So much has happened since last year. Around this time last year, I was experiencing what I considered a spiritual pruning while also trying to adjust to life on this side of 50. The only definite thing was that I knew these next 50 years had to be different from the last.
Here’s what I shared last year.
Shared on November 23, 2021.
After asking myself the same question from a few years ago—am I someone who has fully embraced my true, authentic self?—the answer is “yes.” A year ago, I was close but not entirely there. Today, I can confidently say that I have fully embraced all of myself while still growing and evolving—as we know, both are continuous. As I have mentioned several times this year, I love this space I’m in—living life, loving God, and dancing to the beats (because there are many) of my own drum.
Y’all, I wanted this side of 50 to be different, and it truly is.♥️
Below is a reblog of my “Wednesday Writings” written on October 26, 2022. Honestly, I am not quite sure what storm or plot twist, as I called it, I was going through. However, I do know I survived it.
Y’all, by the grace of God I am still here and still standing after the countless storms I have been through. I’m so glad God never left me, and that He gave me the strength to endure the pain of whatever I was going through in those seasons.
I pray that whatever setback, storm, plot twist, or life experience you may be currently going through ends soon, very soon, so you’re able to smile, rejoice, and enjoy the goodness of life. Listen, don’t allow your current situation to make you give up hope or change your outlook on life. Where you are today is not where you will stay. You deserve a beautiful, stress-free, pain-free, storm-free life, and you will have one.♥️
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!♥️
It’s Shaun’s World 
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