Tag: Sunday

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
This morning I’m just writing and rambling. Let’s see what I end up sharing.

Happy Sunday!

Honestly, I really do not know what to share today. I have a few Facebook memories that are worth sharing but I am not sure which I should share, and if I shared them all the post would be much too long. Guess I will start with this:

Yesterday, I hit 980 consecutive days of posting! Woohoo!! So, the countdown to 1000 has begun. Still unsure of how I am going to celebrate, or if I will do anything differently after 1000. Hmm…

Three years ago today, I became a published author. Another… Woohoo!! Smile. It seems like it was so long ago. Sadly, I can no longer feel the excitement of that moment. Last year I somewhat felt it, but not this year. I wonder if it’s because my mom helped me promote book sales on Facebook. So as soon as I saw the memories from that day, her name was everywhere. She had tagged me in so many posts. Now, this makes me smile. A year later, she became a first time published author fulfilling one of her dreams. Y’all, I had no desire to become an author, but she did.

Now that I am reflecting on this, perhaps my opportunity to become an author opened the door to her fulfilling her dreams. If I would have turned down the opportunity, she may have never connected with the person who initiated the anthology. The person was from somewhere in Florida and we live in Mississippi. BUT… if it was meant to be it would have been, even without me. Listen, that’s how God works, for real! Y’all, life is truly interesting. And GOD!! Whew!! Listen, the way He works is mind blowing!

Now, here I am looking at my life and doors that were opened for me due to someone saying “yes” to something they probably never thought of doing. Also thinking about how me joining the Air Force inspired two of my siblings to join the Navy. Also, how I have been told more than once how my career as a research dietitian inspired other dietitians to work in communities. Y’all, this career found me. I had no desire to become a dietitian. I wanted to be a personal chef. Then, one meeting with a dietitian during my culinary internship at a hospital changed everything. And me volunteering as a student to assist with a research project lead me to becoming a research dietitian. Isn’t God awesome?!

My experience from my research days as a student led me to hire students for my projects. During the summers, I would hire them to assist me with data collections in rural Mississippi. Y’all, we had so much fun! Most of our trips required overnight stays. So, I would rent a 15 passenger van, reserve hotel rooms and take them to local restaurants to eat. Since most of them had never seen rural areas, or interacted with people from underserved communities, I wanted them to get the full experience. Plus, I love adventures and boy did we have some! Sometimes the GPS led us to some sketchy spots. So grateful for good phone service and a full tank of gas (always kept it above 1/2 full), we always made it to our destinations and had stories to tell afterwards.

Yeah…that’s what I miss! I miss the students. I miss the trips. I miss the conferences. I miss my colleagues. I miss meeting new people. I miss the communities. I miss the adventures and stories. Now, how can I make it happen again without going back to work for a university or with people who don’t share my same values?

I guess that’s something to tackle this week. Very few people know I have a nonprofit. Been tweaking things over the years. Maybe this year is the year I finally launch a project. Gotta start somewhere and with what I have.

I needed this! Started off not knowing what to write and in the midst of writing, discovered a plan. God is absolutely amazing!! I just love how He works. I am truly, truly blessed and loved.

Thanks for reading my first official rambling of the year. Again, God is so wonderful! So grateful to know Him.

Praying you have a wonderfully, blessed day!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?

E. H.

That was a quote I shared five years ago—January 14, 2019. Next is the caption that accompanied it:

Happy Monday! Wishing you a blessed week! Here’s today’s social media find. Take the leap. Yes, there’s a possibility that things won’t go as planned (been there); however, there’s also a possibility that they might AND exceed your expectations (been there, too). You’ll never know, if you never leap. You already know God is going to catch you– FLY!

During my adulthood, I have taken numerous leaps—mostly spontaneously. As I mentioned above, some things went as I hoped and/or exceeded my expectations, while others didn’t. Either way, I never fell or failed. Somehow I always managed to fly. All praises to God.

Lately, I have not taken any leaps (it’s been three years). I guess you could say I have been living a pretty quiet, unadventurous life—been playing it safe. Honestly, I am not sure if I am just tired or if the adventures have ceased. Hopefully, it’s not the latter. There just has to be more adventures and leaps in my future. Y’all, I’m too young to stop leaping now. Sighing

Why am I hearing Donald Lawrence singing, “The Best Is Yet To Come”? Shaking my head. My thoughts and their theme music. Even my subconscious mind has a sense of humor. My life… Laughing

Well, that’s all for now. I pray you have a wonderful day!

Be Blessed♥️

Shaun

Life

Happy New Year’s Eve 2023

Shaun Bradford
2024 is loading… Blessings are headed your way!

Social media has been excited for weeks now for this day—12/31/23 (123123)—to come so I thought I would mention it. (Smiling). Life is interesting and people are even more interesting. Gotta love them both.

Anyhoo…

Today is the last day of 2023. I pray whatever you were hoping for happened, or somewhat happened. Below is what I wrote last year in my final blog for 2022. I will say my 2023 turned out as I had somewhat hoped it would have because I stayed true to how I approached it, with humbleness and gratitude. I did not ask for much nor expected much, and was grateful for every blessing God sent my way. Here is what I wrote last year.

Happy New Year’s Eve by Moi

Y’all, 2022 was one eventful year! I’m so grateful God was with me every step of the way. So grateful for His guidance, grace and unconditional love.

