Tag: Wednesday

Life

Your Blessings Will Find You

Shaun Bradford

Already up reading past journal entries so I may as well write. This particular message is a brief summary of what I wrote eight years ago, August 2, 2015.

Message…

Your blessings will find you. You won’t have to seek them out, God will deliver them to you. Remain faithful.

Eight years ago, I was at one of my lowest points in life. I had recently separated from my ex; car was breaking down every other day; house was going into foreclosure; and I didn’t know if I would get the raise that I so badly needed. That was eight years ago. In that same journal entry I wrote –

“I feel like the world is weighing down on me. This load is very heavy, but I thank God for helping me make it daily. The steps forward are very small, but I do know I’m moving forward.”

Despite what I was going through, I knew deep down I was moving forward. Later on that same evening, I had received an email from the department chair saying that they had petitioned for me to receive an even larger increase in my salary from what we had discussed. I didn’t even have to lift a finger. God intervened on my behalf.

Since then, I have been up and I have been down, but never that far down. Even with setbacks I have constantly moved forward. I was listening to a message yesterday where the young lady said your setbacks have made you stronger. And she was right, each setback did make me stronger. What would’ve taken me out eight years ago seems like child’s play today. God is good!

That’s all for today. I haven’t been drawing like I used to. Feel like I’m running out of flowers to draw. Maybe I need to really focus on drawing one thing and perfecting it. I’ll let you know how that works. Until I draw something new, I will reshare from my Facebook memories. Here’s what I shared last year. Be blessed.♥️ ~ Shaun

Stay focused.
Life

Fulfilling God’s Purpose and Promise

Shaun Bradford

Allow God to use you as He sees fit to fulfill His purpose and promise.♥️ ~Shaun

Resist the urge to abandon your calling because you cannot see anything happening. Follow God’s lead.
Life

Know Who You Are

Shaun Bradford

Over the years, I have discovered one of the keys to knowing who you are is knowing who you are not.

I know who I am because I finally understand, and have accepted, who I am not.

I hate to admit that my road to self-discovery recently wrapped up–at least I believe it is over–during the last few days of my 40s. Maybe it was because I was so determined not to bring uncertainties and baggage into this half of my life. At the very end, up until a few days in, there were things I had to let go of, things I had held on to much longer than I should have. What I discovered was those things were hindering me from fully knowing and embracing my authentic self. Even though I knew God had made me different from others, I constantly questioned my worth and abilities. I also kept feeling behind or as if I had missed out on valuable opportunities.

I know I have only been on this side of 50 a very short while, but life really does seem different. I finally feel like I am dancing to the beat of my own drums. I no longer feel the anxiety and pressure of not being who or where I imagined I would be at this time in life. I contribute all of this to this year’s/half century’s theme–“Being present while residing in a space of peace.”

Y’all, just thinking… Christy Nockels’ book, The Life You Long For, really did prepare me for this.

Forever grateful for God’s love, mercy and grace. Y’all, He really does love me.

Thanks for reading. Wishing all of you a wonderful day!♥️

Shaun

Life

The Important Things

Shaun Bradford
What is most important to you? For me, it’s my family and healthy relationships.

The last few days, actually months, have been quite challenging. Not sure if this is the most difficult season I have had to endure, but it’s pretty close. Although things have been a little crazy, I personally believe I am handling things well. I know that if any of this would have happened a few years back, I would have had a mental breakdown. Thanking God for growth. Thanking God for the smaller challenges – the ones I did not believe I would make it through – they prepared me for what I am facing today.

I believe I am doing better this time around because I am only focusing on, as well as holding on to, things and relationships that are most important to me. They are keeping me afloat.

I pray you are focused on what’s most important in your life. Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

A few moments ago, I liked a tweet that said, “In this very moment, my life is perfect.”

Hmmm…

In this very moment, my life is muddled.

Yep..

Right now.

In this very moment.

Muddled.

It’s kind of difficult to explain. I feel somewhat detached and alienated from the world. I can hear people saying, “Hush, don’t tell anyone how you really feel. Keep that to yourself. You’ll get over it.” And I will get over it. I always do. However, in this very moment, this is my life and this is how I feel. Honestly, I’m not even sure how I got to this point. My goal was to block out distractions and focus on my business; but it seems like the more I do, the more I feel alone.

Today is my designated wellness day. I believe I need to take it. No work.

Why did my heart just drop when I wrote “no work”? It’s like I cannot afford not to do anything. Ugh!

But, yes, today I just need to be. Wish I could go on a picnic or to the beach. I need to be one with nature. I need to really connect with God, and I can’t do it from where I am. Plus, today it’s too rainy and too cold to be outside. Sigh

Anyhoo..

