“Snow Weekend!”

I have to say that The Blizzard of 2022 here at the Jersey Shore was something to see! Drifts of over 5 feet, white out conditions due to hurricane force winds, and almost 2 feet of snow! I was going to make it a “snow day” but decided that after working on my novel so much for the last few weeks I’d make it a “snow weekend!” I did get some editing done but decided to cook some comfort food, watch a series on Netflix and relax!

And it was wonderful!

There’s something about knowing that you can’t go out, that the roads aren’t plowed enough to drive, and that there’s so much snow piled on and around your car that you can’t even begin to shovel.

I think it’s the Universe’s way of giving us a day off in which we don’t feel guilty about watching television or reading a good book or a day of doing nothing if that’s what we choose.

It’s a “guilt free” day knowing that you have to stay home. The choices of what we do with a “snow day or weekend” are all ours and it’s nice to enjoy them without the guilt of thinking of all the things we should be doing!

I loved my “snow weekend” and am so grateful to have had two days with no guilt and no pressure! It was two days of a bit of writing, a lot of cooking and one filled with much peace and serenity.

I think that we should all have a “guilt free” day every so often!

Why wait for a snow day?

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Restless Soul Syndrome”

I’ve got “restless soul syndrome” again. It could be that I’ve been sitting in this “comfort zone” for too long knowing that it isn’t actually all that comfortable! Or it could be that I’ve been sitting in the same “box” for so long that I need to step out of it!In other words, I need a change. A change of scenery, a change of heart, a change of perspective. In any case, it’s a change of some sort I’m sure.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy but I do feel restless, and I’m working on stepping out of my comfort zone and out of the box!I’ve been working hard on my novel, which I hope to have released by early spring and I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly happy I feel when I’m writing. It’s a feeling of pure joy for me and this new book is one completely different from all the others I wrote before. I’m hoping for the best for this “baby” of mine. I actually wrote this novel 17 years ago and have procrastinated long enough in rewriting it. The story needed an update and that’s what I’ve been doing. My intention is to have it in the hands of the publisher by March and on the market by spring.

I’m hoping this book brings exciting changes in my life, ones that I’ve wanted for a long time, but I’m doing more than “hoping” and “working” on it.I’m allowing myself to “see it, believe it and achieve it.”

Sometimes “restless soul syndrome” comes around to “shake you up and wake you up!”

I believe that it’s helping me finish the book. It’s helping me see it as I picture it to be, helping me to believe in the changes it will bring, and helping me do what it takes to achieve it.

And for that, I’m grateful.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“I Wanna Go Back…”

Do you ever hear a song on the radio that takes you back in time? One that transports you to a time when you were younger and life seemed much simpler?

It’s that song that brings you back to a precious memory, of a time when you remember being so carefree and happy.

For me it’s a song sung by Eddie Money that makes me think that “I wanna go back and do it all over, but I can’t back, I know.” 

But I can’t go back. None of us can.

What we can do is hold onto those memories from a lifetime ago.

Keep them safely tucked inside of your heart.

And don’t lose sight of “now.”

When life isn’t going the way we had planned, or we’re feeling sad or depressed, or as though we’ll never be happy again, we often go back to those times.

We all do.

But don’t go back to those times and wish that you were there again.

Visit those times to remind you that you have been happy and that life was all that you wanted it to be at that time.

And let those times remind you that you can have that in the “now.” You didn’t leave happiness in your past. It was simply a different time in your life that taught you what “happiness” feels like. 

Take those feelings of old memories with you into your “now.” 

And let your “now” guide you into your “future.”

Life is a series of memories, good and bad, a series of life lessons, easy and hard, and a series of ups and downs. Experience is a great teacher and memories are gifts that we are given along the way.

Go back and visit if only to remind you that your “now” is just as precious as your “then.”

And remember to be grateful for it all.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“You’ll Figure It Out”

My friend, Billy, sent me this picture yesterday and I had to laugh a bit because it’s just what I needed to hear! And he’s right, I always do figure it out…eventually.I can’t help but think that we all are trying to figure it out. The world that we thought would have calmed down by now is still somewhat chaotic. That virus seems to be everywhere, causing turmoil wherever it goes. Businesses can’t get help and customers have no patience for wait times. The shelves at the food store haven’t been restocked in weeks. Mask mandates are cropping up again all over. It’s no wonder that we’re feeling anxious or stressed. It’s no wonder that we’re trying to figure it out. And it’s no wonder that we’re trying to “figure out” what we’re actually trying to figure out.

All we can do is keep the faith, stay positive and be there for one another.

After all, as I’ve always said to my children, “It won’t be like this forever, just for today.”

At least I’d like to believe that.

Don’t worry, my loves, we’re in this together and eventually we will all “figure it out!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“On Finding Joy In The Simple Things”

It’s a cloudy, dreary Sunday here at the Jersey Shore and it’s the perfect day to make some gravy (or sauce) with sausage and meatballs. I gathered all of my ingredients early this morning, chopped some garlic, made my meatballs and sausage and turned on the soundtrack from the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun.” Life is good.