Each year, instead of a setting a New Year’s resolution, I set a theme for the year. This year’s theme for 2022 was “Unapologetically Me.” I loved and lived up to it. I didn’t set it for others to see, or even notice. It was personal. It was for me to feel and embrace, and I did. Let’s just say it’s how I needed to end this decade of my 40s. Smiling

This coming year I’m entering a new decade of life, my 50s, and want to do things a little differently. Nothing bold. Nothing deep. The energy I’m taking into 2023 is humbleness and gratitude. It’s the energy I would like to have as I usher in the next half of my life. Gotta leave the negative energy on this side of my century. Smiling. Honestly, I’m looking forward to turning 50. God is good.

Okay.. so here is the ultra-condensed, yet very significant version of my accomplishments in 2022:

• I conquered a few fears.
• I found myself again.
• I released control.

I just wanted to add, releasing control was probably the most rewarding. This year, so many things happened that were beyond my control. I had no choice but to give in and go with the flow. Then, there were the things I could control. Well, I found out they weren’t worth the headache or heartache, so I let them go. Y’all, I never knew releasing control could be so freeing. This is a whole-nother level of freedom I never knew existed and I’m loving it!

As I mentioned earlier, I am focusing on humbleness and gratitude in 2023. Not expecting much. Not asking for much. Just grateful for what I already have. If God decides to bless me with more, I will be just as grateful.

As I enter 2024, I plan to remain humble and grateful for everything I already have and anything extra God decides to throw in. The amount of peace I have experienced by doing so has been immeasurable so why change it!

Next year, my goal is to continue practicing what I recently began doing a few days ago which is to stop fighting against (worrying about) things that unexpectedly pop up in my life, and to go with the flow. To allow God to navigate through the craziness while I rest in Him. To have my listening ears open and be prepared to move when He says move and relax when He says relax. To stay at peace despite the chaos and confusion happening around me. To continue loving the way I love as well as embrace the love surrounding me. To build a stronger relationship/bond with God. To stay under His covering and protection. When I tell you God’s protection is everything! Whew!! You better try it! Lastly, to take care of Shaun. Yes, to take care of me. To love and protect myself just as much as I do others. To put myself first so that I my cup remains full while I pour into others.

Well, that’s that. Praying you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Talk to you later.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy 50 years 6 months to me!!! Yes…I am 50 1/2 years old and beyond grateful to see this day. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine living this long. I never dreamt of age 50. As a child, 50 was old and who as a child dreamed of being old? I know I didn’t. If I can remember, most of my dreams were centered around my 20s and early 30s. Now, lo and behold, I am over 50! How awesome is that! Y’all, God is absolutely amazing!

As always, my Facebook memories are sooo timely. This memory from two years ago nicely sums up the last six months of my celebration.

Facebook Memory: December 24, 2021

Here is a quote from Michelle Obama’s “Becoming.” I believe questioning our worth is a natural part of our growth process. Whenever we take on new tasks, or decide to move beyond our comfort zone, part of us wonder, “Am I good enough?” Well, I am here to tell you that you are. You are good enough and you are more than equipped to handle whatever comes your way. You got this!

Yes, I am enough. I am continuously evolving and becoming the woman God created me to be.♥️

Over the past six months, I have had some very interesting experiences. Experiences that had me questioning God’s intentions. Had me asking more questions than I have ever asked Him before to include am I equipped to handle situations. And y’all, I have encountered some really interesting situations since turning 50. Listen, when I asked for this side of 50 to be completely different from the last, I had no idea what I was asking for (laughing), but God did. Shaking my head. My life and its adventures…

As I wrote two years ago—which I now know was a message for my future self—I am good enough. I am more than equipped to handle whatever comes my way. I’ve got this!

As I write, I cannot help but smile and praise God because I am truly blessed. Y’all, I am 50 1/2 years old and still here and healthy and loved. My babies are well and flourishing. My siblings and their families are all healthy and happy. My friends and family are still here. What more could I ask for. Again, I am so very blessed.

I have six more months left in my jubilee year. I do not know what’s to come; however, I do know that whatever comes God is good and I am covered. Y’all, God’s covering is everything. And His peace!!! Listen, there is none like it. You better get you some!

I pray you have a beautifully, blessed Sunday. Love you, always.♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday, y’all!

Since I began posting twice or more a day, I have not had much to write about on Sundays. Sundays used to be my spill day. Now I share all week long. Maybe I need to redefine what I share on Sundays. Maybe I will make it a theme day. I don’t know. We have two Sundays left in 2023, which means I have a little over two weeks to decide if I am going to give you a different “Hello Sunday.” Since I am switching things up for Year50, I might as well switch it up too.

By the way, I will be 50 1/2 (smile) next Sunday! Will give you an update on how the past month and last six months have gone. Just know that God is still working on me. Baby, I feel like I have been in some kind of spiritual boot camp. I guess this is what a jubilee year actually feels like. It’s the part no one mentions.

Anyhoo… here is a little something I wrote in my journal entry on December 17, 2014, which is quite indicative of my oh so wonderful jubilee experience. Can’t you feel the sarcasm? But hey, it is my world, right? Don’t know why I expected different. Laughing

Journal Entry: December 17, 2014

Remember God works in the supernatural! Facts vs Faith. Choose faith!

Guess I was hyping myself up! Laughing. Most of my life I have chosen faith over facts. Yes, way before I had the relationship I now have with God. Doing so has always drove realists and pessimists crazy. Y’all, I cannot help it. It’s in me. Not saying I do not have doubts—because I do have doubts—but faith always win. Always! So why change now? Nah…won’t do it. Cannot afford to. I must continue to choose faith, even if it seems like Crazy Faith, as Pastor Mike Todd calls it.

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. I pray you have a lovely Sunday.

Be Blessed♥️

Shaun