What began as There’s Got to be More Became My Quest to Preside
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What it means to Preside
To Preside is to have an understanding of our God-given authority and jurisdiction over our lives. As Stewards, we live by design and therefore can decide what we want. Once we accept God’s mandate to take authority over our lives, we can assess where we are, where we want to be and begin taking action. We’ll create order and implement boundaries, as well as strike thoughts and emotions that are no longer serving us—replacing them with powerful beliefs and the mindset it takes to sit on the bench of your life and Preside.
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“More. There’s got to be more.”
This was the refrain I had as a child and one that has played out throughout my life.
I’m Shelyna Brown-Hamilton and I’m from San Jose, CA. I grew up in a poor neighborhood and I didn’t feel that it was always fair. And so I wanted to do something, I wanted to have a voice. I wanted to speak up for people like myself and like my neighborhood. So I became a public defender and I did that for 15 years. For me, service was really the whole point of becoming a public defender and ultimately a judge. It was the best way, in my opinion, to serve my community.
I was one of the youngest judges appointed in Santa Clara County. I was 41 years old and I was not like any of the other judges—I was young, I was African-American, I was a woman, I was single and I was from very modest economic means. I was a very different type of judge.
I have received two Congressional Commendations, meaning congress has recognized my work in the community and my service. I was honored to receive one when I was beginning my career and I received another Congressional Commendation as I was retiring.
I didn’t really feel like I had any skills other than being a judge. I know that sounds crazy because there are lots of skills you must have to be a judge, but I wasn’t exactly sure how my skillset would translate into the real world.
In addition to retiring from being a judge, I wanted to become an entrepreneur, become an author and I wanted to find love. Those were the things on my list—but I was kind of stuck, I didn’t know exactly how to go about it or even if I could. It wasn’t until I got the right tools and got in touch with who I really was that I was able to make those things happen.
What’s so amazing is that everything that I put on my list of what I wanted to accomplish I am living right now.
My life post retirement is amazing. I am having the best time. My book launched on Amazon February 23, 2024. I’ve had a wonderful response and I am now an Amazon Bestselling Author!
I was able to do two TEDx talks in two countries, within two weeks. My TEDx Talk was about the intersection of your vocation and your avocation—where your passion and your purpose meet. The first line of my TEDx Talk was “there has got to be more” and I believe that distills my life—you make it somewhere, but then you realize there is always more. No matter how high you go or how successful you become, there is always more for us to do.
And then there is Alan—he was the third date I ever went on and we hit it off. We’ve been married now for 11 months! My relationship with Alan is everything I dreamed about, everything that I’d prayed for. It’s amazing.
I want to impact more people with the message of stewardship and being able to Preside over their lives. I don’t think there are any limits on what’s next.
When I think about where I was and where I am now, I would say you can really make your dreams come true. I believe anything is possible when you Preside over your life!
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