During my birthday month, I usually choose a theme for the way I would like for my year to flow. Here is what I chose and shared last year–
Facebook Memory: June 26, 2022
“Smooth Sailing” is this year’s theme. On June 1st I wrote, “I just want to lay back, relax, create and let the gentle waves take me wherever they please.” Y’all, I’m doing just that. I just love how God loves me! Hello Year49!
Hmm… Smooth Sailing?
As you know, my year was anything but smooth sailing… at least outwardly. However, the calmness and peace I experienced within was indescribable. Year 49 was very eventful and pretty rocky, but God kept my soul and spirit at peace while I learned to relax, create and go with the flow.
This year’s theme is “Present and at peace.” This is how I would like to live out the rest of my life–being present while residing in peace. This past weekend I practiced doing just that. I was intentional about being present in the moments I was in. By doing this, I was able to fully experience everything that was happening around me. Usually, my mind is elsewhere or I am distracted by things going on around me or that daggone social media. When I tell you it felt so good to be truly present.
So yes, this is how I am planning to live from here on out. My goals and dreams are still in tact. However, I’m not going to dwell on my next moves or what’s to come and miss out on current experiences. As I have said many times before, I am going to let God lead. He will make sure I make the right moves to get to where I am meant to be.
Staying present. Thankful for this incredible sense of peace. I am truly blessed.
I am still celebrating today! Actually, I am celebrating all year long, right?! Smile
As I wanted it to be, yesterday was more of a spiritual celebration (not church like spiritual–I was not dancing in the spirit or anything–Lol). It was more of a calm, peaceful acknowledgement of God’s magnificence. Y’all, I did not make it this far on my own, and I wanted Him to know I know I cannot make it these next 50 plus years without Him. So yesterday I honored Him by staying present and taking in every blessing He had already given me, as well as every blessing throughout the day. Y’all, because of this, I was able to fully enjoy my special moments.
Here’s a recap of my day…
First off, I had absolutely nothing planned for my birthday. As I wrote a few weeks ago, all of my planning stopped when Momma got sick last August. Then after she passed, I didn’t really feel like celebrating. I mean, I wanted to celebrate but not really. It’s hard to explain. Anyway, yesterday went the way it was meant to go. Smiling
– Woke up wanting to see the water so I decided I would head somewhere along the coast. I told my kids they could track me through my location. I didn’t know if once I hit the highway I would end up in New Orleans or Destin, Florida. It was going to be a day trip and I was just going to drive.
– Before I left, my son treated me to breakfast at my favorite local brunch spot. My daughter joined us so she could see me before I left. They allowed me to take a picture with them but made me promise not to post it, and I won’t. However, I will share my selfie.
First day of my 50s. Embracing ALL of me! Especially the hair.♥️
– After breakfast–which was more like brunch because of my late start (I wasn’t rushing)–I hit the highway. I headed south on Highway 59 towards New Orleans (the plan was to either head on down to NOLA or hit I-10 and head east to Florida). Well, I didn’t even make it to I-10. Didn’t even make it out of Hattiesburg before deciding to take Hwy 98 to Mobile; and that was the start of my day trip. I would love to say I made it to Florida and spent the day on the beach, but that didn’t happen. Nope. Before making it out of Mobile, I decided to turn around and head back to Mississippi on I-10. Listen, yesterday was all about going with the flow.
– Once I made it to Pascagoula, I called up one of my childhood friends and visited her. Her late sister was one of my best friends who died about 15 years ago from sickle cell complications. A year ago around this time, their younger brother succumbed to his. And the sister that I visited yesterday has been hospitalized a few times over the last year due to her complications. I was supposed to visit her a few months ago, but didn’t make it down. So yesterday I got to spend time with her and my late friends daughter, my goddaughter, who now has a family of her own. It was so nice visiting with them.
– On my way back home, I stopping and ate at Fridays. Hadn’t been to a Fridays since they closed the one in Hattiesburg years ago. The food was okay; however, cucumber and tomato salad was delicious! I love a good cucumber and tomato salad so I was in heaven.
Delicious salad!
– My next stop was Painting With A Twist. So the reason I turned around in Mobile was because I remembered I had signed up for a painting class that started at 7 PM. I got there minutes before the class started.
Planning to do this more often.
– When I got home, I was greeted with the sounds of Beyoncé singing Church Girl–HA! Don’t judge me, that’s my song! Opened my bedroom door and balloons were everywhere!! Y’all, I screamed and cried. Crying now. I wasn’t expecting anything. Last year my Apple Watch had stopped working. Y’all, I loved my watch. Had had it for years. Then it stopped pairing with my phone. Well, on my bed was this rectangular box. Y’all, I kept screaming, “I know this ain’t what I think it is?!!” And it was. THEN… I went to the bathroom and on my counter was a FENTY box. I screamed again because I had been talking about getting that red FENTY lipstick. My sister had just bought some and FaceTimed me just to show me how gorgeous she looked with it on. I just had to get it and there it was.
It’s not the things that made me happy but my daughter’s thoughtfulness. It feels so good to be loved and seen.♥️
So that was my birthday day. About to head to the coast again. This time to actually see the water.
During yesterday’s undirected trip, I listened to several random podcasts and messages. One after another, the messages hit on areas where I need growth. I needed that uninterrupted time alone. I have work to do. I have a God given purpose to fulfill and I aim to make God proud.
I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day. About to celebrate Day 2 of this Jubilee Year! I will end with this, which is the message God gave me–Stay present and you will stay in peace. He advised me to enjoy and take in all of the goodness surrounding me presently, and He will take care of the rest. And after what I experienced yesterday, I am planning to do just that.
Everything that has happened throughout your lifetime–the good and bad, the wins and losses–has prepared you for this specific time and space. Do not second guess your worthiness. You were chosen for this.♥️
Handpicked by God to fulfill His purpose, a purpose that only YOU can fulfill.
Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on the last few decades of my life–the great and not so great moments. One thing I can say for sure is my belief and trust in God has never wavered. Now, my belief and trust in myself was forever wavering; which led me to really think about how I want the next 50 plus years of my life to be–stable and peaceful.
From this day forward, I am declaring that I am dedicated to the process of becoming a more stable and better version of myself… the best version of myself. Yes, dedicated, not committed. As we know, commitments change, which causes a lot of the wavering and instability. So, dedicated I am. My goal is to make God proud by striving to reach my fullest potential.
It’s not what you do when people are looking, it’s what you do when they aren’t.
I found several definitions for the word “integrity.” Here are a few from Merriam-Webster–
1. A firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
2. An unimpaired condition: soundness
3. The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness
I have heard that people begin thinking about their legacy around the age of 50. I did not believe it was true until now. Lately, I have been thinking about my legacy and one of the things that came to mind was integrity. I would like to be remembered for my integrity; also for my kindness, my love for humanity, and my love for God and life.
It’s Shaun’s World 
You must be logged in to post a comment.