Anne Dennish

“Joy”

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“Joy.” I love that word, and up until a year ago had never used it much, actually, never used it at all! Sure, I’d say I was happy, but I’ve realized that “joy” is that one word that surpasses it all! “Joy” is a combination of happiness, gratitude, and that incredible feeling of knowing that you’re blessed.

As life changed after breast cancer and throughout this past year, I found myself feeling more than happy. It was during a reiki session with my spiritual teacher, Bobbi Torres, that she asked me what I was feeling. In a split second I answered her: I’m feeling “joy!” I realized at that moment that a word that was so foreign to me suddenly felt like home.

I had gone from happy to joyful, and at that moment I suddenly understood what “tears of joy” was all about, because I certainly shed a million. I sat for hours before my book

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Tears of joy as my dream had come true!

signing this past Saturday with tears flowing off and on. My nearest and dearest kept asking me why I would be crying on such an exciting and important day. My answer was simple: I’m crying because my dream came true, I’m crying over the immense amount of gratitude I’m feeling, I’m crying at how incredibly blessed I am, and I’m crying because I am feeling “joy!”

“Joy” is happiness, love, gratitude, blessings and peace all wrapped up in one, and my wish for all of you is to find your “joy” today! Embrace it, let it become part of you, share it with others, and let the “tears of joy” flow! It’s a great combo…why not try it? My guess is that you’ll realize that joy will feel like “home” to you as well.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

joy

 

“Dream Day”

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It’s a big day today, and I’m filled with so many emotions! It’s the official launch and book signing of “Waking Up!” It’s also the first public appearance of “Anne Dennish.” So, how am I feeling? Excited, nervous, anxious, grateful and incredibly blessed. There are so many people that have made this book possible…there’s a piece of them in many of the stories I’ve written. If my life hadn’t changed as much as it has in the last several years, “Waking Up” would never have been written.

So this morning, as I get ready for the afternoon, I sit counting my blessings…and there are many!

I’ve been pursuing this dream for all my life, and the fact that it’s here is overwhelming! I never gave up on it, and while there were moments I wondered if it was worth it, or maybe it wasn’t meant to be, I still went for it.

I say to all of you today, dreams do come true. It may take years, but if you believe in it, and have faith in yourself, it’s absolutely possible!

“Dream big and make it happen!”

Well, Anne Dennish did just that… and today is my day!

I’ll be at BookTowne on Main Street in Manasquan, NJ today from 1 – 3. Stop by if you’re in the area…I’d love to meet you!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

Author of “Waking Up”  copyright 2016

dr seuss

“What a Feeling!”

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As I sit here this morning having my coffee, I’m feeling overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. In two days I will be having my first official “book signing and launch” for my new book, “Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures With Life and Breast Cancer.”  Wow…it’s all happening so fast, yet more importantly: it’s  really happening!

You would think as a writer I could express all these emotions with ease, yet at this very moment I’m finding it difficult. Not because I’m feeling anything negative, but because I’m feeling everything positive.

I’m feeling loved, supported, excited, blessed and more grateful than I could have ever imagined. So many people were a part of the reason that this book was written from my friends to my children to my love, Rob.

I sit in awe of how much my life has changed in the last year. A year ago I was still trying to get this book written; I was single and sure that love would never find me; I was a one year breast cancer survivor; and I was trying to find my niche and my life purpose.

This morning the reality hit me knowing that in that year my book has been published, that love found me, that I’m now a two year survivor, and that my niche is in writing. My life purpose? Well, I believe it’s to make a difference in someone’s life; to make them feel less lonely, to help them heal, to help them love themselves. If I can do that for just one person, I will know that I made a difference.

Breast cancer. In a family with no history of having it, I was the lucky one, so to speak. Yet as I receive posts and messages from women going through the disease and from those blessed enough to have survived it, I know why I was chosen. I was chosen to have breast cancer, live through it, and tell my story in the hopes that it will help someone else going through the journey with it.

I love my life, and while far from perfect, I sit in complete gratitude to God for all that he’s blessed me with. I’m grateful that I was given the gift of being a writer, of being able to touch someone with words; I’m grateful for having met Rob, because through him I’ve found myself a part of two beautiful families that I would never have thought possible; I’m grateful for my children, his children, and his granddaughter, because they have all taught me so much and there’s no better love than that from a child.

