“Never let anyone steal your brave because of their fears and insecurities, never let anyone steal your pretty because they have an ugly personality, and never let anyone steal your sparkle because they don’t know how to shine.” ~Anne Dennish~
Sometimes all we need is a memory to pop up to remind us of a life lesson. This was mine from many years ago.
A good friend of mine had stopped by my house many years ago. We hadn’t seen each other in months, and it was a much-needed break for me that day. We had a nice visit, but it was something that she said as we said “goodbye”, that stuck with me for many hours that day. She said: “What happened to you? You lost your pretty, your sparkle and your brave! Go get that stuff back!”
Wow, point taken, and she was right. I had lost my pretty, forgotten about my brave, and had most definitely lost my sparkle. My task on that day was to figure out what happened to it all and the next was to go and get it back. It wasn’t the thing that I had wanted to do that day, but after all, if I’m going to share my experiences with all of you and tell you how I got through them then I had to practice what I preach or at least practice what I write about!
So, what happened to my pretty, my brave and my sparkle?
A lot of things happened.
Yet it isn’t so much about “what” those things were but “why” those things happened. And as always, I believe that what we allow will continue and that we have to set up healthy boundaries in our life and not allow them to be crossed.
It’s easier said than done.
So, on that day I had to look in the mirror and be truthful with myself. And yes, the truth, even our own truth, can hurt.
And it did.
I had work to do that day and I was more than ready to do it. I knew then why and how I lost my pretty, my brave and my sparkle.
I lost it because I lost sight of its importance to me and that those three things are a part of me. I forgot to love myself the way I want to be loved, and I lost sight of myself as well.
You see, I’m as human as you and even I have to be handed another experience in life to remind me of a life lesson that I had forgotten and needed to remember.
Only I am in charge of changing myself; only I am in charge of my feelings and emotions; and only I am in charge of my actions and reactions.
After all, don’t I always say that “everything in YOUR life begins with YOU?”
On that day many years ago, I remembered that “everything in MY life begins with ME.”
And I remembered it again today.
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
Anne Dennish - Writer/Author 
Been too long since I have heard from you and hoping you are doing well. Loved your post about about people telling each other their stories and after a year or two it seems that they have heard it all before and what was initially interesting and thoughtful becomes old hat, grmph!!! Wish that weren’t the way, but we all only have so many interesting stories.
Todays is great too. Got het your pretty, brave and sparkle, you deserve it!!!!
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I think I found my pretty, my brave and my sparkle! Had an amazing weekend in Orlando at a convention! Looks like you’re doing well and we’ll have to catch up by phone one day soon! Thank you so much for your patience in following me! I’m definitely getting back on track.
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Hi Nancy,
Sounds like you have been hurt and I am soooo sorry about that. Hope that you can put it in the past, forgive and recognize how strong a woman you really are. Takes a lot to put ones thoughts and feelings out for all to see and I admire you for it!
I am thinking that you need to go back to Wayne Dyer’s stuff about his father. If you remember he went to his dad’s grave with the intention to pee on it and came away with nothing but love and gratitude for his dad simply though his thoughts.
You, that strong and sensitive author and mother, are where you are because of what you have gone through. The lessen is, be grateful for the crap that others have and continue to send your way because that has helped you to show yourself how you have not only survived the crap, but have thrived through it. Doesn’t mean we forget, but as you know, any animosity you have toward the hurter, is only going to hurt you and not them. Tough to do sometime, but they can’t hurt you unless you let them. When family is involved it hurts though cause you want them to love you as much as you love them, but sometimes it doesn’t work. Just remember that you are the only person who you need to satisfy so be proud of your actions and forgive those where you didn’t measure up to your standard. You treat everyone with love and respect and should be proud of all that you have accomplished in your life.
As to Florida, you have to remember that you didn’t grow up there!!!! If you were in Jersey you would run into people you have known for years and have memories of all the things and places you visited when you were growing up. Now you are making them in Florida and it takes a lot of time. I would like to get a place down there cause I know that my mom and dd had a great retirement and were a lot healthier down there, but then I wouldn’t have Wednesday night at Frankies to look forward to every week. But then again, we are all getting old and who knows how long that will last! Just have a smile for everyone and help where you can and you will be okay particularly since that is who you are anyway!!!
Love ya and hope this helps!
Bob
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