“A Song For My Children”

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It’s a snowy day here at the Jersey Shore and as I sit here watching the strong winds blowing the snow sideways I find myself thinking of my children.  I’m feeling a bit nostalgic in remembering five young kids growing up together in a big house with their mommy and daddy. And I’m feeling a bit sad that as the years marched on, the house would be gone and so was the family that they once knew. I’m sitting here and wondering how all those tumultuous years affected them. They all have such different personalities and what bothers one doesn’t bother the others.

I’ve watched them grow up and move on and can see where some resentment still lies in the minds of my two oldest, the ones’ who remember the most. I also believe that the changes in our lives were meant to happen; the changes may have been difficult at the time, yet they allowed us all to find a new, more peaceful life.  At least that’s what I hope and what I believe.

Life and the experiences, good and bad, that come with it are lessons for each one of us. Even at my age I’m still learning and growing and I can see that my children are as well. They’re learning to handle their own difficulties and solve their own problems. They’re learning, and at times the hard way, that it is their choice to be happy and grateful for each day of their life or to sit in discontent and lay blame on everyone else. They’re learning to take accountability for their life and their behavior.

I’ve tried to teach them to believe that “while life isn’t perfect, it’s perfect for them.” I’ve tried to be an example of strength and the power of positive thinking; of being grateful for everything that life hands you; and that every new day is a chance to do it better than the day before.

I wrote a story in my book, “Waking Up” called “A Letter to My Children” and it’s just that…a letter written to them from a mother’s perspective, yet it could also be from a father’s perspective as well. For anyone that’s raised a child, or loved a child as their own, the story is for you, as well as this song I wrote: “Dear Children.” I hope you enjoy it.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Faith Is A Game Changer”

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I’ve been through enough rough times in my life to know that having “faith” in my Higher Power and myself is what kept me strong and what got me through. I couldn’t imagine a life without faith…it gives you hope when things seem hopeless; it gives you strength when you feel weak; it gives you security when you are afraid; and it gives you a “knowing” when you feel as if you know nothing.

You can’t always control what life hands you, but if you’re going to play in this “game of life,” let “faith be your game changer.”

It works every time, and this I know for sure.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“The Truth Seeker”

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I’m big on the truth, both mine and everyone else’s. I’d rather be hurt with the truth than disrespected with a lie, and let’s face it, the truth comes out eventually and the feelings from that are usually worse than a painful truth would have been in the first place.

“The Truth Seeker” is a story in my book, “Waking Up” which then became this song I wrote. It’s about searching for the truth in other’s and also about searching for the truth in ourselves.

Wishing you love, light and truth,

~Anne Dennish~

“Voice of the Sea”

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The ocean has always been a place of peace and inspiration for me and I’m blessed to live so close to it. It’s a place to still my mind and listen to my thoughts and intuition. It’s a place to get lost in the sounds of the rhythm of the ocean and marvel at the miracle of it. And if your mind is open you’ll hear the voice of the sea!

This is one of the songs I wrote. Just click on the title and you’ll be able to listen. I hope you enjoy it!

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with love, light and all good things,

~Anne Dennish~

 

 

Lyrics by Anne Dennish / Music & Vocals by Sutton Thomas

“A Gift From My Mammogram”

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I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2013, began chemo in August, and had my lumpectomy in February of 2014. Everything came out great and I was “cancer free!” What happens next is a mammogram every 6 months. Yesterday was my 6 month mammogram, and after all was said and done, everything was fine. The best news of all is that I only have to go once a year now, just like everyone else who never had breast cancer. It’s a funny way to think about it and as I left the hospital today I felt relief.  I felt like this was a gift of feeling normal again because in the first time in three years I didn’t have to have a mammogram every 6 months…I was back to “once a year” like every one else.

It feels like a lifetime ago that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, yet the reality is that it was just three years ago. It’s funny how life can take all those memories of a journey and tuck them away, only to come out when needed. I thought when the cancer was gone, so would all the thoughts of it, yet I’ve used that “journey” to help other women battling the disease. I’ve made some amazing “soul sister” friends throughout my journey, and throughout theirs. I’ve been able to share my stories of faith and a strong, positive attitude. I’ve laughed with them over chemo stories and given them a safe shoulder to cry on when they needed to let it out.

I never want to have breast cancer again, yet if my having it meant I could write about it and help other women through it, then so be it. If I’ve helped one person through their journey, then my journey had value, and more importantly, a reason.

I’m grateful for the outcome of my mammogram and look forward to that same gratitude once a year. I want you to have the same, so please, get your mammogram. Get checked once a year because while you can’t prevent breast cancer, you can catch it early.

My life may not be perfect, but it’s perfect for me and today I sit in immense gratitude for the gifts that God has given me…and two healthy breasts are at the top of the list this week!

Love your life and let it love you back!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

 

“February – My Month Of Milestones”

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If you had asked me a few years ago about what the month of February meant to me, I would have told you it was just another month. I would have told you that it meant nothing to me, that Valentine’s Day was just another Hallmark holiday. And a few years ago, that was my truth.

Yet as life changes, so has “my truth.” February has become a month of milestone anniversaries and celebrations, all of which I’m blessed to have and grateful everyday for each one of them.

I spent over two years writing my book, “Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures With Life and Breast Cancer,” and it was published in the month of February last year.

I fell in love with an amazing man, which was something I never thought would happen to me, and certainly something I wasn’t looking for. Yet love found me, and it found me in the month of February.

I had breast cancer surgery three years ago, and it was then I found out that my cancer was gone and the journey was over. I became a survivor in February.

