Tag: my life

Life

Hands Off The Brakes, Part 2

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

I’m just going to jump right into this ramble. I have a lot to unpack. Today, I’m more focused on the release than the structure of how it flows. Please bear with me.

First, when I saw Tyler Perry’s post about this being one of his most powerful films, I already knew it was going to be deep. So I intentionally waited until the end of the day to watch it. I needed to be able to sit in whatever he was bringing. Yeah… he can get deep like that.

Anyhoo… yesterday was already emotional for me. I saw that a magazine article I interviewed for had been published. According to the date, it was actually published two days earlier, but I had just received the link. I had so many mixed emotions about the article. I second-guessed everything I had said. I kept thinking, maybe I had overshared or didn’t share enough. But the biggest thing was what my siblings would think about what I shared. It was nothing bad, just my take on our reality growing up. I wish that I could’ve shone a better light on my mom in the article. It doesn’t mention that she graduated early from high school and went to college. It doesn’t mention her surviving abuse and paving the way for me and my siblings to have better lives than she did. There was so much I wish I’d mentioned, but didn’t. So yesterday, when I received the link to the article, I hesitated to share it with them. I shared it with my daughter first, and she said it was a great article. She couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to share it. But I know my siblings…

I finally got the courage to share it with them and let them know I was going to post it on Facebook. It was my homage to my mom. The sacrifices she made were so that we could be who we are. So that I could be who I am. Here’s the link to the article if you’d like to read it— Conversations with LaShaundrea Bradford

Back to Tyler Perry’s movie, Doing Life, without giving too much away. The story isn’t only a love story but also centers around a sick mother and her three adult daughters and their dynamics. Unlike the mom in the movie, my mother was never harsh or cold. Now, she wasn’t the hugging type and did yell a lot, but she never cussed at us or called us out of our name. Not even when she was frustrated with us and in pain. In all honesty, she was a people pleaser, and she got her heart broken so many times, but it never stopped her from doing for others or giving. That was my mom.

So when I said I was feeling so many mixed emotions, that’s what I meant. The next is about the main storyline itself. I ended my last post with, “Every woman deserves a Carousel.” Well, Carousel was the main male character, and Anika was his love and one of the sick mother’s daughters. Again, not going to give anything about the movie away. I just loved the way Carousel cared for Anika. He kept telling her that he had her, and y’all, he did!

I don’t know about you, but that’s what I’ve always longed for in a relationship. For a man to have my back. For him to be someone I can truly count on. Not someone who talks the talk but can’t walk the walk. Carousel was that man. Whatever he said, he backed it up with action! Now, I know this was just a fictional story, but I truly believe men like Carousel exist. I always have. Hence the reason I want to get married again. I want my Carousel!😂 So, yeah, that was the other part of my mixed emotions.

Y’all, life is something else! It definitely be lifeing. You never know what people are going through unless they decide to share. Like I just did. Smile

Welcome to my world!

This is all for now. It’s Self-Love Saturday. Be sure to do something extra special for yourself. You deserve it!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration

Ummm… why didn’t nobody mention that I was misspelling BRAKES!!! I just caught this!🥴

God’s plan, Life

Hello Sunday (294)

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday☀️

I’ve been deep in thought this morning about life—life in general, and where I fit into the scheme of things.

Today’s Quote of the Day is a scripture, Jeremiah 1:5— “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Yesterday, my elder friend, Ms. Raylawi, called and asked if I wanted to go to a college football game with her and one of her friends. Although I really wanted to stay home and work on a few things, I said yes. Before I could get ready, she texted me several changes to the plan. Before the last change, I threw a pork tenderloin in the oven and prepared toppings for sliders. Then, right before I left the house, she called to tell me that all of her plans had fallen through and she’d probably stay home. I told her it was okay because we were still going to have a great evening. I let her know I had already prepared our meal for the evening so we could just eat and hang out. And that’s what we did. We ended up watching the first season of LUPIN and talking until I saw that she could barely keep her eyes open. I told her she looked like a toddler fighting their sleep. It was way past her bedtime when I left.

