Tag: self love

Life

Wednesday

Shaun Bradford

Last Wednesday I was wondering what I would call my Wednesday blogs and finally decided to keep it simple, Wednesday. Hopefully I’ll actually have something to blog about on Wednesdays.

Anyhoo.. this Wednesday’s blog is another Facebook memory. This one is from a year ago, April 14, 2020. Last year around this time, I was contemplating resigning but was too afraid. Well, here I am a year later living unafraid. God is good.

Last year I posted a list of most common regrets. Not sure who wrote them, but they really resonated with me. Here’s the list:

  • Too much time spent stressing and worrying.
  • Caring too much about others opinions.
  • Not taking risks that might result in a grand reward.
  • Too little time with loved ones.
  • Too much living life to please others.
  • Not enough living in the present moment.
  • Not letting go of past anger and resentment.
  • Not enough play, laughter, joy, or happiness.
  • Too little time expressing genuine emotions.
  • “Not saying how I really feel.”
  • “Not following my heart.”

Here’s the caption I wrote:

“My goal is to live life without regrets. At least not focus on missed opportunities, or as I always say, what should’ve or could’ve happened. The quickest way to become down and depressed is to constantly think about how things could’ve been if only you had made other decisions. Starting today, let’s begin again – living without regrets.”

Today, I can happily say I’m living without regrets. Again, God is so good. Y’all already know I’m tearing up. Honestly, I never imagined I could feel like this. Last year on my birthday, my wish was to always feel like I felt that day– loved and carefree. Y’all, I’m living it! I’m blessed.

I pray that you have a wonderful Wednesday. See you on Sunday!

Shaun

Life

Happy Wednesday!

Shaun Bradford

Since I usually write on Wednesdays and Sundays, I’m thinking about creating one title for Wednesdays as I did with Sundays. Everyone seems to use Wisdom Wednesday. Well, as you know, my blogs aren’t always written to inspire. Most of them are about my wonderfully, crazy life. Yeah.. I’ll figure something out.

So how are things going since I resigned? FABULOUS! Part of me keeps saying this is the honeymoon phase, things will get bad. Then I hear God say, “Shaun, this is really it!” A couple of weeks before my last day, I was thinking about how others would respond to my news. I told myself they would say, “Well, you know it’s not going to be easy.” And at that moment God stopped me and asked, “Why can’t it be easy?” This changed my entire thought process. We’re so conditioned to believe every blessing comes with a struggle, yet we say, “With God ALL things are possible.” God let me know then that He had already prepared the way. All I had to do was allow Him to lead. Whew!! Y’all, and I love where He’s taking me. Listen, when He says jump, I don’t ask why, I ask how high! I love adventures and so far this is the wildest ride yet.

Listen, whatever God’s asked you to do or give up, just do it. No questions asked. He’s got you!

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Umm.. trying to figure out where to begin. Y’all do know I always write on the day I publish, right? I want my blogs to be as authentic as possible. So whatever I’m feeling whenever it’s time to publish, that’s what I write about. With this said, I did promise to tell y’all my news.

Drumroll………

On April 1st, I took a wild leap of faith and resigned from my job. Yes.. I resigned!

When I think about it, the 18 years I spent at the university resembled the 18 years I served in the military– 18 and 18, they overlapped but kind of eerie, huh. Anyway.. was about to get sidetracked. Lol. The resemblance was similar because of the levels career advancement. In the military I went from Airman Basic (E-1) to Master Sergeant (E-7). During my 18 year stay at the university, I went from an undergraduate student to principal investigator. Talk about favor! I will say, both institutions allowed me the freedom to explore different opportunities without ever having to leave my safety net. For that, I’m forever grateful.

So what happened? Why did I resign?

Simple. God said it was time. I woke up one morning and He said it was time to leave. Of course there’s a back story but it’s not important. What’s important is once again I listened and let go– which is also the title of my chapter in the Finally Free book anthology. This time when He said it was time to leave I didn’t ask questions. And yes, this time. You see, I had been instructed to leave several times before but I was too afraid. I used to ask, “Lord, how am I going to make it?” I’m not going to lie, I needed a detailed plan that included a good financial setup. However, this time I said, “Okay, Lord. I trust You.” Never once did I think about how I would survive, nor was I afraid. Even when I told my kids they didn’t question what God had told me. They said they knew everything would work out because God has always taken care of me. Talk about faith! When I tell you I have the best kids!!

