The holidays are different this year with no large gatherings of family and friends, but that doesn’t mean the “different” can’t be good. It may not be the same but we certainly have a choice to make it special.
After all, doesn’t Christmas mean a little bit more?
Life is what you make it and your holidays are what you make it as well. You may not be cooking a large traditional dinner or having to set a table for 12, yet you can choose to make it special. Cook a smaller “non-traditional” dinner and eat it off your best china. Settle in on the couch for a day of binge watching all your favorite Christmas shows. Pour a cup of hot chocolate and FaceTime or Zoom your loved ones that can’t be with you.
It’s different but let’s call it a “different kind of special!” It’s a different kind of holiday and one I’m sure we’ll have some stories to share next year when we’re cooking the big, traditional dinner and setting a table for 12 or more.
“Maybe Christmas,” the Grinch thought, “doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” Dr. Seuss
Surely if the Grinch can change his perspective so can you!
It may be different this year, but you can still make it special.
You got this.
And you’re doing just fine!
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
I know that December can be a difficult month for some, whether it’s personal reasons or simply the pandemic itself coupled with the holidays that just aren’t as they have been, so I’ve decided to try and help as best I can!
Each day throughout December I will be posting an uplifting, positive quote or story. I’m hoping to help anyone who needs to feel better or less alone during these times.
And I’m doing it for all of you who follow me. Your support means the world to me and when I write, I write for all of you!
You’re not alone and you’re not the only one feeling the way that you do.
I’m here for you in whatever way that I can help and I know there are other people who are here for you as well.
After all, “we’re all in this together even though we have to do it apart.”
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
Each of us is born with a gift. It’s a talent, an awareness, a knowledge or a compassion which offers us the chance to make a difference in the world.
So many people wait their entire lives for the world to bring to them what they want and desire, yet the world will bring you nothing if you’re not bringing anything to the world.
Embrace the gifts you were born with. Show and share your greatness with the world and you’ll begin to see what the world has to offer you.
The truth is this: “It’s not about what the world brings to you, it’s about what YOU bring to the world.”
And during these difficult times it’s even more important to bring all the positive thoughts and actions that we can to the world and the people in it.
Our world is going through a difficult time at the moment and now, more than ever, it’s so more important that we all join together to bring all the positive thoughts and actions that we can to the world and the people in it.
Let the world see how awesome you are and share that with everyone!
It’s a good thing!
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
There are many heroes out in the world today keeping us safe, taking care of us and trying to keep life going, yet I believe there is another hero we don’t give credit to and that’s our children.
The definition of a “hero” is: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
And I admire my children, your children and the youth of the world who are living through these uncertain times right along with us. They are heroes as well.
They’re quarantined home just like the rest of us, they can’t see their friends or family, they can’t go to school and for some, there will be no senior class trip or high school/college graduation. Imagine what they’re feeling and thinking. Imagine how WE would feel at that age.
I look at my 18 and 22 year old in amazement. I’m empathetic and can feel what they’re feeling and think to myself that I would have gone crazy at that age being stuck in the house with my parents and siblings! It truly would have driven me out of my mind. Yet here they are, just like the rest of us: quarantined.
None of us have ever seen something like this in our lifetime and I hope that we never do again, but here are our children. They’re young with an entire lifetime ahead of them and look at their lives now. They’re quarantined just like the rest of us, but the difference is we had that life and freedom at a young age and right now they don’t. As adults we can sit here in quarantine and wonder what life will be like after it’s over. They are just beginning their lives, thinking about what they want to be when they grow up, or where they want to live. They’re looking and planning towards a future that is uncertain. Imagine all those thoughts that go through their minds. I imagine them when I see that look of boredom on their faces, or the sadness over not seeing their friends. I imagine them when I talk to my kids who live across the country and can hear the sadness in their voices or a tone of disappointment knowing that the life they started on their own is all changed. All of them were laid off from the jobs that they loved because of the quarantine. They all comply with the orders that we’ve been given, including wearing gloves, masks and social distancing. I have to say, it breaks my heart to see pictures of my kids wearing masks.
I love my five children with all that I am and when this quarantine starts to get to me or they start to drive me crazy I remind myself of how it must feel for them. Suddenly, it doesn’t feel so bad for me and I understand about their bad days because I remember all the fun and freedom I lived through as a teenager, the times that they can’t right now.