I’ll talk to y’all tomorrow. I promise it will be something uplifting. Enjoy your day.♥️

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Happy Wednesday! I’m not going to keep you long. Wanted to share a snippet of a Facebook memory from a few years ago.

Facebook Memory: January 18, 2019:

I came across a quote that read, “Stay the Course.” Y’all, we have to stay the course because so many blessings are awaiting us. Even if you’re barely hanging on by a thread, don’t let go. Hold on to that one pinch of hope. God is working and everything will work in your favor. Don’t Give Up

Listen, do not give up. God has a way of making everything fall into place. So, stop stressing. Stop trying to figure things out. Go on about your day doing what you do – minus the stressing – and allow God to do what He does.

Wishing you a peaceful day!♥️

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

Today is the first Wednesday of the year! Which means I have well over 100 (closer to 200) more Wednesdays of writing. I know it sounds like a lot, but I can do it. I will get it done. Smiling

Not really sure what I want to write about today. Yesterday, I realized I didn’t do an end of year review for 2022. So many people had posted wonderful videos recapping their 2022 and I didn’t post a thing. Even on New Year’s Eve, I only posted three things that really summed up my entire year – I conquered fears, found myself again and released control. And truthfully, that about sums up everything that happened last year.

This year has already started off differently than past new years. This year actually feels different. It’s like I’m seeing things differently. It’s as if my entire life is changing before my eyes and I actually feel it happening. Honestly, it’s the most present that I have ever been. Maybe it’s the awareness that I’ll be 50 this year. Maybe my entire being feels it. It’s so hard to describe. It’s such a wonderfully, strange feeling.

Short story—

At some point during my teenage years, I imagined myself living two drastically different lives – the first 50 years and the remaining 50+ years. As you can see, I have always seen myself living a very long life. Smile. The first half was for… Y’all, basically it was for doing what I have done – find myself and retire. Y’all, that was just an “Aha” moment. At the time that I declared I would live two lives, I didn’t refer to it as “finding myself.” I always thought of it as this exploratory phase. During my first 50 years, I would take chances and try different things until I discovered what I liked and didn’t like; what I wanted to do and didn’t want to do. Then I would take all of this information and experience and decide how I wanted to live the second half of my life. Listen!! You don’t have to believe me, but God will give you exactly what you ask for and most times you don’t even know He’s doing it. Sitting in awe right now! It wasn’t until late last year that I even realized I retired before I was 50. For some reason, I hadn’t really recognized my retirement from the military as the “retire before age 50” that I had asked for. When I tell you God forever amazes me!

So, Year 50 is loading. Although I still have several months to go, I can already feel the change taking place. I know most of you reading this probably think I’m crazy, but I am so serious. My life is changing.

I know how I imagined myself living the second half of my life. Not going to share. I don’t have to speak it into existence because I already spoke it decades ago. I’m just going to take it all in and let it happen.

Well, I guess you can also mark this as my first “random rambling” for the year. As always, thanks for reading. Remember to stay present and your day!♥️

Shaun

Life

Wednesday Writings

Shaun Bradford

I was just scrolling through my Facebook memories and came across a few pictures I had shared from one of my basketball card collections. Y’all, it’s so ironic that this post popped up today because I have been thinking about parting ways with my cards… with a lot of things.

For a little over two months now, I have been slowly packing up my mom’s house. I never knew how much stuff she had. How many sentimental things she had been holding on to. Listen, it was a lot.

Well, this got me to thinking about some of the things I’ve been holding on to. Things that are very dear to me. Although my sisters and I kept a lot of my moms things– even though we had no real connection with them– will my children do the same? Would I want them to? They already think I hold on to too much, and I think they might be right.

After going through Momma’s things and having to decide what’s worth keeping, selling or trashing, I believe it’s time to let a few things of my own go. My two have told me countless times that they do not want their baby items, preschool drawings or their baby teeth. Laughing. So why am I still holding on to them? Y’all, I have things like their first pair of shoes, the outfits they wore home from the hospital. I also have baby bottles, bows, and stuffed animals. And y’all, don’t get me started on all of the books and VHS tapes I kept. And that’s only their things. Sigh. I have over 30 years of my own things that I have kept. Y’all, I still have my laundry bag from basic training. Why?!! Shaking my head, laughing. It’s definitely too much. So, before this year ends.. which is soon.. I need to decide what’s continuing on with me and what has to go.

Questions: Have you ever had to part ways with sentimental items? If so, how did you do it; and how did you feel afterwards? Do you regret it?

Well, this is all I have for today. Next week we will be in a new year. How exciting!

Enjoy your day!♥️

Shaun