Our mental and emotional wellbeing matters just as much as our physical and spiritual. Be sure to surround yourself with people, thoughts, and media (of all kinds) that protect and promote your wellbeing. Remember, you matter, first. You cannot fully pour into others if you’re mentally and emotionally depleted.
Two years ago, I shared the following—
“They say it’s not the water around the boat that sinks it, but the water that gets inside. My prayer for you today is that the water – drama, chaos, dysfunction, bad vibes – remains outside your boat. The goal is to protect your mental health.”
Originally shared on October 13, 2022.
Again, your mental and emotional wellbeing are of utmost importance. Protect both.
I pray you have a wonderful Sunday. Stay afloat!♥️
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 I had actually shared a more detailed post hours earlier, then unpublished it soon afterwards.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!♥️
As you move throughout your day and tackle tasks for this week, remember who and what’s most important—YOU and your health and wellbeing. Listen, there’s only ONE you and longevity is the name of the game. Be sure to take care of YOU, first. You are the priority. Love you!♥️
Hello! So, according to my journal entry from July 30, 2022, I was deeply engaged in a conversation Jay Shetty and Lewis Howes were having on a podcast (will share the podcast if I can find it). It was about love, life, growth and relationships. Y’all, I took so many notes. I also jotted down important questions I needed to answer. One was about what I valued. I even wrote, “Shaun, what do you value?” Well, as I mentioned, their conversation was mainly about relationships/companionship so I answered accordingly. Today, I asked myself the same question but answered based on life in general.
Guess what?! I value YOU!♥️
Aside from my relationship with God, here are a few things I value:
Love, kindness, compassion, respect, optimism, peace, time with family, Me time, and people. Not necessarily in that order, but those are a few.
How about you? What are some things you value?
Shaun
Found the podcast!! Smiling because Lewis is now engaged to his then girlfriend. Love is a beautiful thing.♥️
You can’t find true happiness in things or people, and you surely cannot buy it. Believe me, I have tried before only to end up in the same state—feeling sad, depressed, unloved—after the excitement was over. No, true happiness is God-given and comes from within.♥️
Facebook Memory: July 10, 2023
True happiness comes from within. Wishing you much happiness and peace.♥️
Wishing you true happiness.
On another note, earlier this morning I watched Jay Shetty’s podcast with philanthropist, Melinda French Gates. It was a conversation I was already interested in hearing. However, I did not know it would end up being one I needed to hear. Yes, needed to hear. I can’t say it enough, I just love how God loves me. He always sends the right messages at the absolute right time. Always.
Healthy boundaries are good. You understand your mental, emotional, and physical capacity more than anyone else. Do not allow yourself to be coaxed or finessed into relaxing your boundaries to appease others. Remember, you set those boundaries for a reason. Love you!♥️ ~Shaun
The last three weeks have been mentally and physically exhausting. Like, for real. On most days, I know I was on autopilot—operating without even thinking, doing what I have been programmed to do since childhood (take charge). At least, that’s how it felt. Here’s an overview of what happened:
My sister had a healthy baby boy. Both left the hospital healthy (so we thought). Two days later, she was in the ER diagnosed with postpartum heart failure, then sent home to follow up with a cardiologist. Two days after that, the baby had jaundice.
Before my sister could follow up with the cardiologist, she was back in the ER. This time they consulted with her OB doctor and was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia. Which was more accurate. She stayed in the hospital a few days and was released after her vitals and bloodwork were back to normal.
That was my first hospital stay since my mom passed.
While all of this was happening with my sister, my stepmom was having health issues, which were getting worse. She was sick while my sister was in the hospital, but I couldn’t be with both. Had to decide which needed me the most. It was a lot.
Well, last week…last Wednesday to be exact, my stepmom had to have emergency surgery. I stayed with her from Wednesday until Sunday. She was discharged yesterday, but she still isn’t well. It will probably be several weeks before she’s moving around again.
So, that was my last two to three weeks. Oh… and I was still working during all of this. So very thankful for remote work and the ability to make my own schedule. These are truly luxuries that are often taken for granted. Even being single with grown children is a privilege; however, it is also taxing at times. As my daughter advised me, before I jump up and do anything else, I need to be still and take care of myself, first. And I am doing exactly that.
That’s all I have for you today. Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday.
I needed this reminder today because that is exactly what I have been doing lately—overthinking. Last night I told my daughter that I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t turn my mind off. Seems like I have been trying to solve everyone’s problems lately, and none are directly mine. Yesterday, I could feel my body changing. I had become so stressed and tense. Had to force myself to do something other than work or think. Decided to put down my phone and watch “Annie,” the Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis one. I needed that bit of relief. I’m promising myself to do better today.♥️ ~Shaun
Facebook Memory: March 12, 2019
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find. I’m always thinking… often overthinking. Always trying to figure things out or solve a problem. Life is a mystery. We cannot predict what will happen next. We can only assume what will happen. Very few things in my life, have happened as expected. Honestly, I don’t believe anything has ever gone exactly as planned or imagined. So, today, I plan to stop overthinking and just let go. Totally trusting God.
Praying and trusting God to do His job because it’s not on me to do. I must remember my place. God’s got everyone I am concerned about. Trusting Him.🙏🏽
It’s Shaun’s World 
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