Tag: relationships

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

My graduate!!

Congratulations KeShawn!

Yesterday, was my son’s big day! Today, he begins a new chapter of life. As with my daughter, I’m excited to see where this next chapter leads him, and ready to help him maneuver through his next few years of college.

About College…

Yesterday morning KeShawn surprised us with news that he had chosen a college. He applied to and was accepted at both Mississippi State University and The University of Southern Mississippi; and, for almost a year now, he’s been undecided. Which means we’ve done everything for both colleges – set up student accounts, applied for housing, scheduled orientations, etc. Then, yesterday morning my dad asked him what college he planned to go to and he said……. The University of Southern Miss. Y’all, I screamed! You see, Southern Miss is my alma mater. I really thought he was going to choose Mississippi State. I was prepared for it. Had even bought myself a t-shirt to wear to yesterday’s graduation luncheon. However, once he said Southern Miss, I went rummaging through drawers trying to find something yellow (gold) to wear since all of my Southern Miss t-shirts were faded. I ended up finding two yellow shirts that I had never worn and they both fit perfectly. Yes.. yesterday was a pretty awesome day for us both!

By the way, I didn’t cry. I was too wired and happy to cry. I just wanted him to have the best, most memorable day ever, and I believe he did.

Now on to bigger and better things.

Congratulations KeShawn!!

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Happy Wednesday!

Today makes 361 consecutive days of blogging! For some reason, I assumed the one year mark was closer to my birthday, in June. Well, I actually began this journey on May 14, 2021 with this blog, Just Dropping In To Say Hello.

After reading what I wrote almost a year ago, it seems as if I have a pattern of logging off social media around the same time every year. It’s always around this time (April/May) and the end/beginning of the year. Makes me wonder what it is about these specific times that I need to take a break from social media, a.k.a. chaos.

Back in December, I officially logged off my main twitter account, the one that was beginning to make me feel like I didn’t belong and had my anxiety levels through the roof. Imagine feeling like you don’t belong, on your own account. It was crazy!

Well, after logging off, I reverted to my secondary account. The account that I once referred to as “boring.” Shaking my head. I only invited people who I believed I made a positive connection with, to follow me to this account. You know, real people with real lives. I no longer wanted to be in that pretentious, competitive space. I needed calm, boring (anything but.. Lol) and real.. real conversations. Every now and then I get the urge to discuss my shows or a good movie, and I’ll provide a comment or two. However, I will never go back to where I was. I didn’t like it there.

Today, I’m happy where I am, in the spaces I’m in. In last year’s blog I mentioned the Facebook group, We Are Sistas (private group based on Tyler Perry’s Sistas). Well, I’m still there. For a minute though, I was thinking about leaving the group. It was becoming too much like my old Twitter account, too many negative vibes. Then I thought about the people I’ve connected with over the past few years and decided that my bond with them far outweighed the other stuff. Now, Instagram (IG).. I still have a love-hate relationship with it. However, I believe I have unfollowed all of the accounts that used to trigger my anxiety. Either that or I’m becoming better at managing it. Currently, I mainly follow people/accounts that feed my soul. Sorry but I don’t want to hear bitter rants or about how awful people are. I’d rather have a calm, uneventful, inspiring timeline. Oh! And I do follow my shows on IG and Facebook. So I still get to comment on posts and replies whenever the urge hits me. Yes, it’s still my happy space.

Okay y’all.. I did not intend for this blog to be so long. Guess I felt like writing. Hope you’re having a wonderful week thus far and wishing you an even better rest of the week!

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

My nephew shared a quote this morning and the words ring true.

“Everything you now do is something you have chosen to do. Some people don’t want to believe that. But if you’re over age twenty-one your life is what you’re making it. To change your life, you need to change your priorities.” – John C. Maxwell

He also added that due to social determinants it may be difficult to change your life. However, I’ll add, it is not impossible. Sometimes this means making sacrifices (changing priorities) so that you can live a better life – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well as financially.

I’ll end with this question–

Are you presently making changes to create a better life for yourself (see meaning above), or are you content with where you are?

Me – I’m making changes.

Thanks for reading and please your day!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today’s “Hello Sunday” is a reblog from April 11, 2021. Y’all, it’s a year later and I still tear up when I think about how God has allowed me to live the life I have always imagined. Well.. minus the husband. Seriously, it’s funny how I always believed I could not live my best life without being married. This isn’t to say I never want to remarry because I would definitely be lying. However, over the past year, I have discovered that I don’t have to wait until I find a significant other or get married to truly live. I guess being happy really is a state of mind. God is good.

Here is what I wrote last year:

Happy Sunday! Came across a quote from a few years ago which basically sums up how I have felt over the past week. It read, “And so, she started living the life she’d imagined.” Y’all, I’m in tears right now. I have never felt so free. So in control. So focused. Been watching God work. […]

Hello Sunday — It’s Shaun’s World
Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

“Everyone has their own road to travel,” is what I wrote a few years ago. It seems like the older I get the more evident this becomes. No matter how much we want things and relationships to remain the same they won’t. Life is constantly evolving. Everyone has their own lives with their own set of dreams, goals and problems. And of course I have mine!

My world is finally opening back up and it looks totally different from the way it looked pre-COVID. I’m not afraid of what the future holds. However, it saddens me that things are no longer the same. As many of us have experienced, change – positive or negative – can be difficult to accept and adjust to, but it’s so necessary.

On this day three years ago, I wrote: “Reflect, Regroup, Refocus.” Never have I felt the need to do this as much as I do now. Change is inevitable and it’s happening right before my eyes. The only thing that has remained constant, and will always remain constant, is God’s presence and love. And you best believe I’m not letting those go. Nope! I’m leaning on Him even more.

Thanks for reading! Enjoy your day.

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

It’s been over two years since I’ve been to an in person conference. Although I’m excited to see everyone, part of me wants to remain in my bubble. Y’all, this bubble has become so cozy. I used to love networking and socializing. Lived for it! Now, I only desire quiet, intimate gatherings. Twenty is plenty. I’m pretty sure once I see everyone my attitude will change. However, at this moment, the only thing I’m looking forward to is my hotel room. My how things have changed. Laughing. Guess I better suck it up. I’m attending another conference in two weeks.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Smile

March 13, 2020
“When it’s time, it will happen. Be patient. Nothing that’s meant for me will pass me by. I won’t have to go searching for it, it will find me.”

That’s an excerpt from my journal entry two years ago. Please allow me to pass on the same words of encouragement to you. No matter how grim things look at times, or how many days, months, years or even decades pass, whatever blessings God has for you will not pass you. They won’t be given to someone else. Also, you won’t have to go searching for them. They’ll find you.

Now, ease your mind and carry on. What will be, will be.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Shaun

Life

Cherish Every Moment

Shaun Bradford

Cherish every moment and take nothing or no one for granted. Be Blessed. ~ Shaun

Life

What Are You Ready For?

Shaun Bradford

I believe the following quote to be true. Whether it’s opportunities or relationships, we will always attract what we’re ready for. Now, how we handle those opportunities and relationships is solely up to us. The choice is ours. ~ Shaun

Life

Never Settle

Shaun Bradford

You are worth God’s absolute BEST. NEVER settle for anything less. No matter how long you have to wait, always remain hopeful that God’s best is on its way. Believe me, it won’t pass you by. You will recognize and receive it when it arrives because it will be a perfect match. You won’t have to force it to fit or make it work, it just will. ~ Shaun