Y’all, 2020 restored my dreams and this year I’m fulfilling them. In my first Hello Sunday for this year, I wrote I was starting this year with a blank canvas. That’s when I hit the reset button and started rebuilding my life. Now it’s time for me to fully walk in God’s purpose. Y’all, I can’t wait to see the picture He paints. I know it’s going to be spectacular!

Before I end, here’s another eerie story. On April 1, 2011, I retired from the military. Ten years later I resigned from the university. It’s crazy because I had no idea I had chosen the same day until I saw my Facebook memory. Timing. God’s timing.

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

I’m a little late getting started today. I cannot believe I actually slept until 6:00 a.m. So unusual, yet so needed. I know that the past few Hello Sundays have not been very informative and they’ve been pretty short. Believe me, it’s not because I don’t have anything to write about, it’s the exact opposite. Y’all, I have so much I can write about, I just don’t know where to begin or which story to tell. All I can say is, God is sooo good and y’all, He’s working!!

Listen, this past year– from last March to this March– things have been happening nonstop.. one significant event after another. You would’ve thought the pandemic would have slowed things down but it had the opposite effect. Everything just sped up. It reminds me of how Bishop T. D. Jakes used to say, “Get ready! Get ready! Get ready!” Listen, when God starts moving, you better be ready! Honestly, everything is happening so quickly. I haven’t even had time to ask myself if I’m ready. I’ve just been moving with the flow. It’s like an opportunity presents itself and I take it. God says to do this or that, and I do it, no questions asked. I mean, I’m really going with the flow. I know this blog probably doesn’t make any sense because I’m so in my feelings right now. Everything that’s happening is surreal. Listen, I’ve always said I love watching God work. However, it’s one thing to watch Him work in others’ lives and a totally different feeling watching Him work in your life. Totally different!

I’m going to end now because the tears won’t stop flowing. Which is a good thing. I’ll take tears of joy over tears of sorrow, any day. I’m blessed.

Here’s an excerpt from a Facebook post I made on this day in March 2019. Y’all, I’m beginning to realize I posted a lot that March. Feeling like a butterfly because I believe that’s when my metamorphosis began, March 2019. Wild! Timing.. God’s timing.

“When I began expressing my gratitude, even for the tiniest thing (like finding a parking space), God began to bless me. It’s true, when praises go up, blessings come down. No, I’m not rich financially, but I’m rich spiritually. Spiritual blessings are indescribable. The bond I have with God is like no other. I’m so grateful He loves me. I’m so grateful for His mercy and grace. I’m so grateful He changed me. I love my new life.”

Y’all, life is good. A couple of weeks ago I made another life changing decision which I’ll write about it in next week’s Hello Sunday. Just know that I’m excited about what God is doing and where He’s leading me.

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Trust in God

Shaun Bradford

I don’t know who needs to hear this but trust in God. Listen, He’s got you! Be blessed.
Shaun

Trust in God
The Winans
Lyrics courtesy of Genius.com

Bottles up every tear
Understands ever fear
So we must put our trust in God
Knows our reasons why
Nights we must sit and cry
So we must put our trust in God

Even though sometimes the load may
Make you feel your life is almost gone

Just look up tomorrow’s sun
Will let you know your life’s not done
Just look around love’s pouring down
Trust in God

He understands everything
Healing is in His wings
So we must put our trust in God
He shows how much He cares
By sharing the load we bear
So we must put our trust in God

Even when we don’t understand
And seems your world is falling apart

Just look up tomorrow’s sun
Will let you know your life’s not done
Just look around love’s pouring down
Trust in God
Just look up tomorrow’s sun
Will let you know your life’s not done
Just look around love’s pouring down
Trust in God
Just look up tomorrow’s sun
Will let you know your life’s not done
Just look around love’s pouring down
Trust in God

We got to learn
Trust in God
If things not going well you got learn
Trust in God
Oh we got to learn
If there’s money in our pockets
Trust in God

Life

Rebuilding

Shaun Bradford

No, it’s not Sunday yet. Smile. Was just reading through past blogs and decided to share a blog from last April.

Almost a year ago, I shared thoughts from a journal entry written in 2018. I had written I was finally rebuilding. I’m not sure why I assumed rebuilding happened with a single event. Well, it doesn’t. It happens in stages. When I think about it, I have been in the process of rebuilding my life over the last six or seven years. So today when I talk about rebuilding, I’m not starting from scratch, I’m just in another phase of the process.

Here’s my blog from April 2020:

Two years ago, on April 7, 2018, I wrote in my journal that I needed to – reflect, regroup, refocus, and rebuild. It took me a minute to get here, …

Finally Rebuilding