Count your blessings as often as you can…every day, all day. Be grateful you have another day to make a difference in your life or someone else’s life. Sit in gratitude and love for all that life has gifted you, and you will be amazed at how many more blessings will fall into your life. Smile from your heart, smile from your soul, smile because you are loved.

 

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

got books

Author of “Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures with Life and Breast Cancer”

copyright 2016

Available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com

“Live on Love”

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“Live on love.” That’s what my grandmother always said, and it’s how I try to live my life every day.

As I celebrated my birthday yesterday, I got the call to tell me that she had passed away, just two weeks before her 99th birthday! Wow, what a blessing to live that long!

Most would think I’d be upset that her passing fell on my celebration of life, yet I’m not. Yes, I shed some tears, but I also thought it was a beautiful thing that she chose that day to go home! She taught me to love life and live it! Up until the day she died she was living her life to the fullest, and isn’t that what we should all be doing?

I watch and listen to all this drama in other people’s lives and I can’t help but wonder what the point is. Life is precious and life get’s shorter as we get older. Why would anyone want to waste one precious moment on anger, drama, gossip and pettiness? Why wouldn’t you choose to live in the moment and walk away from such nonsense?

I’ll tell you what, as I get older I’m appreciating every day and every wonderful person that is in my life. I have so many teacher’s in my life to remind me of that, and my biggest one is my love, Rob. He’s seen me in moments of tears and hurt that someone has caused me, yet always reminds me that it’s their problem, not mine; that it’s their unhappiness and misery that makes them resent our happy life. And he’s right.

I ask you today to honor my Grandmother and “live on love!” Live your life through, around and with love. Live your life to the fullest and walk away from the people that cause you any less happiness and love that you deserve! The more you love life, the more life will love you back. Thank you, Grandma, for teaching me that.

“Live on love” today and watch what life hands you back!

 

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

love life

Author of “Waking Up”  copyright 2016

“I Won’t Back Down!”

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“No, I stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down.”
~Tom Petty~

I always loved that song, but while going through breast cancer, the lyrics rang more true than ever. Yet you don’t need to go through an illness or rough patch to understand that song…no one should “back down” to anything or anyone.

Finding our strength isn’t the easiest thing to do, and truth be told, even when you find it, there will be moments that you’re too tired to stay that strong. You’re tired, you’re emotions are running rampant, or you just hit your wall to life. And all that is okay; we’re all human and there are just some days that people and situations get the best of us.

I have days like that, although as I learn my lessons in life, those days are far and few between. When I find myself faced with someone who’s draining my energy or trying to manipulate me, I hear those lyrics:

“Well, I know what’s right, I got just one life in a world that keeps on pushin’ me around but I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down.”

Yes, there are times we feel like we “gave in” to someone, yet you need to remember, you didn’t give in, and you didn’t give up. You did what was necessary to remove yourself from it, even if you allowed someone else to think they got the best of you.

What you know to be true is your “truth.” And no one, and no situation, can take that away from you without your permission.

“Don’t back down” to anything or anyone…stand tall, proud and strong! Show the world how “big your brave is!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

tom petty

“Peace”

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“Imagine all the people…living life in peace.” ~John Lennon~

Smart man. “Peace” is such a simple concept, yet there are those that would rather live outside of peace, and inside of drama. I’m not one of them and never will be. I prefer “peace” and even though life throws me a curve ball once in awhile, I don’t view it as stress or drama…it’s simply “life.”

Some have asked me how I found peace in such a crazy world. My answer is simple: you find it within yourself. You walk away from people and situations that no longer serve your highest good; you wish them love and light, not anger and contempt. And then you drop it. Yes, you drop it and move forward. All negative emotions bring negative reactions, no matter what the situation is. And who wants that? Well, some do, and they are the ones that are battling themselves and their lives, not you.

Don’t engage in another person’s struggle or discontent; they have their own choice to change the life they’re living, and it’s not up to us to do it for them. We all have lessons to learn in this lifetime, and we are gifted the “free will” to do so.

Today I wish you peace, and I wish peace to those struggling within themselves. Embrace your life…and wish love and light to those who can’t.

