Christmas

“A Different Kind of Christmas”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I know it’s Sunday and I know I never shared a Christmas post this year.

The truth is, this holiday felt different. It was the first one without my mom, and it sat tenderly in the quiet spaces of the day. I missed my kids, I missed the version of Christmas I used to know, and I think my heart just needed a little time to breathe.

So I want to say I’m sorry for going quiet… and also thank you for understanding.

And if your Christmas looked different this year too — if it felt heavier, or quieter, or not at all what you expected — I hope you know you’re not alone. Sometimes the holidays aren’t about the sparkle… sometimes they’re about learning how to carry our memories, our grief, and our love all at once.

If this year was hard, I’m holding space for you.

If it was healing, I’m celebrating with you.

And if you’re still figuring out what it all meant — I’m right there with you.

Here’s to gentle days and softer hearts.

Here’s to honoring what was… and finding hope in what’s to come.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“A December Kind of Peace”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

There’s something beautiful about evenings in December. Maybe it’s the soft music playing in the background, or the glow of the lights on the tree…or maybe it’s simply the reminder that peace is something we can choose, even on the busiest of days.

Today, I’m choosing to breathe a little deeper.

To slow down.

To find joy in the small, quiet moments that make this season so magical.

It doesn’t take much to shift the energy of your day – just a peaceful morning, a quiet evening, a grateful heart and a little faith that things are all falling into place.

Here’s to choosing calm.

Here’s to choosing hope.

Herpes to a beautiful December day and a peaceful December evening.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“What Does 2025 Look Like for You?”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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 2025 with me.

How about you?

Forget about making resolutions. Think about your revelations from this year.

This chapter is almost finished.

What do you want the next one to look like?

Whatever it is, make it amazing!

I know that you can!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“My Mom and Me”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Christmas Plans Have Changed”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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.

And I’m grateful for all of you. 

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“December…A Time Of Reflection”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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?

Whatever it is, make it amazing!

I know that you can!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“It Really Is A Wonderful Life”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

(I wrote this post last year at a time when none of us could imagine what was coming a short time later. Yet as I read this again I still believe that we are blessed to be alive, blessed to be loved and blessed to have made a difference in the lives of others. It’s truly a “wonderful life.”)

Tonight I’ll be heading out with friends to the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to see the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I watch it every year on TV, as so many of us do, yet tonight will be a real treat to see it on the big screen.

It’s the perfect holiday movie and a reminder for all of us that our life affects the lives of others. Think about that…who would you be without the people you’ve met along this journey and who would they be without you? 

There are some of you who have lost loved ones and are missing them, especially during the holidays. It’s good to remember them and the memories they left you with, but think about how their lives impacted yours. Who would you be or where would you be in your life if you never knew them?

And then look around at the people that are still here on this Earth. Think about them as well and ask yourself the same question: “Who would you be or where would you be in your life without them?”

You see, we have a chance to learn the same lesson that George Bailey did: “each man’s life touches so many other lives.” Make your life a “wonderful life,” because it is.

Remember that today and always.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Twas The Morning Of Christmas”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I wrote this several years ago but share it with you every year at this holiday season. It’s a different kind of Christmas this year but let’s not forget the “reason for the season.” There’s a magical feeling this time of year. Keep Christmas in your heart.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Maybe We All Need A Little Love”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

Sometimes we need to look at each other the way Linus looked at the tree. I believe there’s good in everyone even if you can’t always see it.

It could be that they’re afraid to get hurt.

Maybe they’re afraid that if they show who they are they will be judged or disliked.

Or it could be that they have trouble trusting other people because of someone that broke their trust. 

And the list can go on.

We don’t always understand why people are the way they are, but I’m going to continue to believe that there’s good in everyone just waiting to shine through

“Maybe they just need a little love.”

Maybe we all do.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Here Comes That Holiday Anxiety!”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

The holidays are fast approaching and that “good ‘ol anxiety” we sometimes feel is taking advantage of us and rearing its ugly head! So many people have anxiety at this time of year and this year it seems to be worse. We feel cut off from friends and family and isolated from having a social life that we’ve grown accustomed to.

But this too shall pass.

Be kind to yourself and others.

Be gentle and forgiving with yourself and others.

And remember that this holiday season will soon become a memory to be shared next year when you’re surrounded by family, friends and loved ones.

We’re all in this together even though we have to do it apart.

Hang in there, my loves.

You got this!

And you’re doing just fine.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~