Cooking gravy (or sauce) is very therapeutic for me. It’s the process of putting the perfect combination of spices together, the constant stirring and taste testing to get it just right.

While I find this therapeutic, I realized that this brings me “joy,” and as I wrote years ago: “Joy is the elevated state of happiness.” Such a simple task of cooking yet one that truly brings me joy. 

So here I am today working on writing my next book and stirring my gravy (sauce) every so often. It’s the perfect combination of two things that bring me great joy.

What brings you joy? 

I find that sometimes it’s the simplest and smallest of things that bring us the most joy.

My wish for you is that you find joy in your life.

I often find it in mine.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“This Bug Has Left The Building!”

The nasty little bug I’ve had for over a week has finally left the building and for that, I am truly grateful. I am left with the fatigue but that’s just fine by me. 

I found myself getting frustrated while I was sick because I had no energy to do anything except sleep or sit on the couch watching movies. I was home for over a week and kept thinking to myself: “You should be writing, reading or catching up by phone with old friends. You should…you should…you should.” It was driving me crazy until I changed my perspective on this time at home.

My body needed to rest. It needed to BE at rest. My mind wasn’t in any shape to write anything because all my mind kept thinking was “I don’t feel good.” I’m a believer in that the Universe whacks us with a 2×4 when we’re not taking care of ourselves the way that we should, and that’s just what it did to me.

So, I let go of feeling frustrated and began to feel grateful that I could be home to take care of myself, to rest and relax, and to just “be.” My body needed that, especially after the holidays, and my mind needed that as well.

Life is a mindset of perspectives and if we can take an unpleasant situation and find something positive in it, I believe the situation won’t be as unpleasant as we had believed. Your thoughts are powerful and you are in control of them. It can be difficult to stay positive when we’re in the midst of something negative, but it’s worth the effort.

And you can do it.

And so can I.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

#mindset #perspective #covid #life #gratitude #theuniverse #feelingsick #rest #relax #positivethoughts #youcandoit #onthemend

“Another New Year’s Eve”

How is the second day of the New Year treating everyone? I hope it finds you well. As for me, that nasty little virus found its’ way to my door and I’ve been dealing with it for the last few days. I’m missing all the energy I usually have but this bug decided to make me extremely tired and give me a little fever to fight off every day. No worries, I’m resting, taking it easy and letting it run its course. As all things in life, this too shall pass.

I forgot all about this poem that I wrote that’s published in my book, “Each Breath Along The Journey.” I hope you enjoy it and my wish for you is that this year of 2022 is being kind to you.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Make 2022 The Year of YOU!”

“Let’s make this New Year of 2022

The year of making choices that help you become your best  “YOU!”

Happy New Year! Have you all thought about your New Year Revelations? I sure did. One of the lessons that I learned is that I haven’t been making myself as much of a priority as I make everyone else, and that has to change. It has to change because there are times that at the end of the day I have nothing left to give, even to myself. And it’s not selfish to take care of myself.

I know that when I’m taking care of myself that I have so much more to give to others, and that’s what I love to do. I want to have a focused mind to express my feelings when I write. I want to have more energy so that I can be there if someone needs me. And I want to find the balance in my life so that I have more to give to the world.

And it’s so important to take care of your mind, body and spirit. Everything begins with YOU and when YOU are feeling good, you can do good. 

And the world needs as much “good” as it can get!

Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

Life is a mindset and when you set your mind to making changes that make you your best YOU, your life will change. 

And the world will, too.

It’s time to do “you” in 2022!

Are you ready?

I am.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“New Year’s Revelations in 2022!”

“Resolutions are promises you don’t often keep. Revelations are lessons you learn that can change your life.”I learned that the only way for my life to change in the New Year was to think about the lessons that the year had taught me. Those lessons became my “New Year Revelations.”

Every year I notice that as the New Year approaches, people start talking about their “resolutions.” There’s things they want to do and things they want to change in their life so they make a list of “resolutions.”

I threw that concept out years ago because to me, resolutions were nothing more than making promises to myself that I couldn’t keep. They were goals for sure, but seriously, how many of us actually stick to those resolutions? I always tried, failed at some, then beat myself up for not doing what I had wanted.

So, years ago I realized that the only way for my life to change was by learning the lessons that life had handed me, learning from my mistakes, and learning from my experiences, and so I decided to have my “New Year’s Revelations!” I ask myself some important questions throughout the month of December: What opened my eyes this past year? What did I learn about myself? What type of people am I surrounding myself? Am I taking care of myself and loving myself enough or giving too much of myself away? And what do I need to let go of that has no place in the New Year coming up and in my life?

These are the questions to ask yourself and answer honestly. You see, when you have those “revelations” about yourself and the year that’s about to come to an end, you take those lessons and truths with you. When you do that, the New Year will open the door to endless possibilities. Don’t put added stress on yourself by making “resolutions.”

Take the time to think about your “revelations” and begin the New Year in a positive light. All things are possible if you just believe in yourself!

Here’s to an awesome 2022! Happy New Year, my loves!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~