breast cancer

“Dream Day”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

 

dreams

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

“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

“The Right Love”

/ Anne Dennish / 4 Comments

As I sit here this morning watching the sun rise, I’m filled with an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude. How did I get here? When did this all happen? Questions flowing through my mind, yet deep inside, I know the answer: I got here when I loved myself the way I wanted to be loved, and it happened on a snowy night last February. It happened when I met Rob.

We were two broken souls who found one another. Both of us believe that the ones’ we loved most that passed away conspired to get us together…and I believe that’s true. It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was love. And how do I know this? Because out of our relationship came some amazing things!

Perhaps the key to knowing the “right love” is paying attention to what your life together becomes and what it has brought you. Through our love he’s found a job he loves and strained relationships he had in the past became a smooth ride. I found more stories to write for “Waking Up” and found myself part of a family that I would have never imagined I’d be part of.

I found a close friendship with the mother of his children, one that isn’t built on his prior relationship with her, but on “our” relationship as two women who love and respect oneliz and i 1 another. I found myself part of her family as well, and while most think that’s crazy, I think it’s beautiful…and so does he. I found love in his children and in the laughter and love of his granddaughter, and he found that in mine.

The “right love” taught us who the right people were to have in our life; it also taught us who the wrong ones were. It taught us that we had settled for less than we deserved before we met. And it taught us that with the “right love,” miracles happen; amazing adventures become a reality; and that true love really does exist.

“The right person doesn’t want something FROM you; the right person wants everything FOR you!”

After all these years, I truly understand what love is, and I found it for the first and last time in my life. I found it on that snowy night over a year ago, and with each day that passes, I sit in gratitude of what this love has brought into our lives and the lives of those around us.

“It’s funny that the moment you stop looking for something is the very moment you find it.”

Believe in love and believe in yourself. If you can do this, the rest will fall into place…it always does!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

robnanci

 

 

“A Martini Glass of Tears”

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Yesterday was a bad day…and I don’t have those very often. My feelings were hurt, I heard some news that was upsetting, and the realization of who I thought was a friend turned out not to be true. Needless to say, the martini glass was filled with tears by the end of the night.martini glass 1

Yet bad days happen for a reason; they allow us to see what the good days really are. Yesterday was a compilation of all the changes happening in my life at the moment (and most of them are all good!), feeling beat up and manipulated by someone, and knowing that life has just handed me another challenge.

I went to bed in tears last night, and woke up this morning with swollen eyes. But I woke up better. I cried it all out and I believe with all my heart that a good cry is our soul’s way of cleansing all the negativity within us. I had had a week in which negative stuff was building up day by day, and last night it all broke open.

tearsThis morning I woke with the dawn, and sat outside with my coffee, listening to my intuition and the voices of reason that can only be heard in the silence. I’m not upset anymore, and the hurt that I felt from outside sources has lessened. They’ve lessened because I’ve forgiven them…not to their face, or over the phone. I’ve forgiven their hurtful behavior so that I’m not hurt or angry. And I’ve forgiven myself for allowing it to bother me in the first place.

We are in control of our emotions, and perhaps mine exploded last night due to fatigue and sleepless nights. Those are key factors in our “falling apart.” It’s so important to stay healthy and well rested, because when we’re not, our emotions take advantage of us, and we simply don’t have the strength to be strong.

“When you can’t find the strength, let the strength find you.”

My strength found me this morning with the sunrise, a hot cup of coffee, and feeling well rested. Moments like the one I had yesterday have to happen every so often. I believe they’re good for us at times, as long as it’s not happening every day.

“Trials, tribulations and blessings are one in the same because you can’t have one without the other.”

Our greatest blessings come from the lessons we learn from our trials and tribulations, and I truly believe that if we understand that, then we have found the secret to life.

Today is a good day, and I know it will get better. The martini glass that was once filled with tears is empty…and a new day is upon me, with no mistakes in it.

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

Wishing you love and light, my friends,

~Anne Dennish~

new day

 

 

“Be Smart, Be Brave!”

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All too often we settle for less than we deserve and want. And why is this? It’s because we don’t love ourselves enough, and most often, in order for us to move forward and have the life we deserve, we have to make some difficult decisions. Those decisions are ones of change, letting go and moving forward. Change can be scary, and so can saying good-bye to someone or something that no longer serves us.

I share my experiences in my new book, “Waking Up,” on how I was able to change my life to one that I deserved and wanted. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that the “smartest things I had to do were often the hardest things I had to do.” Yet I will tell you this: it was worth the effort, and any heartache or pain that came with it. And you know why? Because once I did those thing, it was as if the doors opened with more opportunity, more happiness, and more love than I could have imagined! Great things come to you when you say good-bye to the “not so great” people and things in your life. I believe that all good things will come to all of us when we rid ourselves of the drama and negativity in our life.

Love yourselves as well as you love those in your life! Take an inventory of “who and what” in your circle no longer serves you. Be smart, make a change, and move forward.

Show me how big your brave is!

Wishing you love and light,
~Anne Dennish~

smart and hard

“Choices and Chances”

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There are those that think they don’t have a choice in life; that the life they’re living is because they “have to.” That’s simply not true because we all have a choice. We have a choice to move forward or stay stuck; we have a choice to say “yes” or say “no;” we have a choice to to be brave or be fearful. Life is filled with choices to make everyday, yet life doesn’t give you a choice; life gives you a chance to make the right choice! You can be whoever you want to be in life, and that’s not by chance, it’s by the incredible gift we’ve all been given: choice!

It’s our “choices” that give us our greatest “chances” in life!

Enjoy your gift of “choice” today… and every day thereafter!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

choice post