Happy 1 year anniversary to #ShaunsDailyInspiration!🎉🌟🎉
Earlier this year, I decided to create my own artwork to accompany my quotes, and I’m so happy I did. Y’all, the entire experience is where I feel most at peace. It’s also my quiet time with God. Yep.. It’s my happy place. Smiling
Before I end, I just want to thank God for allowing me to find a niche that I look forward to doing daily. Y’all, I wake up ready to create and inspire. One of my lifelong aspirations has always been to spread love, peace and hope throughout the world. To this day, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing still inspires me to remain hopeful that one day the world will sing in perfect harmony, even if it’s only for a moment. Hopefully, Shaun’s Daily Inspiration will contribute to making this happen. Hopeful
Y’all, God is good! Be Blessed.♥️ ~ Shaun
P.S. If you’re on Facebook and would like a daily dose of inspiration, please follow me!
After doing a Christmas light tour in New Orleans City Park – which had me feeling like Princess Tiana – and watching Volume One of Harry and Meghan on Netflix this weekend; then, reading last year’s blog, I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy. Y’all, I’m actually ready to try this love thing again. I’m ready to have my dreams come to fruition.
Most of my childhood I heard I needed to get my head out of the clouds. That what I wanted wasn’t possible, wasn’t real (still hear the same thing today). I was 18 years old when my belief took its first hit. Yes, at 18 I still believed I could have whatever I dreamed. NO ONE could convince me otherwise. Then, with every hit afterwards – disappointment in myself, heartbreak, mistake – the less I believed.
Y’all, I needed to see this blog today. I needed to be reminded that my dreams do matter. Yesterday, Pastor Michael Phillips said whatever we had given up on was still possible. And I believe him. All of my dreams are still possible!
The statement that I refer to from December 12, 2014 (blog below) makes me smile. No one was going to rescue Shaun but Shaun. Looking back, I needed to go through the entire experience alone. Believe me, I didn’t want to, but I had to. It was the only way I could find my way back to me, which is who I began searching for eight years ago (story for another time). This time I know what I want and I know that I don’t have to settle – not just with love but with all aspects of my life. Smiling
December 12, 2021– Written after reading Will Smith’s memoir, WILL.
There is no way I can go into another relationship broken. I must realize there is no knight in shining armor to rescue me from myself.
Until I read my journal entry from 2017, I had no idea I began blogging in December of that year. My first blog, the one I’m sharing below, was written on December 4, 2017. My “official” first blog was written on December 6, 2017. Boy were my goals and aspirations different. Things changed. Life changed. I really was a different person– a totally different person. As always, God’s timing is impeccable. I needed to re-read these today. So grateful He loves me.
Word of advice– Be careful not to let life or people break you. Set boundaries. Only give from your overflow. Know when to cut ties. And lastly, protect your peace!
Here’s the very first one! December 4, 2017
I was born in the Mississippi Delta. I was born to a teenage mother. I was born an African American female. Some would say I was born a statistic. …
It’s so easy to become distracted by the need to complete tasks and mark things off our checklists that we forget our purpose– our Why. Today, I encourage you to remember your purpose. Remember why you initially wanted to make a difference.♥️ ~Shaun
First thing yesterday morning, I downloaded a copy of Mrs. Michelle Obama’s newest book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. I had been looking for a good book to read and when I heard hers was about to be released, I waited for it. I waited for it because I knew it would be good. I knew it would be one that I couldn’t put down, just like her last book, Becoming.
Sooo… many, many years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to meet. Well, she was number four on my list; and believe it or not, her husband was number ten. Crazy, huh? On my list, I added why I wanted to meet them and questions I would ask. Well, at that time, my question for Mrs. Obama was – How do you keep smiling?
Y’all, back then I was so intrigued by the way she carried herself when most people would have buckled. Her poise, her confidence, her strength and her smile were all so fascinating. As you can see, I’m definitely a fan. Y’all, it was like the more they hated her and her husband the more she smiled, showed kindness, love and compassion. It was like their hate was her fuel.
Side Note: Over my lifetime, I have asked God for things, or wanted things, and they have happened. Sadly, many of those times I didn’t realize He had answered my prayers until years later. It’s because His answers don’t always come in the form we are searching for. Life…
In 2019, I had the opportunity to see Mrs. Obama at Essence Festival in New Orleans. I remember my friends and I walking towards the Superdome and seeing police escorts and black SUVs zooming pass. We stopped and yelled, “That’s her!” We screamed her name not even knowing if it was her inside one of the vehicles. We still laugh about it to this day because we swear it was her and that she saw us and waved. Y’all, that could’ve been ANYBODY! Laughing. But in our hearts it was her. Later that evening, we got to hear her talk about everything I wanted know and more. The book only covered so much and she filled in the rest. For me, God had answered my prayers. It didn’t take me years to realize what had happened. I knew at that exact moment that I was sitting in my answer.
Now, I’m reading her latest book and so far she’s dropping gems that I need for where I am now, in life. Yeah.. so many tools – as she calls them – that I can use to get me through this next phase of my journey. Smiling.