My kids are handling it better than I would have expected. They’re constantly watching out for me because I’m “high risk” and there are days they put my well-being above their own. They’re making the best of this quarantine and doing what they can to laugh, smile and have fun together…and they even include me!
I have to believe that they’ll come through this stronger and with an even deeper gratitude for freedom and life than they had already had.
There are many people out there that are “heroes,” and I count my kids among them.
Here’s to my five kids, your kids, and the youth of the world: “Thank you for handling this as well as you are. I know it’s not easy, but thank you for doing what needs to be done. You are my hero!”
In the end, we’re all heroes for staying home and saving lives by doing so.
Hang in there…you’ve got this!
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
“And as the world was changing, so were the people in it.” AD
It’s been about two months now of social distancing and quarantine and I’ve noticed a lot of positive changes happening.
I’ve noticed that the wildlife seems to have sprung back to life. Here at the Jersey Shore a herd of deer are romping and playing on the beach and roaming the streets in town. I’ve seen and heard more types of birds than normal and the colors of the leaves, grass, and flowers seem so much more vibrant. The sun even feels warmer and seems to shine even brighter than it used to. Even blue skies seem to be a clearer and stronger shade of blue.
And I’ve noticed the people changing along with the world. Strangers take the time to wave, smile and ask how you’re doing. Neighbors speak more often all the while social distancing with one another. People are putting the effort into finding other ways to celebrate birthdays and graduations by driving someone’s home in their decorated cars and beeping their horns. Restaurants that offer curbside pick-up and delivery do so with a smile. And for all of us wearing masks and gloves when needed, we’re doing it to protect ourselves, our families and everyone else’s. It seems that so many people have again started to look out for each other by calling more often or scheduling video chats together.
People are learning to embrace their time at home. They’re cleaning and purging their homes, they’re spending more time cooking and having dinner with their family, and some are even spending more time outdoors planting a garden or simply enjoying the sunshine and blue skies. They’re walking or running more, biking more, and they’re doing activities that help them stay calm and less anxious, such as meditation or yoga.
Despite what’s going on in the world, I’ve seen some truly beautiful changes in both our environment and in the people. It’s as if both are in a “healing process” of becoming a kinder and gentler world.
And isn’t that a wonderful thing?
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
My perspective has changed a lot during this quarantine and in a way that I hadn’t thought of before.
Right now we’re all living a social distancing way of life, and depending on where you live, some of the restrictions are less, some are more. In either case, we are all living a different life than we had a few months ago.
I was thinking about the restrictions that are in place here at the Jersey Shore and suddenly they didn’t seem so awful. In fact, once I put it all into perspective I realized that my freedom hadn’t been taken away, just some of the things in life that are not really necessities, but luxuries.
For instance, most retail stores are closed, the bars and restaurants are “take-out” only, the movie theaters are closed and so are the hair salons. Unless you are an employee of the establishments, are they necessary? No, they are luxuries that we enjoy and perhaps, have taken for granted until now.
The retail stores may be closed but you can still order online. You may not be able to actually sit inside a restaurant or bar and be waited on, but you can get takeout meals and cocktails to enjoy in the privacy of your own home. You can’t go to a movie theater but you can get just about any movie on television through a number of different resources and the hair salons may be closed but some offer curbside pickup of hair coloring or you can order hair products online.
The fact is that the things we aren’t able to do right now are luxuries. We can still go to the pharmacy or food store, to the parks and beaches which are now open, and we can still order a meal that we don’t have to cook. We can still go outside to enjoy our backyards or walks around the neighborhood.
The only thing missing is that we’re not being waited on for some of those things. We’re not being pampered at the salon or getting our dishes cleared after a meal at a restaurant. The list can go on and on but you know what I’m talking about.
We are living in a simpler time, one that existed many, many years ago. We’ve grown accustomed to being taken care of, yet we paid to be taken care of and pampered. We’ve learned to believe that all those things we can’t do right now were necessities, when in fact, they are luxuries. We’ve lost sight of the things we took for granted that we now are anxiously awaiting the return of. And we are now doing many of those things for ourselves.
