Smile, God is Working
Tag: self care
One Bad Habit
I really wish I were asleep, but as you can see, I’m not. Y’all, I have one bad habit… and no, it is not a man!
HA!! For a moment I heard Angie Stone singing “2 Bad Habits” when I mentioned “one bad habit.” Lol. My life.
Anyway… my bad habit is falling asleep on the sofa. I know it sounds trivial, but it is affecting my quality of life. On average, I probably spend half of my nights on the sofa 3-5 days a week. I usually wake up somewhere between midnight and 2:00 a.m. (this morning it was 4:00 a.m.) and then go to bed. However, once in bed, I never go back to sleep. I lay awake thinking or writing. Y’all, it is so frustrating. It throws my entire day off. Falling asleep on the sofa is okay on the weekends, but definitely not, on weekdays. You see, on weekends, I can always take a nap. However, on weekdays, I have to be awake and alert for work.
I know this blog seems random.. because the majority of them are. Lol. Just wanted to share my “Aha” moment with you. I never considered this to be a habit. Honestly, I always assumed I suffered from insomnia; and whenever I felt sluggish, I thought it was some kind of vitamin or mineral deficiency. Never connected any of this with the quality/lack of sleep or rest.
Anyway, I need to break this habit. From this day forward, I am going to make a conscious effort to fall asleep in bed. Thinking I may need to set a bedtime. Hmm…
Shaun
July is Here!
Hello July!
What do you have in store?
Please tell me it is something good. Something that will make my heart sing and toes curl. Something that will keep me smiling all month long.
I’m not being unreasonable, am I? Nah… I am worth it because I’m blessed!
Shaun
Listen to the Vibe
It is not even 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning and I am wide awake. Actually, I have been up for a couple of hours, now. Today I was supposed to go to Mobile to continue my birthday celebration with my sisters. They had a day full of wonderful COVID-19-safe events planned. Unfortunately, the celebration must be postponed.
You see.. yesterday I began feeling sick. More than likely it is sinus issues, but I do not want to chance it. The day before yesterday, Mississippi had a spike in new COVID-19 cases. Y’all, over a 1,000 new cases were reported in one day. Yesterday there were half as many. As much as I want to celebrate with my sisters, I have to stay safe and make sure they remain safe, also. Y’all, this virus is something serious!
Right now I am having an early morning jam session. Zhané’s Vibe is currently playing.
Oh… before I go, we did decide to have a video call later today. So the celebration will continue, just not in person.
Forever Grateful
Shaun
Three Years Shy of Half a Century– YAY, Me!!
One day a princess was born. Her mother named her LaShaundrea. Today is LaShaundrea’s birthday. Now a queen; nevertheless, always a princess at heart.
My response to the UK’s #247Challenge
#NationaWritingDay
Thanking God for allowing me to see another year of life. Y’all, I am three years shy of half a century. Yay!! Yeah, that is how I view 50. It is not half of 100 but half a century. That term just makes me feel regal. Hence, I am a queen! Lol.
So, every year I set a theme for my birthday year. Last year’s was “New Beginnings.” Over the past few days, I have been trying to come up with a theme for this year. I am stuck between “Just Be” and “Being Present.” Both are about being authentically true to myself. I am who I am and I need to fully embrace me. I need to embrace my thoughts, beliefs and decisions, even if they are unpopular with others. This year, I am giving myself permission to be a little selfish and a little less selfless. Do not get me wrong, this does not mean that I am going to be rude, or disrespectful, it just means I really need to put myself first.
Anyway, looking forward to another blessed year. Yes.. a very blessed year. God is good!
#Year47
Shaun
My Smile
Today’s a new day – Smile! Can’t you hear Kirk Franklin’s I Smile? Well, I can! Lol
Y’all, smiling does something for my soul. It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel hopeful. It makes me feel loved.
When I smile— I am present. I am in sync with the world. I am loved. Yes.. I am loved.
Self-love. It falls right beneath God’s love. Y’all, there is nothing like it. I have discovered that when you love yourself, smiling comes naturally.
So, I smile.
Shaun
Hair Woes
Feeling a bit frustrated with my hair. About two years ago, I decided to say goodbye to my short, relaxed hair and go natural. It was not my first time going natural. In 2011, I decided to try the natural thing and was natural for about three years. Then one day I woke up and relaxed my hair. I hate to say it, but I am at that point again. Ugh!!
