My life. My world. Love, hope, peace, joy & happiness.
The saying goes, “When praises go up, blessings come down.” Yessss!
I know you felt that because I sure did. Listen, I’m sending up praises as I write, not only for myself, but for everyone connected to me, including YOU. Yes, praises are going up for you!♥️
Keep those praises going! You never know who you are blessing.
Shaun
I hope Facebook never does away with its “Memories” feature. For years now, it has been my source of inspiration, encouragement, smiles and much needed messages. Here is one I decided not to make public and only saved it as a reminder to myself. I was going to publish it but changed my mind. I knew what it meant to me then. Needed to see it again to reassess what it means to me today.
Facebook Memory: November 28, 2021
Reading Will Smith’s book WILL. Sooo many gems in this book. Here’s one I just had to share. Something to think about when making decisions.
“It’s amazing how skewed your vision can become when you see the present through the lens of your past.”
There’s no way we can move forward if our mindset is stuck in the past, or we continue to react to present situations based on past experiences.
Decided not to share this with anyone. Don’t believe they’d understand. However, I’m posting it privately so that it shows up in my memory next year.
Which lens are you/am I using to view the present? Are we looking through the lens of the past or the lens of the future? Something to really ponder on.
I have yet to read Jada Pinkett Smith’s book, but I did read Will Smith’s and LOVED it. So much of what he wrote resonated with me. I remember writing that we must have had the same zodiac sign or something (we don’t, I’m a cancer and he’s a libra). Then, after listening to Jada’s conversation with Jay Shetty, I was like maybe we are alike also. Maybe it was the era of when we were born, or being young adults in the 90s. I just view things a little differently than most.
See, this is the perfect example of how my year long celebration has been going. I’m tasked with an assignment/assessment of a situation that I need to deeply examine before moving forward. My decisions will set the stage or trajectory for my next 50+ years. Yeah…THIS is what I have been working with since turning 50. My jubilee year has not been the celebratory year I expected; however, it has been the year that my future self is dependent on.
That’s all I have to share at this moment. Not going to assess and decide today. Nope, this requires a lot of thought and assessing. I just needed to see it today. Trusting God for more affirmations, confirmations, and revelations. I am listening, God.
Anyhoo…Welcome to Shaun’s world! It’s deep. It’s complexed. It’s me. It’s who I am becoming. God has so many great things planned for my future. Stick around and see how it all plays out.
Shaun
Facebook Memory: November 14, 2022
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!♥️
On another note…
TODAY IS MY BESTIES’ 50TH BIRTHDAY!!!!
Y’all, we have been friends since we were toddlers (2-3 years old). We also share the same name (Shaun & Shawn). How wild is that, especially since I was born in Mississippi and she was born in Chicago. Our mothers were never friends. We met through our grandparents who were neighbors. Most of our lives we lived in different places. I was always between Mississippi and Kansas and she was everywhere—Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Mississippi. Although we rarely saw each other outside of summer vacations, we kept in touch through letters. I am so grateful and blessed to have her in my life.
Little Miracles (Happen Every Day) by Luther Vandross
Lyrics: LyricFind
First thing I know, God is love
The next thing would be, He loves me
Sometimes I’m tired of waiting for a thing or someone
Then I stop and see what He’s done and I know everything will come
Maybe today, anything can change, nothing stays the same
Maybe today, what’s tomorrow for, no one knows for sure
Through it all, come what may
Little miracles happen everyday…
What is a miracle?
Love is a miracle
Every time that you care, a miracle, it happens somewhere
So many miracles, even small little miracles
Just take one look about, it’s not hard to figure out
‘Cause it might be today, anything can change nothing stays the same
And maybe today, what’s tomorrow for, no one know for sure
Through it all, come what may
Little miracles happen everyday
Love you!♥️
Shaun
Keep God first. Not second. Not third. Not as a last resort. First!
Keep Him first in both good and bad times. Most importantly, honor Him just as strongly when you get what you prayed for as you did while you were praying. First!♥️ ~ Shaun
Life is going to happen regardless. Staying centered means blocking outside and internal noises, and only focusing on yourself and God.
Yes, life is going to do what it does. Do not let it drag you with it.♥️ ~ Shaun
Today’s a new day! Time to get up and get moving. So grateful I am still here and blessed. Amen
Here’s a quote from last year’s journal entry. Y’all, God’s word is always on time. Always! Trust where He’s guiding you.
Shaun’s Journal Entry: September 5, 2022
“Trust that the One who created us knows us best because He’s the one who created us. When we surrender and be obedient, God is lining us up for so much greater. The walk of obedience leads to a life unimaginable. Even though it seems hard at the moment it will be worth it.” Alex Seeley (TBN’s Better Together Series)
Surrender and be obedient. God has something greater planned. Love you!♥️
Shaun
I chose the word humble because it is what I am feeling at the moment. I feel like it is time to step down from this pedestal of internal self righteousness (yeah.. it’s a mind thing) and personally own up to what has been preventing me from fully moving forward. I owe it to myself to do so.