And of course, it’s the month that holds “Valentine’s Day,” a day which is no longer a Hallmark holiday to me, but a special day to celebrate all the love that surrounds me in my life.

So you can see, it’s a big month of milestones, and I look forward to sharing my stories about each of them with you throughout the month. I have some surprises to share as the month goes on, so keep posted.

I’m devoting my website and  my Anne Dennish Facebook page this month to “love.” I want to fill it with upbeat stories, positive outcomes, inspirational quotes and stories of survival and strength. I want to fill it with all the love I have in my heart for my life, my loves and my family and friends. I want to fill it with my love of writing. I want to fill it with the love and gratitude I have for all the lessons I’ve learned and all the gifts I’ve received from learning them.

I want to fill it with as much as I can, because in the end

“it’s time to make a difference, and we can make a difference together.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Choose Again”

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Life is full of lessons, and while we learn them and carry them into the next chapter in our life, we sometimes find ourselves in familiar territory: about to make the same mistake twice. No worries, though, because it happens. I believe that we’re given the same situations at times to learn the lessons from them again, simply because we didn’t learn them the first time.

There’s no need to worry when this happens. Keep your eyes open when you’re faced with a situation or problem that you dealt with in your past. Keep your mind clear to see that this time around you have a chance to remember the lesson from the first time.

And should you find yourself coming close to making that same mistake, remember this:

CHOOSE AGAIN.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

 

 

“Looking In The Right Direction”

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Which way are you looking? Are you looking at life through eyes of sadness and regret, or through eyes of hope and faith for today? Are you looking at your past or looking towards your future?

There’s no definitive right or wrong answer, yet throughout my experience in life I would tell you that looking back, looking outwards and looking down will keep you from all the good things that  you can find if you simply look up, look inward and look forward. The past is the past; it’s already come and gone, and hopefully gifted you with valuable lessons toward an amazing present and future.

When we look in the “wrong” direction we run the risk of missing out on some pretty incredible things in life. We don’t give ourselves the chance to move forward into our future and live in our present. You’ve already gained insight and lessons from the past; leave it behind and look towards a bright future.

It’s important to look in the right direction, even though it may be hard to see at times. Life doesn’t always go as planned and we may get discouraged, but I’m here to tell you to keep the faith and believe in yourself; keep looking in the right direction because an amazing life is just waiting there right in front  of you.

Look up, look inward and look forward!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

 

“Dark Clouds and Silver Linings”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

 

silver-linings-use-thisAlways remember that the dark clouds in life hold a silver lining within them; you just have to keep your heart and mind open to seeing them. “Silver linings” within the darkest of clouds exist to those who believe and have faith.

No matter what life is handing you at this moment, remember that “it won’t be like this forever, just for today.”

“Just believe, just have faith, everything else will fall into place.”

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Wishing you love, light, and silver linings,

~Anne Dennish~

Photos by Anne Dennish 2017

 

“Down For The Count”

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It’s that time of year again: flu and cold season! Not one of my favorites, yet one I feel that can happen to us for a reason. And that reason is usually that we lost sight of taking care of ourselves.

And that’s when the Universe steps in and “whacks you with a two by four!”

I consider myself “whacked.” It started with aches and pains, then progressed into a burning in the back of my throat. By the time I went to sleep was nose was completely stuffed up and I became the ultimate “mouth breather” throughout the night. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep too well that night. And it’s safe to say without a doubt, “I’m sick.”

I know it could be worse; social media is awash with posts of the flu and colds and the duration of anywhere from a week to two or three. I can safely add my own experience to these posts as well. People are posting advice of cures and things to do to get through, and I can say that I’ve been trying them all.

For two days I’ve been drinking warm water with lemon, which helps to soothe the throat, and tons of green tea with honey and lemon to get rid of the cold. Chicken soup with tons of garlic has become a staple here. A jar of Vicks, an old home remedy from my grandmother, hot-toddysits on my nightstand, as well as a now half-full box of tissues. I’ve tried over-the-counter medicine at night, which seemed to help, but what helped more was a nice hot toddy: 8 oz. of herbal tea with 2 oz. of whiskey or rum, as well as a lemon slice for good measure. Sweeten with honey. I have to say, within minutes after drinking that I found myself drifting into an amazing, restful sleep, one that was much better than from the over-the-counter nighttime medicine.

I’ve been down for three days now, and it seems that the rest of my household felt the need to join me. We’re all sick with this nasty little cold. I always believe that “sharing is caring” and I guess they didn’t want me to feel left out!

I’ll be honest, I knew it was just a matter of time before I got sick with something. I lost sight of myself and wasn’t taking as good of care of myself as I was at taking care of everyone else. I was running around too much in rainy, cold weather; I wasn’t eating as well as I should; and I definitely wasn’t sleeping well at all. All those things mixed in with a few more are a recipe for the Universe stopping you in your tracks and making you pay attention to YOURSELF!

I knew that’s what happened, so I turned off my phone, put on my pajamas, and went to bed. I decided that as much as I wanted to be there for other’s that right now I needed to be there for me. I needed to sleep, rest, and place my efforts on getting better. Sure, the housework is piling up, but I know that my health, my body and soul, are much more important right now.

And as much as I don’t like being sick, I have to be grateful for the time that I am because it has forced me into resting and taking care of myself, something I wasn’t doing much of until I was forced to.

“Thank you, Universe, for this gift of making me remember that I’m important, too, and that if I’m not doing things for my Highest Good, I’ll be no good to anyone else. I’ve learned my lesson…you can take this cold and move along now!”

Wishing you love, light, and good health,

~Anne Dennish~

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