Listen, if you’re looking for a good book to read, that’s not boring, pick up Mrs. Obama’s latest book The Light We Carry.
James 2:14,17 NKJV (14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Today, I would like to share a Facebook memory about faith. A moment where I spoke, believed and acted (worked) on my belief.
Facebook Memory: November 6, 2020 – My response to a video Tabitha Brown had shared.
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find! Listen, how many of y’all can relate to Tabitha’s story? I know I can!! Never stop believing!
Short story– Before I moved into my present home in 2018, my kids were even speaking things as though they were so (yes, having faith is contagious). In December of 2017, out of the blue my daughter said, “This time next year we will be in a new place.” Y’all, we, including my son, claimed it and started celebrating like we were already in another place. By August 2018, I hadn’t even found a place. However, I told my son that by his 15th birthday, which was at the end of September, we would be in a new place. Y’all, we moved into this house the day before his birthday. That’s faith! Listen, you can’t tell me what God can’t do! If it’s in His will, He’ll move mountains so that you can have it! Whew!! Tabitha got me fired up this morning. Lol! Have a blessed weekend.
Two years later, I purchased the house. Which was another act of faith.
Yesterday, Tyler Perry celebrated 30 years in show business. He posted pictures of four different studios – from his first to present – along with the caption: “Remember… wherever you start doesn’t have to be where you end… Never despise small beginnings. It takes a while to build a dream.”
No lie, not even an hour later while looking for something, I came across my first passport. Y’all, that stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t seen that passport in ages. Couldn’t even find it when I applied for my current one. Couldn’t even remember if I had ever had one. That’s how long it had been. Of course I became emotional because y’all know I’m emotional. (Smile) For me, Tyler’s post and me finding the passport was very significant.
You see, I got my first passport when I was 17 years old. I had just graduated from high school and had planned to spend my summer in the Dominican Republic to become fluent in Spanish (only stayed a few weeks because I couldn’t deal with all of the lizards – shaking my head). My next trip was supposed to be to France to become fluent in French (unfortunately, that never happened). My ultimate goal was to be a translator or interpreter at the United Nations, specifically the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Yes, those were my goals. Those were my dreams. Then, life happened and somehow that confident dreamer/goal setter disappeared. So finding that passport after Tyler’s post was pretty meaningful. While he was celebrating 30 years of achievements towards his dreams, I could only sit and look at where my dreams used to be. The place where I believed any- and everything was possible.
Now, don’t get me wrong, over the past 30 years (a little over 31, to be exact), I have tried to rekindle that same enthusiasm, optimism and confidence. I have also had multiple opportunities to achieve my goals and dreams. Sadly, every time I came close to acting on those opportunities I allowed fear and the feeling of unworthiness to stop me. Like.. Every. Single. Time. I believe they call it, self-sabotage. (Tears)
Honestly – being super transparent at the moment – I was afraid of the unknown and afraid of success – not failure. Yes.. success! In my mind, success was and still is a bit intimidating because you always have to maintain a certain level of success. Like, there’s no room for mistakes or failure.
I also mentioned unworthiness. I did not feel like someone who deserved certain things or to be in certain spaces. Although others believed it and could see it, I couldn’t. Now.. before life happened.. you couldn’t tell me I didn’t deserve the world or could not have or achieve anything I desired. HA! Then, the woes of life came. Seemed like every blow that hit me took away my confidence and feeling of worthiness. Opportunities would come (some actually found me), but I would look at myself, and my situation, and either turn the opportunity down or find an excuse to back out of it. Yep… Life.. My life.
For the past few years, I have been making social media posts about my desire to walk the halls of the Palais des Nations and work with people from different nations. Been manifesting it for a while. Well, within this same time, I have been somewhat preparing for it. Yes.. somewhat preparing. I’m not going to lie, the reason I have not put my all into it is due to some of the same reasons – fear of success and fear of not maintaining the success. With that said, I can happily and humbly say that my issue with feeling unworthy is a thing of the past. Listen, that feeling of unworthiness blocked all kinds of blessings. But not anymore. I now know that I’m God’s child and worthy to be in places and spaces fit for kings and leaders. Now, it’s time to work on the other.
Okay, to circle back to faith. I have faith that one day I will be at the UN. As I did with the house, I set a time frame. That’s what you do with goals right. (Laughing) Then, I worked towards finding a place. I didn’t just sit and wait for the house to find me. I actually had to start looking for a place.
Well, my journey to the UN isn’t going to just happen without me being intentional about getting there. I also have to start accepting opportunities – the right opportunities. Opportunities that could be somewhat uncomfortable or challenging, but necessary to help me achieve my goals.
Today, I’m going to set a time frame, tell my two believers, and then we’re going to believe for it just as we did for the house and everything else that has manifested. Y’all, they really are my faith partners. And they truly believe in me, which makes me feel amazing! Smiling
This is all I have for today. Hope you have a wonderful day and blessed week!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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