I shared this story because this has been much of my life. As a child, I played with kids my age. However, I spent most of my time with older female relatives and family friends. Y’all, they had fascinating stories, and I sat and listened to them talk for hours. And sometimes we didn’t talk at all. We would watch the stories (soap operas) or their favorite shows together, then sit on the porch and people watch. When I became an adult, I did the same. I spent time with each of my childhood elders until they passed. Sometimes I was the only one who spent time with them before it happened. Now, here I am again. Not saying my friend is about to pass, but she’s been talking a lot about death lately and making sure everything is in order.

I often ask God if this is my life’s purpose. Many, many moons ago, I thought about opening a senior daycare. Then, a few months ago, one of my colleagues asked if I wanted to help her provide nutrition sessions to seniors at a few congregate feeding sites, and I said yes. So, every month I get to meet new seniors and hear their stories, while encouraging them to live their best, healthy lives.

I know this was random. Just got a lot on my mind about life and my role in it. Guess I should have made this one a “My Journey with God” post.

Anyhoo…

This is all for today. Oh… one more thing!

So, Ms. Raylawni told me she doesn’t sleep with her phone in her bedroom anymore because every morning before 5:00, it would ding. She said now when she hears it, she smiles and says, “That’s LaShaundrea.” Y’all, the smile on her face when she said it made my heart smile. Whew!

My life…

Okay… now I’m finish.

Thanks for letting me ramble. I have a few things to do to prepare for the week ahead, but I think I’ll take it easy most of the day.

Please take care of yourself and enjoy your day. May it be just as lovely as you are.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
My life.

I do not have much to say this morning. Believe I said it all yesterday. Smile. At the end of the day, I really do trust God. Yes, I get frustrated at times. But who doesn’t? It’s called life.

Here’s the song that is currently on repeat in my mind–Mary J. Blige’s song, My Life. Here are a few of the lyrics.

If you look at my life and see what I’ve seen…

Life can be only what you make it
When you’re feelin down
You should never fake it
Say what’s on your mind
And you’ll find in time
That all the negative energy
It would all cease

And you’ll be at peace with yourself
You won’t really need no one else
Except for the man up above
Because He’ll give you love …
Source: LyricFind

Thanks for reading and have a wonderfully, blessed day!♥️

Shaun

Life

The Wait – Yep! Another Random Rambling

Shaun Bradford

This morning I was somewhat in my feelings. Was thinking about a particular moment, but didn’t have time to elaborate. It is funny how one moment in time can change your entire perspective on life. Well, here is what had me feeling some kind of way, and I guess I am still feeling it.

Last Monday, while returning home from visiting my mom, I heard as clear as day, “What if you have to wait another 10 years… another decade… before all of your dreams come to fruition?” Y’all, when I tell you the weight of that question hit me like a ton of bricks! I started bawling. Bawling while trying to drive. I was a mess. I never considered waiting that long. I will be 50 soon, meaning I will be 60 in ten years. I know I say timing is everything. That’s what most of us say. We say it with the exception that whatever we desire will happen sooner than later. But another 10 years?!

In my mind, I have been faithful in doing what I have been asked. I have been preparing and preparing. Then every time I think I’m close to everything happening, I discover I’m even further away. There is always so much more to learn and to do. I really do appreciate the complexity of the journey. I actually like watching things play out. With that being said, when will I see progress? I write everything down. I know I am not where I was 10 years ago; however, I am nowhere near where I imagined I would be by this age. Now, the thought of having to wait an additional 10 years and be okay with it is disheartening. It makes me want throw away everything I have been working towards. Honestly, the only reason I have not given up in all this time is because of my kids. Now they are both adults doing their own thing. I no longer have to keep pushing so hard. All I have to do is continue encouraging them. Basically, I am tired.

Back to the question. My response, after I finally finished crying, was if the next 10 years were so great that it would not feel like 10, I wouldn’t mind waiting. I mean, do I even have a choice of whether to wait or not? I can always resort back to me being in control and making things happen on my own, which never worked. Or… I can wait and allow God to do His thing. From experience, I know it is best to wait on Him. But at this very moment, I feel like dropping everything and living out my life as it is. Why do I always want more? Why can’t I be content with what is? I am tired of anticipating the unknown. It’s exhausting.

Yeah… this is how I’m feeling right now. Hopefully I will feel differently tomorrow. I will figure something out, as well as get through this. I always do.

Good Night