hope

Hello Sunday

Good Morning!☀️

First, I want to thank everyone who said a prayer for me yesterday. It wasn’t easy for me to share how I was feeling. I had actually shared a more detailed post hours earlier, then unpublished it soon afterwards. As I said in my previous post, I hate feeling vulnerable, and openly sharing that much of my life made me feel so. So, thank you for allowing me a space to share because I really needed it. At the time that I posted it, I was on my way from the airport to the hotel and was trying not to start bawling during the ride. However, trying to hold it in was short lived. As soon as I got to the front desk to check in, the tears started pouring out, and I was boohooing all over the place. Y’all, I was so embarrassed, but couldn’t stop. Everyone was hugging me. I mean everyone. Even people waiting in the lobby. I was a mess…

After I got to my room, I FaceTimed my daughter and the first words out of her mouth were, “You look terrible!” And I did! That was my first time seeing myself. Y’all, I had been crying the whole trip—on my to the airport, on the plane, during my layover. The tears just kept coming. The other part of her response was laughter (we tend to do this at the weirdest times). Baby she laughed! And I couldn’t help but laugh too because I looked horrible! She kept apologizing, but said she’d never seen me look so bad in my life. Like I was in some movie or something. Then we laughed even more. I had planned on going to the opening ceremony last night, but was advised by my daughter to sit it out. She was like you already look bad, the last thing you want to do is be crying all over the place. So, I took her advice—even though I really wanted to hear our opening speaker. Then, I went and got something to eat, took a shower, and got in bed.

Y’all, I love my hearts. My son said to let him know if I needed anything. As if he could do much from hundreds of miles away. But his heart was in the right place. When I tell you I am truly blessed.

I don’t know how today will go. I feel much better, now. However, the grief that I experienced yesterday was so unexpected. So, I can only pray that today will be a more pleasant day. Something did come to mind—which could’ve been a trigger—I was attending a conference when my brother died. I was at a state conference in the same city as his hospital. Had seen him the night before. He just kept saying he was tired. So tired. He had been in ICU over a week and they’d tried everything. By the way, he had MRSA, one of the worst staph infections you can get, and it had spread to his heart. We never figured out how he got it. The doctors wanted to try one more surgery to see if it would help or prolong his life. I remember calling my stepmom to tell her I was about to leave the conference to head back to the hospital and she told me not to rush because he was gone. That they were waiting on everyone to make it to the hospital to say our final goodbyes. So maybe I was subconsciously triggered by the conference and it being his birthday. When I tell you life be lifeing for real!

Well, I’m going to end here. Going to turn over and get a few more hours of sleep before I start my day. Can’t wait to mingle, network and enjoy the free food samples. Outside of the National Restaurant Association Show (it’s huge!), our conference has some of the best food vendors. Met one yesterday while waiting for my food. Can’t wait to stop by their booth.☺️

As always, thank you so much for reading. Hopefully what I’ve written makes sense, if not it’s okay. I just needed to write. Now, I need to go back to sleep. However, before I do, I’ll end with this Facebook memory, which is very timely. Can’t make this stuff up!

Facebook Memory: October 6, 2023

You better live! Life isn’t slowing down or waiting for you to catch up. Stop putting everyone else first like they’re more important than you. Listen… and hear me good… No one is more important or more valuable than you are. No one! You’re not being selfish, self-centered or inconsiderate. Nah… You’re just recognizing your worth. Now it’s time you start living in it. Love you!♥️

Message received.

Have a blessed Sunday!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Always Expect Great Things To Happen

Good Morning!☀️

Always, always, always expect great things to happen.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Shared on this day last year, October 4, 2023. It’s one of my favorite drawings.

hope

Don’t Stop Now… Keep Going!

Hey You!

Yes… YOU!

You have come too far and endured too much (way too much) to stop now. God is always working, even when you do not feel it or see it. Listen, now is not the time to give up.

Keep Going!!♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

And God’s got YOU!

Wanted to add this. I am literally watching God work in so many people’s lives (including mine). It’s so amazing to see. The problem is—and I’m including myself in this as well—they/we don’t always see it. I pray God opens our eyes, hearts, and minds so we’re able to fully experience the magnitude of what He’s doing. Amen

hope

Always Believe In Yourself

Good Morning!☀️

Simple, yet necessary words to live by daily—

“I believe in me.”


Originally shared last year, October 3, 2023, with the caption, “Be your biggest cheerleader.”

Listen, if no one else believes in you or what you have to offer the world, make sure you do. You must believe in YOU.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Timing

Just a friendly reminder. You are not behind. No, you’re right where you should be at this moment in time. Remember, everything happens according to God’s timing, not ours.

While waiting, your/our (yes, myself included☺️) job is to continue following God’s instructions and guidance until whatever we dreamed comes to fruition. And you know those instructions I’m referring to. Yeah…the ones you keep putting off like God doesn’t see you. Smile. Well, follow those instructions first, and everything else will fall into place. Before you know it, you’ll be standing in your dream.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Love, Peace, and Prosperity

Good Morning!☀️

Decided to stick with the trend and share the same post I shared last year and the year before.

Originally shared on October 2, 2022 with a simple caption, “Wishing you love, peace and prosperity.”

Today, I am wishing you love, light (to guide you through the tough times), peace, joy (you deserve it), and prosperity. May God continue to bless you and keep you under His care. Always keep God first, and stay covered.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

October

Good Morning!☀️

Not only is today a new day, but it’s the beginning of a new month. Meaning, it’s the perfect time to start afresh and refreshed. Remember, yesterday is gone. You can only move forward from here.

Praying you have a wonderful day and a beautifully, blessed month. May God bless everything you touch and set out to do.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

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

A Rebirth

Here’s a message for you—

Everything you thought you lost, including time, is being restored or made new.

That’s what I heard when I came across this Facebook memory from September 29, 2022.

On that day, I wrote, “God will make ALL things new.”

Been feeling this lately, especially since my son turned 21. Yeah… since last week. Smile. Yesterday it hit me that at 51 I’ve been given a second chance at everything in life. Somewhat like a rebirth. However, this time around, I’m much wiser. Most of the decisions I’ll make this time will be based on personal experiences, good and bad (lessons learned).

Y’all, I’m pretty excited about this new stage of life! Looking forward to the new.♥️

Shaun