skip to Main Content

It was a great month!

Image result for live and love and smile

It’s been a long time since I’ve written one of my inspirations….49 days to be exact: August 12th, 2018.  So what have I been doing?

Well, simply put, I’ve been making and taking time for me! As many know, I took my son off to school this summer and for the first time in my life I am living without either of my sons in the house.  It has taken some getting used to I must admit, but in that process, I’ve learned more and more how to relax and just get up and make each day mine…with ME first! I had several “crazy schedules” going on and decided to put a few of them to the side…or in the trash! You see, you can’t relax well if you hang on to stress.  The two don’t go well together.

My sleep pattern has become one that I haven’t known since pre-giving birth! I sleep well and I no longer get up for the loo in the middle of the night! Weekends come and I lay in bed sometimes til late morning or early afternoon, and sometimes all day til evening. I eat when I want and what I want – and I go wherever I want to go.

September came. The month of my birth.  And I decided that I would celebrate for the whole month.  And that’s just what I did.  Throughout the 30 days, I did some fun things, some new things, and some things I’d never done before.  I made a concerted effort to do things with people I hadn’t spent time with in forever, reconnecting with people with whom I’d lost touch!  One of the best bits of news came during September.  I had a complete physical and the doctor told me that my blood pressure was such that other people my age would be jealous – and after a body scan she told me the results were “textbook perfect”.  What more could I possibly ask for?

October begins tomorrow and I will carry my September memories and happiness with me into this new month as I set my sights on new goals and opportunities.  Each day is a brand new start to do just that. I’m just glad that I got to fulfill everything mentioned in the poster I’ve included at the top of this article. I encourage you today to LIVE!  Life truly is wonderful despite its ups and downs!.

This Post Has 27 Comments

  1. Yes yes yesssssssss k
    This is one way in which many need to do. Instead of the same old routine people should switch things WAY UP!!!
    Don’t live your life saying what if and still do nothing.
    Don’t keep caring what others will say when you dye your hair green.
    And definitely do the things you always wanted to do.
    Take life moment by moment.
    Nah um said enough.
    Drich

  2. This is awesome! Doing you also gives you time to sit and reach towards fulfilling those goals! It’s gives you time to see yourself and correct what’s wrong and make you a better you! I’m with you in this Shawnette!! Happy and blessed October to you!!!

    1. Thanks, Patrice – and I pray that what you have been waiting for comes to fruition as well because you deserve it!

  3. I am thankful that you found time this month for my request. With your support we achieved what we set out to do.
    Thank you for being an inspiration. I am listening and watching.
    Wishing continued enlightenment 🙏

    1. Okina, I was so happy to be of assistance and actually somewhat honored that you would ask me. I hope this turns out to be BIGGER than either of you anticipated. Life is about making time and giving time. I’m so glad I HAD the time!!

  4. It’s wonderful to reach a season in one’s life where “me first” is a well-deserved right. I still have young ones in the house, so I’m not quite there yet, but your composition is inspiring! Enjoy the time you have been awarded to pamper yourself! Congratulations!

    1. I promise you – YOUR DAY WILL COME!! People used to say that to me and I would look at them cross eyed. LOL.. Hard to believe IT’S HERE……and the possibilities ahead are endless…..Thanks for posting!!

  5. What a great motivation story! It’s amazing when we simply take the time for ourselves, show gratitude & breathe how the universe puts everything in perspective. I know you miss your sons like I did when my sons were gone for several years. It’s the circle of life. But these years go by soooo fast so continue to enjoy the moment. Your story has now given me the motivation to reflect on my September & I’m ever so grateful to have gotten through. Keep me coming. I love the read 🙏🏼🌹✨

    1. Cesa, the mere fact that what I have written has given you a jump start to reflect for me is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! You are phenomenal so my hope is that you will reflect and then walk through the doors that WILL open for you!!

  6. This is so lovely Shawnette. It’s so liberating to find time for yourself, and to put you first; after being such and awesome mom to your sons, and setting them off on strong paths. I’ve learned too, to enjoy and make time for myself … 🤗 … more. Keep on enjoying you and Happy October!!!

  7. Shawnette, you are truly an inspiration for us who do too much, waiting for the time when we can ‘start’ living! Let’s all live in the moment and enjoy our blessings. You are amazing!

    1. One of my goals it is to help people do things differently just a bit at a time….just as I did. I know it’s not easy….I encourage you to do that ONE little thing for yourself this week!! You deserve it. Thanks for commenting……

  8. Congrats on achieving mastery of you. Yes it so easy to pursue competence in parenting, careers, social endeavors, etc and forget to take time to learn ourselves. Knowing you empowers you to know what truly makes you happy. It’s all about the little things which when compounded make one big chunk of happiness. Cheers!

  9. What a wonderful inspiring piece, Shawnette. It’s awesome that you were able to find the time to do you. Or, perhaps a better way of saying it is that you chose to MAKE the time to do you, and that’s great! It is so very important to do you, to care for ourselves. My life, as a facilitator of learning, doesn’t leave much time for me to do me. In fact, any time that I have for myself or to myself is stolen time. But, at the end of the day, no one can take better care of us than us. Perhaps, like you, I need to make a concerted effort at taking better care of me, of doing me. Thank you for the inspiration.

    1. Sharon, the first step is in recognizing that you must and I’m here to tell you you CAN!! It starts with that ONE decision to make that ONE choice that you are going to do something for yourself and let nothing get in your way! Do it. You know I’ll be checking up on you!! (smile)

  10. Shawnette this reminds of the saying live your life like it’s your last!! We all have to take a page out of your message because it is extremely to take time out for ourselves and to actually put ourselves first sometimes. In order to help others we must help ourselves first! September is my birth month as well I am a libra and I’m trying to balance my life out. Continue to be blessed my friend and thanks for the encouragement always.

  11. Yep, yep and yep. I have been an empty nester for a very long time. I had the pleasure of being a very active grandmother for a number of years to my oldest grandson who is now 13. I have tried to stay in contact with all 5 which has been challenging at times. Hence, it is so important to find new things to do for oneself. I have stepped out of my comfort zone a few times over the last couple of years. Thankfully I do enjoy my own company too as the husband doesn’t always want to go anywhere. One of the best times was attending one of Tim McGraw’s concerts in Tampa, FL. – on my own. I had the best time and met some wonderful people. Last week, I went on the party bus with 12 others. What a blast that was. Today is another one of my furlough days – yep I still have them. I plan on doing a road trip on the bus to St. George’s, have lunch and plod around a few shops, then return home on the bus. Once you start doing “you”, it becomes a wonderful and therapeutic habit.

    1. Lisa – I hope that someone can “take a page out of your book” and learn to enjoy time for and with themselves. Thanks for sharing!!

  12. Hey cousin Shawn you’ve heard it said before when travelling, ” put the mask over your face first and then assist those around you”.
    So glad to hear that you are finally taking hold of the,Me First
    Movement.
    You are such a nurturer that I believe it is very common for you to extend the gift of yourself to others and in some cases or many cases you’ve found that it hasn’t been reciprocated.. But you even surpass that and tend to say, ‘Well you know what, I did my part”.
    Well you know what, it’s Your time… Literally stop… And smell the roses!
    The excerpt at the beginning of your message is one you are deserving of..
    Remember this from Clearwater middle school?
    Carpe Diem…
    P.s. You inspire me… Mwah

    1. Awww thank you, Cousin Dorothy…thank you so much! I just want to inspire others…..

      You do know I wrote the words and music to the Clearwater Middle School song, right? (smile)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top