Wishing you love, light, and peace!

~Anne Dennish~

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“The Time Change”

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I woke up this morning at 6 am, only to realize that it was 7…ugh, the “time change!” This is the one in which we lose an hour, a precious hour, and the one my body has the hardest time adjusting to. And then I started thinking about “time…”

Aside from time changing our clocks twice a year, it also changes us. Time ages our body, matures our mind, and strengthens or weakens our relationships. Time allows us to heal, to grow, and to love. Time grows a new life, and eventually will take a life whose time has ended. It gifts us the chance to make memories and allows our hearts to take a picture. Time allows us the chance to reminisce of all those chances it gave us. These are all things that time cannot take away.

Time is to be respected and cherished, and as we grow older, we begin to realize just how little of it there is.

As you adapt to the time change today, embrace your personal “time change” as well. Every minute, every hour, and everyday are gifts that time has granted us. Be grateful for your time and feel blessed for your time with your loved ones.

Don’t miss out on one of the most miraculous gifts we’ve been given: “time.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

time change

“Embrace The New Day”

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“Every new day is a chance to do it better than the day before!”

It’s a beautiful day at the Jersey Shore today, yet every day you wake up is a beautiful day! Embrace a new day with no mistakes in it…take some time for yourself to breathe and relax. Spend some time outdoors, close your eyes, and listen to your intuition. Some of the most amazing thoughts and ideas come to you when you sit in silence.

Count your blessings, sit in gratitude for another day gifted to you, and find some time to laugh and be happy!my malibu

Wishing you all love & light, happiness and joy,
~Anne Dennish~

“The Dreamers vs. The Realists”

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“My opinion is that the “realists” are fearful of the “dreamers,” because we dare to believe that there’s more to life than living in reality; that in fact, sometimes our dreams are the very thing we need in order to live in our reality.”

It took many years for me to accept and be comfortable with being called a “dreamer.” People had me believing that dreamers had no sense of reality, and that being one was not a good thing. I’ve learned throughout my adventures in my life that being a dreamer is a wonderful gift…and while I am a dreamer, I’m a realist as well.

“A dreamer is a realist with faith.”

Those that look down upon a dreamer are simply fearful of who we are; they see in us what they can’t see in themselves. They look at us and wonder what our “secret” is to dreaming as we do. The secret is simple: have faith in yourself!

If you want to make a difference in the world, you have to begin with a dream, then turn that dream into a reality. And all that happens with “faith!”

Here’s to the dreamers of the world! It’s time to make a difference…and we can make a difference together!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

dreaming

from “Waking Up”  copyright 2016

“Motherhood”

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I wrote a story called “A Letter to My Children,” which can be found in my new book, “Waking Up.” I remember the day I wrote it, and I remember WHY I wrote it.

It was a balmy, summer night and as my kids were floating in and out of the house, and those that didn’t live home had called me, I started to think about all the things they don’t yet know about parenthood…what they don’t know about “motherhood.”

Being a mom has been the greatest role I’ve had in life, and as much I love being a writer, I believe I was born to be a mom. I wasn’t perfect and I know I made some mistakes along the way, yet everything I was as a mother was born out of love.a letter to my children

“And on the day the first of you was born, I was re-born. I was not longer just a married woman; I was born again as a mother. Life changed from that exact moment that you took your first breath, and with that breath, I held mine. I held my breath out of excitement of a new baby placed in my arms, and out of fear to all the responsibilities that were not a part of my life, from that day forward.””

“The love of a mother never dies, not with time, not with distance, not with death; the love of a mother grows stronger with each passing day, with each new milestone you reach and each heartache you encounter. Your mistakes become lessons for us, and with each mistake, together we become stronger and better for it.”

“There is nothing that can or will break or lessen the love a mother has for her children; the heart of a mother is the heart of her child.”

I love my five beautiful children; they’re all unique in their own way, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’d like to think I gave them the strength to be who they are and to dream big. I know I made mistakes, yet my children and I learned through both their mistakes and mine. We’re all stronger for it. And isn’t “strength” one of the greatest gift we can give our children?

“There is the proverbial knowing that our children are not here to love us; we are here to love them.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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