First thing yesterday morning, I downloaded a copy of Mrs. Michelle Obama’s newest book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. I had been looking for a good book to read and when I heard hers was about to be released, I waited for it. I waited for it because I knew it would be good. I knew it would be one that I couldn’t put down, just like her last book, Becoming.
Sooo… many, many years ago, I made a list of people I wanted to meet. Well, she was number four on my list; and believe it or not, her husband was number ten. Crazy, huh? On my list, I added why I wanted to meet them and questions I would ask. Well, at that time, my question for Mrs. Obama was – How do you keep smiling?
Y’all, back then I was so intrigued by the way she carried herself when most people would have buckled. Her poise, her confidence, her strength and her smile were all so fascinating. As you can see, I’m definitely a fan. Y’all, it was like the more they hated her and her husband the more she smiled, showed kindness, love and compassion. It was like their hate was her fuel.
Side Note: Over my lifetime, I have asked God for things, or wanted things, and they have happened. Sadly, many of those times I didn’t realize He had answered my prayers until years later. It’s because His answers don’t always come in the form we are searching for. Life…
In 2019, I had the opportunity to see Mrs. Obama at Essence Festival in New Orleans. I remember my friends and I walking towards the Superdome and seeing police escorts and black SUVs zooming pass. We stopped and yelled, “That’s her!” We screamed her name not even knowing if it was her inside one of the vehicles. We still laugh about it to this day because we swear it was her and that she saw us and waved. Y’all, that could’ve been ANYBODY! Laughing. But in our hearts it was her. Later that evening, we got to hear her talk about everything I wanted know and more. The book only covered so much and she filled in the rest. For me, God had answered my prayers. It didn’t take me years to realize what had happened. I knew at that exact moment that I was sitting in my answer.
Now, I’m reading her latest book and so far she’s dropping gems that I need for where I am now, in life. Yeah.. so many tools – as she calls them – that I can use to get me through this next phase of my journey. Smiling.
Listen, if you’re looking for a good book to read, that’s not boring, pick up Mrs. Obama’s latest book The Light We Carry.
A few years ago, I shared this quote – “Fear is only temporary. Regret lasts forever.” I’m not sure if regret lasts forever; however, I do know fear is only temporary.
Your vision is clear. Don’t allow fear to stop you from fulfilling your purpose. Do it afraid!♥️ ~ Shaun
Have you ever settled because you were too anxious to wait? OR… because you believed that what you were offered was the best you could get? You know– “You better take what you can get.”
Nah! NEVER settle for less than what you desire. Believe me, you’re worth it and more!♥️ ~ Shaun
Here’s a Facebook memory from five years ago, November 13, 2017. As I said then, whether my adventures are good or bad, I always look back and say, “Wow! I did that!” Smiling
Facebook Memory – November 13, 2022:
Good Morning!
I would like to thank you for supporting my new venture/adventure- The Research Diva-RD. Everything I do in life, or encounter, I view as an adventure. Some adventures are fun and some are not. Either way, I always tend to look back and say, “Wow, I did that!” I love life.
I pray that my new adventure helps bring hope and healing to communities while connecting us all. We must remember that, regardless of our backgrounds, we’re more alike than different.
Be Blessed 🙏🏽❤️
Yesss.. I did that and more! And guess what? I’m still doing it! Listen, as long as I’m alive, I will continue to take on new ventures/adventures. I’m just wired like that. Smile. Can’t wait to see where the current ones take me. Loving life..
Thanks for reading. Please take care of yourself and have a wonderful week!♥️
It’s Wednesday! The day after elections. Usually, the day afterwards, I feel somewhat confused, and today is no different. Y’all, I’m always stunned by the number of people who continue to vote for egotistical, self-centered people who are only concerned with winning and fulfilling their own needs. It’s so obvious that they care nothing for the voters. Not even the ones they claim to be protecting from the “woke” people. If they truly cared, they would support legislation and causes that would create a better world and environment for everyone. Equity…
I was going to go into details about some of the races (specifically the Senate race in Georgia), but I’ll let it rest. All I’m going to say is, that race should not have been that close. Who would, in good conscience, vote for anyone who would never be able to make effective decisions? Sadly, Georgia isn’t the only state that voted this way.
Enough about the foolishness…
The highlight of the night was not a win, but a beautifully delivered concedence speech by Stacey Abrams, Georgia’s gubernatorial candidate. Y’all, Stacey is not finished. I know they thought last night’s results would take her out the game. Nah.. this loss just gave her more momentum. She’s on fire! And the fire she’s ignited in Georgia is about to spread like wildfire to surrounding states. Yes.. this is ONLY the beginning. Stacey is a change agent.
Listen, last night, while watching her speech, all I could think was – “Stacey Abrams for President.” Y’all, God has so much more in store for her. As I said, this is only the beginning. Smiling
Your voice is powerful. Your heart is powerful. Your mind is powerful. Your uniqueness is powerful. Your entire being is powerful. YOU, my friend, are POWERFUL! ~ Shaun ♥️
TOMORROW is Midterm Election Day in the U.S. If you haven’t already voted, PLEASE use your power and VOTE. Tomorrow, I’m voting for candidates who care about the well-being and future of ALL Americans. The ones who understand diversity and equity are a must, not options. We need people in office who are empathetic, compassionate, kind, tolerant and willing to work together for the greater cause – Humanity.
