Tag: thankful

hope

Do You Know What You Want?

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

On November 28, 2021, I was reading Will Smith’s memoir, WILL. Meant to share this yesterday but forgot. When I tell you I took sooooo many notes. If you haven’t read it, it is so worth reading. Here’s an excerpt from my entry.

Shaun’s Journal Entry: November 28, 2021

“JL or James Lassiter asked Will these questions while trying to figure out what Will really wanted. Will had no real direction just wanted not to ever be broke again and to be able to have fun. 

Questions:

What is the dream? 

What are you trying to build?

What do you want?

Stephen Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said there are only two human problems: (1) knowing what you want, but not knowing how to get it; and (2) not knowing what you want.”

Again, I loved this memoir!

I believe we must ask ourselves JL’s questions from time to time to see if our answers have changed. Is our dream still the same? What are we trying to build? What do we want? Even though I am now on the other side of 50, the core (which I believe is most important) of my answers remain the same. I know what I want.

For years, I used to dwell on what Steven Covey listed as the first problem—knowing what I wanted but not knowing how to get it. However, today, I don’t even think about how I’m going to get it anymore. God is finally the captain of my ship and I’m sitting back enjoying this ride called life. I trust Him to get me to wherever I belong. He knows best. Listen, life is so much better when we allow God to lead, and when we’re obedient.

Question:

Do you know what you want? Your core desires, not the superficial ones.

This is all for now. Thanks for reading. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Thankful Thanksgiving

Shaun Bradford
Hey You! I am thankful for YOU. Yes…YOU!♥️

Good Morning☀️

This morning, I am most thankful for family. Since my mom passed, I seem to value the time I spend with family a little bit more. Of course, I always cherish the time I spend with my two hearts (smiling because my daughter’s home🥰); however, lately, I have been intentional about not rushing time spent with extended family, especially my siblings and their families, and my mom’s siblings. Now, when I am in their presence, I’m present. I soak up everything—from their words and expressions to the very essence of their being. Yes, I’m right there with them. Before, I may have taken it all for granted, but now I realize just how precious family is.

What are you most thankful for today?

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 26

Shaun Bradford

Sending up praises!

Praising God for being God.

For His covering.

For His love.

For His guidance.

For His peace.

Y’all, I am truly blessed.

When I think about my 20s, 30s, 40s, even a year or so ago, compared to where I am today, all I can do is praise God. I’m no longer that same person. As I have said many times before, I am loving this space I am in. For some reason, I never truly believed it was possible, yet here I am. I said I fully trusted God, but it seems I only trusted Him with certain aspects of my life, not all. It wasn’t until I gave all of myself to Him that things really began to change.

So, yes, I’m sending up praises.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me.♥️

Shaun

hope

What A Difference A Year Makes

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

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.♥️

I am beyond blessed.🥰

Shaun

hope

You Are Amazing!

Shaun Bradford

Here’s a post I shared in 2021. The message about worth is great, but it’s the hashtags for me!

Walk in your worth.

Live in your worth.

You ARE amazing!

And you are. You are absolutely amazing!♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

Are you walking and living in your worth? I pray that you are.🙏🏽

hope

Connected

Shaun Bradford

We are all connected. What affects one affects all.

It would be easy to say that from now on I’m only out for my own, but what would that benefit me in the long run? It might feel good for a moment; however, when thinking long term, it could be detrimental. I have seen the damage this mentality has had on families and communities, and it’s quite sad to see.

Y’all, we are not on an island alone. We are part of something much greater. Every move we make has a ripple effect. It sets things in motion. Every act of love and every act of hate affects someone, which in turn affects someone else. We must be mindful of how we move. Listen, you better believe God has already checked me.🤷🏽‍♀️😅

My mission is to continue moving in love, peace, and kindness as I push for progress. I know that one day I will see the harmony I envisioned.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

**Not letting up on what I believe in. If anything, I’m pushing harder. We must continue the fight for our freedoms, inclusiveness, democracy, and peace—for humanity.

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
God is so amazing!

Happy Sunday!

This morning I’m singing, “A wonderful change has come over me.”

Last week, my week began with Tamela Mann’s song, “Change Me,” stuck in my head for two days. I wrote how I felt my spirit and soul worshiping God. Y’all, it was such a wonderful experience, something I had never experienced before.

Well, this morning I woke up singing, “A wonderful change has come o-o-ver meeeee.” Smiling

As I mentioned last week, I am not sure what God is doing in my life, but it’s something extraordinary and it’s already been very much felt.

Forever grateful.

Beyond blessed.

Thank you so much for reading. I pray you have a beautiful Sunday and a wonderful week.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 1

Shaun Bradford

This time I waited to post!

I had another message scheduled to post just in case I didn’t hear to share a different message at my scheduled posting time. I always try to wait before sharing because I often hear to share a specific message right before it’s time for me to post. Smile. The majority of my messages aren’t just random; they’re God-given. Well, I now realize I don’t have to choose between messages unless I hear not to post the one that I’ve scheduled. I can actually share both.

Today, I’m giving myself permission to share more than one message during my scheduled timeframes. I don’t have to wait and share them hours apart. For some reason, I really dislike sharing back-to-back posts. It’s definitely a barrier I need to overcome.

Anyhoo…

Some people would rather do a video or make a social media post; I’d rather blog.

**For Transparency: I later updated this first section to include more details. My initial post was very vague. When I write, I often assume the reader has already read my previous post before moving on to the next—somewhat like reading a continuous story. Will do better in the future.😘 – Shaun (10.24.2025)

The song of the moment is “Restoration” by The Winans. No lie, I heard it minutes before my other post was scheduled to publish (going to publish both).

The song says—

“Restoration has finally come. Been restored back to my place in God.”

Y’all, I am so grateful for God’s love, mercy, patience, and grace.

The song ends with—

“I’m restored. I’m glad about it. I’ve been renewed. And I’m glad about it.”

“Restoration” by The Winans

hope

Don’t Lose Yourself

Shaun Bradford
Shared as a Facebook story on October 17, 2021.

I know how it feels to lose yourself trying to hold on to others. Been there many times. And I’m not only talking about losing myself in love relationships. Of course, those are the ones most people noticeably lose themselves in. However, friendships, work relationships, and family relationships are others.

Check your relationships, all of them, and make sure you’re showing up fully as YOU, and not who others want you to be. You are too important to lose yourself to anyone other than yourself and God.♥️

Love you,

Shaun