When I was natural before, I allowed my hair to grow out. Which allowed me to wear it in different styles. This time, I decided to keep it short. Then COVID-19 happened and I could not get it cut. Plus, when I was getting it cut, my haircuts were never consistent. Y’all, I am so cheap when it comes to getting my hair done. Mainly because I do not have the patience to sit in a hair salon for more than 30 minutes. So, whoever could get me in and out in less than 30 minutes was who I went to. Anything longer was a waste of my time. Again, I do not have that kind of patience, which is the main reason I decided to keep it short. What I failed to realize is that short hairstyles are just as high maintenance because they require frequent haircuts. It is like I cannot win when it comes to my hair. What am I to do???
I guess things would be different if I wore wigs, braids or locs. But I have never worn them. They look cute on other people, but probably would not look cute on me. Plus, they require time and patience. Y’all, I do not even have the patience to try to find a wig. I really feel hopeless. I am honestly considering putting this box of Dark & Lovely in my hair. I have had it on standby for two years, now. Hmm…. Wonder if relaxers expire. Lol.
On another note, did I mention how much I spend on products? Y’all, I spend so much money on products. People are always recommending one product or another. I try them, then find myself back where I am today– feeling hopeless.
I am trying very hard to stay natural because my hair is so much healthier, now. It is also thicker and I have less breakage. All of the things that I loved the first time around. However, the maintenance is too much. Y’all, I need help! FOR REAL!
Shaun
Hello Sunday
Hellooooo Sunday! Y’all, in 10 days I will be 47! Like.. really.. almost 50. Like, almost half a decade! WHAT?! Y’all, I’m finally excited!!!
This month started off very depressing. I did not feel like celebrating, at all. All I wanted was for this month to pass. Actually, I wanted this year to hurry up and pass. Over the years, I have always said that I loved adventures. Well, 2020 has been one great adventure, and I am ready for this adventure to end. Honestly, I don’t even think we have reached the apex yet. I believe we are still climbing. I just pray that whatever is to come does not rock this world more than it has already. Hopeful.
Okay… that was getting dark. Back to my birthday. Last year, I spent my birthday volunteering at a summer camp teaching 4th graders about the benefits of choosing healthier snacks. So when asked if I could teach a class on that day, I immediately agreed. Y’all, I was on cloud nine! I felt like a kid again. Like I was a little girl preparing to play school with my siblings and little cousins. It brought out the child in me. I could not wait to start planning.
That was my celebration with the kids. At the end of the week, I celebrated with friends and family. I called it my freedom party– 46 & FREE! Exactly seven days before my birthday, the judge signed my divorce papers! I was FINALLY free!! So I celebrated!
A little over a week later, my best friends came down and we took a girl’s trip to Essence Festival. Talk about a wonderful birthday! I had so much fun.
So, what will I do this year? I am finally excited enough to start planning. My children and sisters have been asking me all month what I want to do. Happy to say I have made a few decisions. I plan to spend the day of my birthday at the zoo with one of my sisters and her children. I really want to see them have fun. Children tend bring out the kid in me. Y’all, they have me acting all crazy and I love it! Then, that weekend, I plan to spend it with another sister and niece. Not sure if I will do anything in between. Will definitely spend time with my two babies.. umm.. I mean– young adults. Lol
Y’all, I am truly blessed. God has blessed me to live this long, so why not celebrate. Oh… before I end, last night I dreamt I had dyed my hair cotton candy pink for my birthday. Hmmm….
Y’all, I might even surprise myself for my birthday! Lol. NOW, I’m excited!
#Year47
Shaun
My Life
Mary J. Blige’s My Life has been playing over and over in my head since yesterday morning. Can’t turn it off. This one part seems to be stuck on repeat. Mary is singing–
Life can be
Only what you make it
When you’re feeling down
You should never fake it
Say what’s on your mind
And you’ll find in time
That all of the negative energy
It will all decease
My life . . .
Blessed
Shaun
Happy 2nd Anniversary!
Hello! So I have been blogging for two years now. Well… on this particular site. My other site was professional and way too boring. Lol! At the time that I created this site, I was on this transparency kick. I needed people to be transparent. I was so tired of the fake–glorious–perfect social media posts. Ugh!! The frustration was real! So I decided if others could not be transparent, at least I could. Below is the blog I wrote two years ago. It is very transparent. Enjoy!
Shaun
It’s Shaun’s World 
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