Today, I’m going to share something that I have never shared before nor ever wanted to admit. Y’all, I am at a point in life… year 50… where I am so serious about healing so that I can move forward and freely receive all God has for me. I’m going to try to make this short.
This morning I read my journal entry from this date last year, August 22, 2022. In that entry, I referenced something that had happened several years earlier. Just reading it had me reminiscing about how I felt at that moment, which was seen and appreciated. Up until that incident, I felt small and insignificant. Personally my life sucked. I always put on a good face, but I was pretty down. At that time, I was going through the divorce and the only things that kept me going were my faith in God, the love from my two and social media. The crazy part was my professional life was taking off. Y’all, life was weird.
Anyhoo… Although I was doing well professionally, I hated being in the spotlight. I loved operating under the radar, working behind the scenes and not being noticed. Well, one day all of that changed in the blink of an eye. Literally! When it happened I was elated; however, at the same time I panicked. Honestly, it all happened so fast that I really didn’t know what to feel. I remember feeling ashamed for panicking because what had happened to me was what everyone else longed for. They wanted to be seen. They wanted to be recognized. And there I was wondering how I should respond. Couldn’t enjoy the moment because I was all in my head.
I wish I could say that my life remained the same, but it didn’t. After I realized the magnitude of what had happened… because everyone made sure I knew it was a big deal… I attempted to embrace it the best way that I could. Little did I know that I would begin to lose myself for the second time in a few years. Soon I didn’t know who I was anymore. It was like I became what everyone thought I should be. Before, I was just me doing what I loved doing, supporting what I loved.♥️ Afterwards… I’m not really sure who I became.
Y’all, this is so hard to admit, but I know I have to get it out or I will remain stuck in the past.
Recently, I found myself reverting back to what was. It wasn’t something that I was even aware that I was doing until I woke up one morning and that particular thing was the first thing on my mind. Y’all, I had to check myself real quick. I couldn’t go back. I had worked too hard to find myself again. Then, this morning happened. After reading that journal entry and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, I wanted to go back. You know, just to revisit. Before I could do it, I was reminded of the story in the Bible about Lot’s wife looking back and turning into a pillar of salt. Maybe she was just like me. She longed for the comfort of what was. It may not have been what was best for her, but it felt familiar and safe. She knew what to expect and what not to expect. It was home.
Now, here I am moving forward into the unknown. Y’all, at this age things are pretty scary. So much of my life is behind me. I see the 30 and 40 year olds doing their thing. I often wonder what life will be like for me as I move on. Will I ever feel that special again? Will my life ever be as exciting as it was? Because y’all, I am not going to lie, life was pretty exciting… until it wasn’t exciting anymore. Sighing
Well, I guess I can say that after this release I have entered yet another level of freedom. And to think I thought I had released everything before I turned 50. Shaking my head. How many more levels do I have to go before I am actually free?! Laughing
Life is funny… Enjoying this crazy ride!♥️
Shaun
You know better than I do what “it” means to you. So whatever “it” is, give it to God. Release it. Let it go. Let Him handle it.♥️ ~Shaun
Side Note:
When God has a message for you, you best believe He will make sure you receive it. Now whether or not you obey it is on you.
Funny story… or more like a transparent moment… guess I have been feeling Year50 a little too much. I’m not going to lie, I have been like, “if it did not happen on that side of 50 I’m moving on.” Every time these moments happened I would hear God ask if I had consulted Him. Well, I would tune Him out. I didn’t want hear anything about consulting Him because I felt like I had been consulting with Him long enough on issues I could clearly handle on my own. Told you I’m being very transparent.
Well, this morning we had a meeting and I had to let go of a few hurts and disappointments, hurts and disappointments stemming from things not happening in my time, or the time limit I had placed on Him (God)–everything had to happen before 50. My mind and mouth said I was okay with His timing, but my heart and soul were not okay. Until this morning, I had not allowed myself to feel the pain of those hurts. I wanted to leave everything behind. But as we all know, whatever we don’t fully address will always be lurking in the background just waiting for the opportunity to resurface.
Here’s the message I received this morning, and get this… I wrote it. Must have written it specifically for this moment–gotta love God’s timing!
Facebook Memory: July 18, 2022
Enjoy your day!
Happy Tuesday!
Woke up with the song, “Be Encouraged,” playing over and over in my head. Not long afterwards, I checked my Facebook memories and low and behold look at what popped up!
Kept scrolling through my memories and found another gem from July 11, 2017. I immediately began singing Donald Lawrence’s song, “I Speak Life.”
Thanks for dropping in to see what I had to say today. I so appreciate you! Enjoy your day.♥️
Shaun
It’s Shaun’s World 
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