James 2:14,17 NKJV (14) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Today, I would like to share a Facebook memory about faith. A moment where I spoke, believed and acted (worked) on my belief.
Facebook Memory: November 6, 2020 – My response to a video Tabitha Brown had shared.
Good Morning! Here’s today’s social media find! Listen, how many of y’all can relate to Tabitha’s story? I know I can!! Never stop believing!
Short story– Before I moved into my present home in 2018, my kids were even speaking things as though they were so (yes, having faith is contagious). In December of 2017, out of the blue my daughter said, “This time next year we will be in a new place.” Y’all, we, including my son, claimed it and started celebrating like we were already in another place. By August 2018, I hadn’t even found a place. However, I told my son that by his 15th birthday, which was at the end of September, we would be in a new place. Y’all, we moved into this house the day before his birthday. That’s faith! Listen, you can’t tell me what God can’t do! If it’s in His will, He’ll move mountains so that you can have it! Whew!! Tabitha got me fired up this morning. Lol! Have a blessed weekend.
Two years later, I purchased the house. Which was another act of faith.
Yesterday, Tyler Perry celebrated 30 years in show business. He posted pictures of four different studios – from his first to present – along with the caption: “Remember… wherever you start doesn’t have to be where you end… Never despise small beginnings. It takes a while to build a dream.”
No lie, not even an hour later while looking for something, I came across my first passport. Y’all, that stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t seen that passport in ages. Couldn’t even find it when I applied for my current one. Couldn’t even remember if I had ever had one. That’s how long it had been. Of course I became emotional because y’all know I’m emotional. (Smile) For me, Tyler’s post and me finding the passport was very significant.
You see, I got my first passport when I was 17 years old. I had just graduated from high school and had planned to spend my summer in the Dominican Republic to become fluent in Spanish (only stayed a few weeks because I couldn’t deal with all of the lizards – shaking my head). My next trip was supposed to be to France to become fluent in French (unfortunately, that never happened). My ultimate goal was to be a translator or interpreter at the United Nations, specifically the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Yes, those were my goals. Those were my dreams. Then, life happened and somehow that confident dreamer/goal setter disappeared. So finding that passport after Tyler’s post was pretty meaningful. While he was celebrating 30 years of achievements towards his dreams, I could only sit and look at where my dreams used to be. The place where I believed any- and everything was possible.
Now, don’t get me wrong, over the past 30 years (a little over 31, to be exact), I have tried to rekindle that same enthusiasm, optimism and confidence. I have also had multiple opportunities to achieve my goals and dreams. Sadly, every time I came close to acting on those opportunities I allowed fear and the feeling of unworthiness to stop me. Like.. Every. Single. Time. I believe they call it, self-sabotage. (Tears)
Honestly – being super transparent at the moment – I was afraid of the unknown and afraid of success – not failure. Yes.. success! In my mind, success was and still is a bit intimidating because you always have to maintain a certain level of success. Like, there’s no room for mistakes or failure.
I also mentioned unworthiness. I did not feel like someone who deserved certain things or to be in certain spaces. Although others believed it and could see it, I couldn’t. Now.. before life happened.. you couldn’t tell me I didn’t deserve the world or could not have or achieve anything I desired. HA! Then, the woes of life came. Seemed like every blow that hit me took away my confidence and feeling of worthiness. Opportunities would come (some actually found me), but I would look at myself, and my situation, and either turn the opportunity down or find an excuse to back out of it. Yep… Life.. My life.
For the past few years, I have been making social media posts about my desire to walk the halls of the Palais des Nations and work with people from different nations. Been manifesting it for a while. Well, within this same time, I have been somewhat preparing for it. Yes.. somewhat preparing. I’m not going to lie, the reason I have not put my all into it is due to some of the same reasons – fear of success and fear of not maintaining the success. With that said, I can happily and humbly say that my issue with feeling unworthy is a thing of the past. Listen, that feeling of unworthiness blocked all kinds of blessings. But not anymore. I now know that I’m God’s child and worthy to be in places and spaces fit for kings and leaders. Now, it’s time to work on the other.
Okay, to circle back to faith. I have faith that one day I will be at the UN. As I did with the house, I set a time frame. That’s what you do with goals right. (Laughing) Then, I worked towards finding a place. I didn’t just sit and wait for the house to find me. I actually had to start looking for a place.
Well, my journey to the UN isn’t going to just happen without me being intentional about getting there. I also have to start accepting opportunities – the right opportunities. Opportunities that could be somewhat uncomfortable or challenging, but necessary to help me achieve my goals.
Today, I’m going to set a time frame, tell my two believers, and then we’re going to believe for it just as we did for the house and everything else that has manifested. Y’all, they really are my faith partners. And they truly believe in me, which makes me feel amazing! Smiling
This is all I have for today. Hope you have a wonderful day and blessed week!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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