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.
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.
“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!
And just like that, my staycation is over and I’m back at work. And life seems to be back to where it was before the staycation as well. As for me? I’m pushing myself to remember the girl that I had forgotten about until that time alone. I’m being diligent about not letting that girl go so far away again. And I don’t want to forget that amazing time of writing like I used to, of feeling sure of myself, of truly letting the “real me” shine through.
Life is a funny, wonderful, crazy thing. We live it in our day to day routines, not noticing much until we’re given the time to notice, to remember, to be who we are. And I won’t give that up.
We spend so much time doing the same things every day that we forget to take the time and “make” the time to notice the people in our lives, the beauty that surrounds us, and more importantly, we forget about ourselves. We forget why we’re here. We forget who we are. We forget to love ourselves.
Yes, my staycation is over. Yes, I’m back at work. Yes, my old life seems to be creeping into the life that I found during that short period of time.
But I’m not going to forget how I felt, what I learned, and what I want to do from here on in.
My staycation changed me yet it brought out the best in me.
I found myself.
And I’m not going to let that girl go again.
Pay attention, my loves, to the world and the life that surrounds you.
More importantly, pay attention to “you,” because you are amazing and “you” have the ability to change the world.
It’s the day after Christmas and I’ve taken the day off from cooking, baking and all other holiday tasks and relaxed. I missed having my children home but I did make a beautiful Christmas dinner for my parents and spent time with them, yet it’s my mom that is in my mind today.
My mom and I have had a strained relationship most of my life yet as she gets older and I get older, I believe that we have a newfound respect for one another. I love my mom and always felt that I never measured up, never pleased her, and never made her proud. Yet I’ve learned to understand her and take into account the life she lived as a child and as she became a mom.
That’s the thing as our parents get older, we see things differently and begin to understand them in a whole new way. I needed to find forgiveness for the mistakes that my mom made because I’ve made mistakes of my own. I needed to understand that my mom was young once with her own heartache from losing her dad at the age of 7 and being raised by a single mom. And I needed to know and accept that she did the best that she could, because she really did try to do her best and she still does.
And I understand all of that now because I’m a mom who has tried to do the best she could, mistakes and all. I understand my mom now because I’m a mom and because I realized that she was also a person who was trying to live her life the best that she could.
This Christmas I may have been missing my children yet I also realized that in time I’ll be missing my mom, and I don’t want to miss any chance of that time we have together.
I love these pictures that were taken of my mom and I on Christmas night. We laughed a lot and I am so grateful for the time we spent together last night. Apologies to my dad for no pictures but this was all about my mom and me.
Moments we spend with those we love are meant to be treasured and I am holding the memories of last night tight in my heart.
I am grateful to have spent Christmas night with my parents, especially with my mom.
Life is precious. Embrace it. Love one another. And please, be kind.
I post this every year on Christmas Eve. The pups are no longer with me and the children are grown and living all over the country, yet it is a beautiful reminder to me of all the precious memories I hold dear in my heart. I’m missing them this year but we’re living in some precarious times right now. I know that I’m not the only one missing someone.
Today I sit in gratitude for all of those beautiful “Christmas pasts,” for the gift of being here for another “Christmas present,” and for all of my loved ones that aren’t here that left me with their love, laughter and memories.
And just like that, my Christmas plans have changed. None of my children will be home as we had all planned, thanks to a tricky virus that seems to be running rampant lately. I’m disappointed but have to be honest in telling you that I was beginning to worry about two of them flying right now and one is getting over having this little bug.
I’m sad that they won’t be home. It’s the first Christmas I’ve ever spent without even two of them home.
This was supposed to be my “Christmas Miracle,” having them all together with me again but the Universe had other plans and I understand that. Still, it would have been the greatest gift for me to be together with all of them.
And I truly believe that Christmas lives within our hearts, remembering the memories of Christmas past and making memories of Christmas “present.” Whether we’re together or apart, my children will always be the Christmas that lives in my heart.
This “staycation” has certainly been good for me because if I hadn’t had this time to myself I probably would have been more upset and sad about it all week. And I haven’t been. I’m glad they made decisions in their best interest and in my parents and in mine.
Christmas will be quiet, as was Thanksgiving, but I’m grateful to have another one. I’m grateful that I had this “staycation.” I’m grateful for the peace I’ve found this week.
I’ve had a week off from work and been alone, so what did I do with my life? I made it amazing.
I’ve caught up with friends, started the rewrite of a book and had some much needed alone time. And you know what that has done for me? It made me take a long, hard look at my life.
And that look made me see that there are things that need to be changed, things that need to end, and things that need to be given a chance to grow.
I have so loved this “staycation” of mine and am grateful for each day of it. I hadn’t realized how much I needed it.
And I’m grateful.
I’m feeling so much peace, happiness and joy. I forgot what that was like and now I remember and I’m determined to never forget those feelings again.
My loves, I ask you to find your own “staycation,” to find your peace, happiness and joy. I want you to remember those feelings of how that amazing life felt. You deserve it!
And I know that it’s inside of you just waiting to be found again.
December is always a time for me to reflect on the year that’s about to end. I think about what worked and what didn’t, what was worth the effort and what wasn’t, and most importantly, I think about what I’ve learned about myself.
I take all these thoughts and put them into my “New Year Revelations,” because I don’t believe in “resolutions.” “Revelations” invoke change in us because we’ve learned lessons that we don’t want to forget.“
Resolutions” are promises we make to ourselves that most often get lost midway through January.So I’m gathering up my thoughts and writing them on paper. They will become my “New Year Revelations.”
And I’m looking forward to taking them all into 2022 with me.
How about you?
Forget making resolutions, think about your revelations of this year.
This chapter is almost done.What do you want the next one to look like?
You’re here for a reason. You woke up today for a reason. You’re alive for a reason.
Have you ever seen the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life?” If you haven’t, you should. And if you have then you should watch it again.
“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” said Clarence the Angel.
You’re here and if you weren’t, life would be completely different. It would be different for everyone. Your existence matters and you’re here for a reason.
Your life touches each and every single life that you’ve met along the way and if you weren’t here, the journey of those people would have been different.
Think about that.Your life has made an impact on each and every life you have met along the way.
You’re here for a reason.
You woke up today for a reason.
You’re alive for a reason.
Think about that.
Be grateful.
And take that “wonderful life” of yours and make a positive impact in the world and in the lives of each and every life you touch.
Anne Dennish - Writer/Author 