Inspirational Life

“Snow Weekend!”

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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~

“Another New Year’s Eve”

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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~

“Twas The Morning Of Christmas”

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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.

Merry Christmas Eve, my loves.

Let yourself feel the joy of this holiday season.

Enjoy my poem.

Love you all!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“And On Those Down Days…”

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It took me over 30 minutes to get the ice and snow off my car this morning but after that I was on my way to work, driving my favorite route: the beach. It was quite a beauty this morning. It’s almost an anomaly to see snow on the sand but one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. It’s haunting yet picturesque. It’s a look that you don’t see often so when you’re lucky enough to see it then you know you’re blessed to have seen something so amazing.

Sometimes our days begin in an awesome way until something trips us up and puts us in a funk, a down mood, so to speak. I had just that type of morning. In the midst of accounting and invoices I found myself feeling sad. I know what caused it but more importantly, I had to figure out why. I wasn’t going to talk about it until I figured out why a certain incident caused me to feel so badly. And that’s where I am tonight. I don’t want to talk about it with anyone until I’ve figured out why I let it bother me.

The key is not to react to whomever may have invoked these feelings within us, but rather look inwards to ourselves to understand and figure out WHY we had those feelings. And that is what my Friday night is tonight, taking a good look inward at my heart and soul to see what I’m really upset about. Was it what was said? Or was it about how I felt about what was said?

And that’s up to each of us. We need to understand that our feelings, no matter how they were invoked, are OUR feelings and only WE know why we feel that way. This is why it’s important not to react but rather to take it in and think about it. My feelings tonight are MINE and mine alone. I know what upset wasn’t meant to intentionally upset me but sadly, it did. I don’t blame the person who said it but would rather spend my time tonight alone thinking about WHY it upset me. And once I can do that, I’ll be able to say that I learned something else about myself, and isn’t that what life is all about? Learning about ourselves, the why’s and the how’s, and figuring out what to do with all of that. 

I’m learning not to blame the messenger but to understand the message and deal with it.

Life is always changing and we are always learning more and more about ourselves, if we’re open to learning, not blaming. And isn’t that what our down days are all about? Learning, not blaming. Understanding, not judging. Accepting, not allowing.

I love life more than I can tell you, the good days and the bad. I know that they all came to teach me, help me, and move me forward. And my hope is that you see your life as a gift, not a burden, no matter what it hands you.

As for me? My Friday night is filled with a hot bath, a cup of lavender tea, and a martini glass filled with tears and understanding.

Good night, my loves. May life be good to you and may you take those “down days” as your life lesson on how to turn them into your “up days!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Deal With The Cause, Not The Symptom”

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“Beneath every behavior there is a feeling. And beneath every feeling there is a need. And when we meet that need rather than focus on the behavior, we begin to deal with the cause, not the symptom.”

I don’t know who wrote this but it sure did make me stop and think about it. I’ve gone through some difficult situations which is why this made perfect sense to me. Our behavior IS the result of our underlying feelings about something.

For example, let’s take a couple with two very different views on their relationship. One person may get upset when the other isn’t sharing information with them or gets defensive when asked a particular question. The behavior is getting “upset,” the feeling  beneath that is “feeling left out and hurt,” and the need is “to be included.”

And then there’s the reaction of the person that doesn’t feel the need to share the information or answer the question. The behavior is “anger,” the feeling beneath that is “feeling controlled,” and the need is “to be trusted.”

What a brilliant concept and one that makes  perfect sense to me. None of us are perfect yet if we look at the big picture of not just the other person’s behavior’ but our own as well, so much pain, anger, and sadness could be avoided. It’s a chance for healing of the heart. It’s a chance to grow closer together through communication and understanding. And it’s a chance for positive change.

Behavior, feelings and needs. Meet the need rather than focus on the behavior. Deal with the cause, not the symptoms. And above all else, be kind to each other while you do.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“My New Year’s Revelations”

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The definition of a revelation is “a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.”

I write about the “New Year’s Revelations” every year and as 2020 is about to end I’m thinking of all that I’ve been through and all that I’ve learned. I’d like to share that with you.

My year began with the launch of my book, “Each Breath Along The Journey,” which brought some amazing opportunities for me: a chance to teach a writer’s workshop in Italy, to write for a local magazine and conduct a weekly workshop. The pandemic hit and every chance I had was suddenly gone. 

The pandemic kept me confined to the house and my daily routine was disrupted with everyone else home. I began cooking AND eating three meals a day, and not all the healthiest of choices. 

I found myself going back to a job I had left six years ago to work full-time. Suddenly I was out and everyone else was home. 

My five year relationship was falling apart and by July it had all changed.

I moved from the house I had been in for 10 years to a 9 month winter rental near the beach.

We’ve all gone through some tough times this year but as I always say “change is a chance to grow.” Some of those changes may be difficult but I always believe everything happens for a reason.

My revelations of 2020 are:

“Resilience.”Disappointment happens and things don’t always go as planned but those disappointments are a chance to do something else with what you’ve got. Sometimes those disappointments turn into your greatest comeback!

 “Gratitude.” I learned to embrace the time that the pandemic had forced me to have home with those closest to me. It slowed me down and gave me a greater appreciation for my life and all the things I had taken for granted. 

“Health.” Three meals a day equals weight gain so I decided to change all that by joining a program that not only helped me to lose the weight and inches, it’s helped me to sleep better and have more energy. My  mind is clear and more focused than ever. 

“Blessing.” The job proved to be a good thing for me both mentally and financially.

“Forgiveness.” We were both feeling hurt from all that had happened in our relationship and it forced us to take a good look at ourselves and each other.  It’s one day at a time and we continue to work at it.

“Healing.” The move to the beach house proved to be the best place I could have landed at that time in my life. I needed to heal and find my balance again.

And that’s how I’m letting go and saying good-bye to 2020, with my revelations of “resilience, gratitude, blessings, forgiveness and healing.” It’s a good start for 2021 and I’ll be taking those revelations and more into the new year with me.

Happy New Year, my loves.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Twas The Morning Of Christmas”

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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~

“Let Go Of Negative Emotions”

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Holding on to negative emotions of anger, hurt, frustration or sadness is a waste of your precious time.

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

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“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.” Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

I don’t always get what I want, do you? So how do you react to that?

I get a bit frustrated but then I switch my perspective. I tell myself “maybe what you want isn’t what you need.”

Sometimes a Higher Power knows better for us. 

And it’s true. Some of the things I’ve wanted in my life didn’t happen and as time passed I realized that they didn’t happen for good reason: it wasn’t in my best interest or something not so good would have come out of it.

We all get disappointed when we don’t get what we want, but if you really look at your life you’ll see that you get what you need.

What is it that you want that you aren’t getting?

Are you loved? Are there people in your life that care about you? Is someone there to help you through your difficult times and celebrate your good times? Have you woken up to another day that you were never promised?

Those are gifts and guess what? It’s all that you need.

Life may not always give you what you want, but it will always provide you with what you need.

And if it’s meant to be, it will give you what you want.

I have to believe that. 

Be grateful for it all.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

Photo by Anne Dennish 2020

“What If?”

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Today and every day…

What a wonderful life it would be.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~