hope

Make It Happen, Today! Part 2

Several posts ago, I mentioned a conversation with Dr. Cheryl Wood (motivational speaker) about taking a leap into the entrepreneurial world. Well, until I saw this Facebook memory (screenshot below) this morning, I had forgotten that a few years earlier I had become a sole proprietor, which became my side hustle for a few years. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking it because it—The Research Diva–RD—eventually became LaShaundreaB, Registered Dietitian and Research Consultant, the hub for all of my projects. I started with what I had.

Facebook Memory: September 30, 2017

I shared Jennifer Hudson’s song, “I Am Changing,” with the post.

As I said in my previous post, “Make It Happen, Today!”, if it’s something you really want to do, don’t put it off. Start with what you have and God will do the rest. After creating The Research Diva–RD, not even a year later, my confidence took the biggest blow. Y’all, knocked it down to ZERO. In all of the conferences and workshops I had attended, no one had prepared me for the hits. Every speaker made them seem like a small hiccup in the process. You know, “It’s just something you have to go through to get to the other side.” And to their credit, I will say, the pain or disappointment isn’t something easy to describe. All I can say is, it hurt! Had me second guessing my dreams and purpose. Didn’t even know if I wanted to remain a dietitian or in research. It was a terrible time for me, but eventually, like everyone else who’d experienced setbacks, I found my way back.

Listen, life is going to happen, and sometimes it will literally knock the life out of you. If or when it happens, please be kind to yourself, and give yourself grace and time to find your way back. Just don’t give up on your dreams. God put them in you for a purpose that’s much greater than yourself.


Well, that’s all for now. Just saw that post and thought I’d share it with you. Listen, don’t wait, make your dreams happen, now!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Make It Happen, Today!

Good Morning!☀️

Whatever you desire, it’s up to YOU to make it happen. Please do not wait for your circumstances to change. Start with what you have. Yes…that little bit. And God will do the rest. I’m telling you what I know to be true, not what I’ve heard.

Last year I shared, “Make it happen.” Two years before, I did just that. Smile. And I continue to do so today.

Shared on September 30, 2023 with the caption, “No more excuses. Make it happen.”

September 30, 2021

This was me making it happen with the little that I had.

Believe me, God has placed everything you need to get started within your reach. The outcome doesn’t have to be perfect. God will perfect things along the way. All you have to do is initiate the process and He’ll do the rest. No more wasting years waiting—like the man in the Bible sitting by the pool waiting for someone to put him in so he could be healed. No, no more waiting! You need to make it happen, TODAY!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Push

Push yourself beyond your limits. Each day push a little more. Even if it’s only an inch at a time, keep pushing. Push until you achieve your dreams and goals, then push even more. There are blessings waiting for you!

As the saying goes:

Pray

Until

Something

Happens

Then continue praying.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Leap, You Won’t Regret It

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

Get Moving

Get Up and Get Moving!

The world is waiting for YOU.

Yes… YOU!

We need you!

No more sitting on the sidelines watching time and life pass by. No, get up and get involved. The world needs you and everything you have to offer.

Now, Get Moving!

Love you!♥️

Shaun

hope

Love Isn’t Love Until It’s Given Away

Good Morning! Smiling right now because I had planned on sharing the Facebook memory below, but this song keeps blaring over and over in my head. Yes, blaring! Laughing. So, I guess I’ll share both.

The song is “Love Isn’t Love” by Commissioned. It says, “Love isn’t love til you’ve given it away. It’s just waiting to be given. All bitterness erased.” That’s the part that’s stuck on repeat. Now it’s out. I pray whoever needs the message receives it. Smile. Now here’s today’s Facebook memory.

Facebook Memory: September 4, 2023

“When you’re ready to do it, you will do it. You won’t need motivation. The conditions won’t have to be right. You won’t have to have the money. Shoot… fear won’t even stop you. When you’re ready to make your move, you’ll make it, and everything else will fall into place.🤷🏽‍♀️”

All true. When you make up your mind to do something, you’ll just do it. It’s really that simple. It’s funny how we go back and forth with ourselves worried about what will and won’t work, and then one day, out of the blue, we just do it. I’m laying here thinking about so many things I was hesitant to do—some out of fear, others because I didn’t believe I was capable of doing—and then one day I just woke up and did them. Life is truly amazing.

Well, that’s it for now. I pray you have a wonderful day!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Also, I’ll leave you with Commissioned’s song, “Love Isn’t Love.” Be Blessed

hope

No More Hiding God’s Greatness

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.

Life

It’s Already Happening

Great reminder! Everything you could possibly need to live the life you have always dreamed is already inside of you. As I stated two years ago, start with what you have and God will provide the rest. The secret is patience. Be patient with yourself and the process. Also, don’t miss the beauty of what’s happening now by being so focused on the end results. Embrace the journey and enjoy the ride. All great things take time. Love you!♥️ ~Shaun

Facebook Memory: June 25, 2022

Did you know that you already have everything you need to create the life you long for? It’s true! Everything you need is already inside of you. God made sure of that! All you have to do is start with what you have and God will provide the rest.

Keep creating, improving, and evolving. The life you dreamed is already happening.

Life

Keep Shining!

Facebook Memory: April 18, 2022

What you have to offer is special. It’s unique. Don’t shy away from it. Embrace it and shine. You, my friend, are one of a kind!♥️

Shine!✨

That was two years ago, but the message remains the same. You are one of a kind. No one can do you, but YOU! Keep shining!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

Try Again

I do not care how many times you have to start over, or how crazy you may look to others or what they might say (people are going to talk either way)—Try again!

Try again and keep trying until you get what you desire. Do not allow anyone or anything to stop you, not even you! Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We allow our emotions, insecurities, egos, and thoughts of inferiority to stop us from seeing things through. Not this time. Today, we are going to block everything that hinders us from moving forward. We can do it!

Try again.

Then, keep trying until you see what you dreamed.♥️

Shaun