. Even with knowing who I am voting for, some would say I should have watched the debate anyway. But why? Only to feel as hopeless and discouraged as those who did watch it? If anyone has followed the two candidates over the past several years.. not months, but years.. you would know their character. Their character has not changed. Then you add age. I believe as a person ages their true character surfaces even more. It is as if the older a person becomes, the more prominent their “I don’t give a ______” attitude becomes. Am I right, or am I right? If you have ever spent time with older adults, you know what I am referring to. Sometimes they are very amusing. However, when it comes to leading our country, amusement is the last thing we need.

So… the reason behind the title. As I was reading headlines and social media posts, I began to feel hopeless, and even fearful. I felt like what was the use of even hoping for a better outcome when this is all we have. Is our country doomed?

Then God reminded me that He is still in control. He is hope. You see, the goal of the enemy is to create fear and chaos. To get us to take our focus off God. Once we have done this, he has won. Y’all, I refuse to let him win. Hope will win. Love will win. Kindness will win. Peace will win. God will always win.

Therefore, I trust You, Lord!

Amen

Life

Hello Sunday!!

Shaun Bradford
Hello Sunday

Well.. I’m awake, and it is Sunday, so why not write. I do not have anything particular to write about. As always, I have a song stuck in my head. Right now Richard Marx’s Right Here Waiting is the song of the hour.

Here are the lyrics (source- LyricFind):

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn’t stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can’t get near you now

Oh can’t you see it baby
You’ve got me going crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I’m with you
I’ll take the chance

Oh, can’t you see it baby
You’ve got me going crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you

I was in high school when I first heard this song. I still get butterflies every time I hear it. Unfortunately, I cannot remember who I was crushing on at the time (more than likely it was Blue Eyes), but I do remember the feeling. I was in love.

Well, that’s all I have. Hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Shaun

Life

I Have a 17 Year Old!

Shaun Bradford

Today is my son’s 17th birthday. Seventeen! Where did the time go? Sooo many memories in what seems like such a short time.

Y’all, cherish the time you spend with your little ones. Listen, one minute they are babies, and the next they are adults. Make sure you get to know them as individuals. Get to know what excites them, what makes them smile and laugh; but also, get to know what disappoints them or makes them sad or mad. Sometimes as parents we become so caught up in parenting that we forget that 1) we were once children with feelings and 2) they are little human beings trying to find their place in this crazy world. Here are my two cents of advice– as with most humans, love, guidance, acceptance, understanding, and compassion goes much further than correction. The next time you have the urge to correct your child, please take time to find out the root of the problem. Sometimes all they want is your attention.

Okay.. enough parenting advice.

Again, I cannot believe I have a 17 year old! It has been such an honor watching him become this vibrantly, brilliant young man. I still can’t believe God gave him to me. I am definitely blessed. Y’all, I love him so much! Praying God protects him from hurt, harm and danger. Speaking nothing but blessings and favor over his life. He’s God’s child and deserves the absolute best!

He keeps me smiling. Happy 17th Birthday!!!

Shaun