I’d say that our vision has been much clearer since social distancing began and in a positive way. Many of us are looking at things we’re missing with a new found appreciation and I’m sure we’ll never take the smallest or biggest of things for granted again.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer
And I believe that with all my heart.
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
It was during this last month of quarantine that I learned that three important components are absolutely necessary to survive being “SAFE at home.” They are patience, tolerance and forgiveness, and most often, in that order.
You need to have patience with the people you live with, the people you deal with and with yourself. Every one of us will have a day of feeling stressed and anxious, and every one of us will take that out on someone else who had nothing to do with it. Therein lies the patience. Be patient in knowing that all of us are experiencing this in different ways and act out in different ways. Be patient with others and be patient with yourself while you’re trying to be patient with them!
You need to try to have some amount of tolerance of the behavior of others in order to have the patience you need to tolerate their moments of lashing out. That’s not to say that you have to be a doormat and the recipient of someone else’s anxiety or stress. It just means that on those occasions (and I hope they are few!) that someone takes out their mood on you, be tolerant and be patient with them.
And most importantly, you need to practice forgiveness. You need to forgive the people that you had to be patient and tolerant with, and you need to forgive yourself for the days that you couldn’t be.
These are difficult times we’re living in and I truly believe that patience, tolerance and forgiveness are a must. Under normal circumstances we may not have to practice tolerance of “not so good” behavior as much, but right now we do, as long as it’s not on a daily basis and not bordering on abusive.
I know that we’re all trying to get through this as best we can and some days are just too much to handle, but we need to remember to not only be patient, tolerant and forgiving of others, but of ourselves as well.
If you can practice these three things, toss in a large dose of kindness for others and yourself as well, you will find “safety AND serenity” at home.
Hang in there…you’re doing just fine!
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
The greatest gift we can give each other right now is to stay home and live by the rules of social distancing. It’s almost ironic that something like “staying at home” can save our lives and the lives of others, yet it’s our reality right now.
I don’t want it to be a reality forever and I’m sure you don’t either. We’re living a “new normal” and now, more than ever, we need to support one another and flatten this curve TOGETHER!
I’m staying home for my family and yours.
Are you staying home for mine?
It’s time to make a difference in this world and we can make that difference TOGETHER!
Please stay home for the world and everyone in it.
I am and I hope you are, too.
It’s a good thing.
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
When one person lives alone during a quarantine, they can get lonely.
When one person lives with a few other people during a quarantine, they can get frustrated.
We’re living in uncertain times right now and I know that social distancing and staying at home can get to some people because I know it gets to me every now and again, especially living with three other people.
Patience is definitely a virtue and one that is tested, sometimes on a daily basis, when you’re living with other people, but that doesn’t mean that it will turn into a battle…unless you let it.
I’m used to being alone most of the day so having three other people in the house with me 24/7 has definitely disrupted my routine and there are moments I want the television turned off and the computers turned down. My patience is tested when one has a problem with another, or one stays up all night when the rest are trying to sleep, or when one always has the volume on high while others are reading or resting.
So, what do I do?
I remind myself that this is a gift. It’s a gift of “time” to spend with the ones I love, time to relax with them, laugh with them, and talk with them. I remind myself that I’m blessed to be here with them and am reminded to reach out to friends and family that are home alone.
I remind myself that “flaws are flavorful” and that none of us are perfect.
I remind myself that lack of sleep will test even the most patient person and that having a roof over my head, food on the table and a bed to sleep in each night will definitely put things into perspective.
And I remind myself that when tensions are running high and patience wears thin, I can go outside alone to sit under the stars or in the warmth of the sun. I can find a quiet spot in my home to sit by myself and find my balance again or I can put on my headphones and listen to music.
I remind myself that what is going on outside of my front door and in this world right now is far more important than the tensions that my flare up now and again or the patience that wears thin. We can change those things.
And the only way we’re going to change the outcome of this virus is by staying home.
I know it’s hard sometimes but it’s important to remind yourself that “you’re not stuck at home, you’re safe at home.”
And if you’re lucky, you’re safe at home with the people you love.
Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay home.
Love the ones you’re with and reach out to the ones that are alone.
It’s a good thing.
Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~
Anne Dennish - Writer/Author 