Tag: reflections

hope

Be Still And Have Faith

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I hope you’re well.🌸

“Be still and have faith” is how I ended last year’s journal entry (May 26, 2024). I was becoming antsy and impatient because life wasn’t moving at the pace I wanted. I felt like I needed to do something. I needed to make things happen on my own because God wasn’t moving fast enough for me. I had thought of so many things I could’ve been doing, yet I heard to “be still and have faith.” Looking back over the past year, I am so grateful I was obedient. Had I not been, I would have missed out on so many opportunities as well as the connections and relationships I’ve built. What God has done in one year was taking me years to build.

Here’s my takeaway, or what I’ve learned—

Whenever you want to take control because God doesn’t seem to be moving, or He’s moving much too slowly—BE STILL! I even wrote in that entry, “Shaun, sit on your hands if you must.” And I almost needed to. BUT GOD!

Be still and have faith that God is going to do what He said He would do PLUS more! No lie, He will blow your mind!

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day. Today is Memorial Day here in the United States. Please remember those who sacrificed their lives for us to have the freedoms we still have today.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

“Service Before Self”

Shaun Bradford

The United States Air Force has three core values:

  1. Integrity First
  2. Service Before Self
  3. Excellence In All We Do

I am so hyped right now! “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” on Netflix is a must see!

I’m experiencing so many feelings at this moment.

Gratefulness: So grateful I had the opportunity to serve. Who knew that waking up one morning and deciding to join the Air Force would have this much of an impact on my life?

Nostalgia: I miss that life. I miss the camaraderie. We were more than coworkers and colleagues. We were family. (Been trying to find that same connection in the civilian world, but I’m not sure it exists.)

Pumped Up: I won’t leak any spoilers, but that ending! Listen, I already knew what was going to happen. There’s something about pressure and adrenaline that pushes you to excel.

And seeing General Jumper was the icing on the cake. I knew who he was before they even showed his name. I served under his command in Europe. Talk about chills!

Seeing this documentary made me feel like I was back at home. I believe I need to visit an Air Force base soon. I need to see my people.☺️

I am beyond blessed and so grateful.🥰

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 95

Shaun Bradford

My heart is so full right now! Those who have been following me for a while know that it doesn’t take much to make me smile or feel blessed. Well, at this moment, I feel like I’m on top of the world! Y’all, I never knew seeing a few jets flying would cause me to feel so much joy. I really did love my time in the Air Force. It was my life for so long.

A few minutes ago, I opened Facebook and the first thing I saw were jets flying. Another one of my favs, Mrs. Michelle Obama, had posted the trailer for her and President Obama’s new documentary on Netflix, “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds.” I had no idea it was even in the works. When I tell you it’s like receiving a gift you weren’t expecting. Felt the same yesterday when I found out “She the People” is a comedy about Mississippi. Who knew?! Lol.

Anyway… I can’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling at the moment. Y’all, during my career, I entered thousands of flight plans, did so many briefings and airfield checks, and the part of my job that I miss the most is watching the fighters take off, especially at the break of dawn. There’s nothing like it. I am so looking forward to seeing this documentary. If you would like to watch it too, it’s out now on Netflix!

Forever an Airman.🫡

Feeling so blessed.♥️

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 94

Shaun Bradford

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. Hmmm… Here’s what I shared three years ago.

“Forever in awe of the power of manifestation. Don’t just think it. Write it down. Verbalize it. See it. Feel it. Walk in it. If you want it, manifest it!”

I wrote that at the height or tail end of the manifestation hype. Everyone was either walking in things they “manifested” or they were “manifesting” things. When I think about it, it was similar to the hype surrounding the Prayer of Jabez in the early 2000s. Back then, everyone was praying for God to “bless them, indeed,” and enlarge their territory. Even I was praying the prayer. And guess what? God enlarged my territory. I went from studying to become a chef to becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Who knew?! I didn’t even know dietitians existed. Side note: Nothing against chefs because culinary and food are my first loves, but becoming a RDN opened doors and connected me to a world that was more aligned with my vision and lifelong dreams of helping others.

Manifestation…

I’m not sure when I began hearing about the power of manifestation. I believe it was during a period when I was first becoming active on Twitter/X (around 2014). Several weeks ago, I saw an article written by a lawyer I met on Twitter around that same time, 2014/2015. I hadn’t seen her name in ages. We were asked by another person we met on Twitter to help them form a nonprofit. Just thinking about it makes me smile because I can see where everything is connected to where I am today. I’m not quite sure what I manifested ten years ago; however, I do know I’m walking in what I manifested three to five years ago, and I’m watching it evolve. Smiling.

Oh, the power of being present and recognizing that I am already moving and living within my manifestations. Thank You, God, for not letting me miss this moment. I don’t have to wait another ten years, or read past journal entries, to realize I’m already in it.

I am truly, truly blessed!🥰

Shaun

**P.S. Have a wonderfully blessed day and week. I love you!♥️

hope

My Journey With God, No. 93

Shaun Bradford

I’m built to stand on my own ten. So, I’m good. –Shedeur Sanders

I saw a snippet of an interview with Shedeur Sanders expressing how all his drafted teammates were drafted in pairs or more and had each other to lean on, but he didn’t. He’s in it alone. The clip ended with his quote above—basically, he’s saying he’s built to hold his own.

When I tell you I felt what he said to my core! I’ve spent my entire life feeling like I have had to do things alone—to hold my own. Not because I wanted to, but because I was raised to feel like it was expected of me. When you are the oldest and in charge of everything and everyone younger than you, there is no one else to depend on. You are it! So, you learn to stand alone. I believe this is one of the reasons I have a difficult time expressing emotions like sadness, grief, and even pain. Expressing them makes me feel vulnerable and as if I can’t handle them on my own. BUT… I’m working on it. Little by little, I am beginning to open up and express those feelings, not only in writing but verbally. I am slowly realizing and accepting that it’s okay to let others know when I am not feeling strong. I don’t have to hold my own if I don’t have to.

Y’all, I am so grateful that God continues to reveal areas where I still need healing and pruning. I look forward to meeting the woman I will be a year from now and even ten years from now. (Just another nugget of encouragement I’m leaving myself. Girl, you’re growing!☺️.)

God, thank You for loving me.♥️

Shaun

hope

Here Is A Nugget Of Encouragement

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

May 13, 2024

Be intentional about encouraging others and yourself. Leave little messages for yourself here and there so you will see them when needed. I found the following in one of my posts from 2023.

“It always amazes me how God has me leave nuggets of wisdom and encouragement for my future self. Nuggets that are always relevant for when they are needed. Forever grateful. I’m blessed.”

In the same post, I wrote about finally becoming comfortable with sharing my works and ventures on all my platforms. That I was no longer intimidated or worried about being judged. I used to feel the same way when sharing my writings here. My heart would drop whenever I found an error after publishing my post. No lie. I would literally become sick and dwell on it for hours. Today, I don’t have that problem. If I see an error, I correct it and keep pushing. The anxiety I used to feel is gone.

So, I said all that to say that this reminder was a nugget of encouragement I needed today. Where I was a few years ago compared to where I am now is like night and day. I’m so grateful for how far I’ve come. Even where I was a year ago is nothing compared to where I am today. I’m growing, evolving, and becoming, and I love how it feels. God is so good.

Today, I would like to encourage you to reflect on your growth over the years. Look at how far you’ve come!

I’m proud of you. Now, keep going!♥️

I love you,

Shaun