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“It’s A Wonderful Life”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

Tonight I’ll be heading out with friends to the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to see the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I watch it every year on TV, as so many of us do, yet tonight will be a real treat to see it on the big screen.

It’s the perfect holiday movie and a reminder for all of us that our life affects the lives of others. Think about that…who would you be without the people you’ve met along this journey and who would they be without you? 

There are some of you who have lost loved ones and are missing them, especially during the holidays. It’s good to remember them and the memories they left you with, but think about how their lives impacted yours. Who would you be or where would you be in your life if you never knew them?

And then look around at the people that are still here on this Earth. Think about them as well and ask yourself the same question: “Who would you be or where would you be in your life without them?”

You see, we have a chance to learn the same lesson that George Bailey did: “each man’s life touches so many other lives.” Make your life a “wonderful life,” because it is.

Remember that today and always.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~wonderful life

 

 

“Are You Ready To Jump Into 2020?”

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The New Year of 2020 is fast approaching and I have to wonder if you’ve been thinking of the life lessons you’ve learned this year. After all, I don’t believe in “resolutions” but in “revelations,” those lessons we’ve learned throughout the year that’s about to end. It’s those lessons that we need to take with us into 2020.

They’re the lessons of some eye-opening moments, of seeing the true colors of people and situations, of learning again and again that you are important. They’re the lessons of  seeing when we weren’t loving ourselves enough or taking care of ourselves the way that we take care of others. They’re the lessons of learning what works in our life and what doesn’t. 

And they’re the lessons that taught us what and who we need to let go of to live our best life.

What are your revelations from 2019?

Are you ready to take those valuable lessons with you into 2020?

Let’s start this year off with a positive outlook on all the possibilities that the New Year will have to offer and let’s all start moving forward into living our best life!

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

ready_to_jump

 

“Each Breath Along The Journey” Is Released!

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

Happy December 1st! It’s the perfect day to officially announce to you that my new book, “Each Breath Along The Journey” has been released and is available for online purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I’m so excited about this new book and I hope that all of you who read it will be, too! book launch cover 1

“Each Breath Along The Journey” is a collection of short stories based on the personal experiences of the writer and how she survived them.

This book is filled with the life lessons that the author has learned throughout her life, from her divorce and being on her own to raise five children to surviving breast cancer. Some stories will make you cry and some will make you laugh, yet you’ll know that you’re not alone in this world.”

Buy it for yourself or give it as a gift. It’s the perfect time of year to share a book that’s positive, inspirational and motivational for everyone. 

The last month of the year is here so let’s take it out in style…together! It’s time to start “living your best life!”

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

 

 

“The Love They Leave Behind”

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The holidays are fast approaching and so many of us are missing the people that are unable to be around our table. I’m missing three of my five children, yet I know that they’re only a phone call away.

And then there are those that have passed away that we miss. I miss those people yet I smile when I think of them. 

And as I was thinking of them the other day, I thought this: “When they passed they took my love with them, yet they left so much more than they took.”

What I mean by that is this: They took the love but they left me with the precious memories, the sound of their laughter, the stories they told year after year, the image of their face when they smiled, and the remembrance of the feeling of their hugs. They left a piece of themselves in everyone whose life they touched.

And they left all that love for me to carry in my heart until I see them again.

I smile when I think of them or laugh out loud when I remember something funny that they did or said.

I tell my children the stories that they had told me.

I look at old photographs of them and remember that exact moment in time when they were here.

I don’t cry bitter tears over them leaving this world, but cry tears of joy in knowing that they left the best part of them behind with me.

I honor their memory by living my life to the fullest because that’s how they lived theirs. 

I embrace the love that they left with me and carry it in my heart.

And I am grateful and blessed for the time I had with them.

After all, they loved me enough to leave a piece of themselves behind with me.

And it’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

They Left More

Photo by Anne Dennish copyright@2019

 

 

 

“Take A Look In The Mirror”

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Please be kind. Be kind to everyone. The world is in desperate need of it.

Don’t be the person who puts your back to someone to exclude them from being part of the group.

Don’t be the person who rolls your eyes when someone takes the time to hug you. 

Don’t be the person who treats someone badly because of someone else’s opinion and judgement of them.

Be the person that always leaves a space open for someone to be part of the group.

Be the person who hugs someone back with eyes filled with gratitude that they thought enough of you to hug you in the first place.

Be the person who treats everyone kindly, whether you like them or not.

Where do you get your judgement of another? Are you that weak minded that you can’t base an opinion of your own?Put this in book….write a longer story.

Take a look in the mirror. Which person are you?

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

Take-a-look-in-the

“Find Your Funny, Honey!”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

Laughter is truly the best medicine and today I felt as though some of you may need a little something to make you laugh.

This is a picture of my son, Danny, from about 23 years ago. This child was always doing something to make you laugh and this is one of my favorite pictures of him when he was younger. 

I’m a believer that no matter what is going on in your life you need to remember to “find your funny” whenever and wherever you can.

Take a moment to forget about your troubles, smile and laugh out loud!

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

Find Your Funny

My son, Danny, could always make me laugh…and 22 years later he still does!

 

 

“The Tornado of Drama”

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The drama that other’s cause is like a tornado sucking in all that’s in its’ path. No one has control over being caught up in the vortex of it, yet a tornado is a force of destruction created by nature. 

Drama is a force of destruction created by another human being.

No one can control the forces of nature, but you can control the forces of drama. 

Don’t allow yourself to be sucked into the path of human destruction and don’t allow yourself to be swept up into the vortex of the drama. 

A tornado will eventually lose its’ power and end.

Drama will only lose its power if you don’t engage with it, don’t feed it and don’t fuel it.

You can’t control the behavior of others and you can’t always stop the person causing the storm, but you can make the choice to seek shelter from it until it goes away. 

Eventually when the storm of drama isn’t being fed it will lose its strength and dissipate, the same way a tornado does.

And what’s left after the storm of drama loses its strength?

“The truth.”

And it’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

Dont-get-sucked-in

“And The Last Child Graduates”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

The youngest of my five children graduated high school last week. It was a bittersweet day for both of us yet an exciting one. It was the end of a chapter and the beginning of the next one. Of course his chapter is much different than mine, yet it’s a new beginning for both of us.

This fifth child of mine never ceases to amaze me. At just 17 years old (almost 18) he knows who he is, he’s comfortable in his own skin, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him, yet the truth is, everyone loves him. He’s smart, he’s kind and compassionate, and he’s funny. His smile lights up the room and he can turn the saddest of my days into my best days.

And they love him because he’s his authentic self. I can’t begin to tell you how many teachers, faculty and parents of his friends tell me what a sweet kid he is: kind, respectful and funny. No mother could ask for anything more!

Yet I think back to when I was that age and wasn’t even close to being sure of myself. I didn’t know what I wanted in life other than the next step after high school: go to college. I cared about what I was wearing and what others thought of me. Comfortable in my own skin? I didn’t even know what my “own skin” was. 

Yes, I’m a proud mother here and one that is in awe of this fifth child of mine, yet I’ll be honest, all five of them are the same way. They are who they are and they’re amazing human beings. I’d like to think I had a hand in that while I was raising them because I allowed them to be their authentic self, without judgment or criticism. And it worked.

We all want to be accepted and loved and I believe that happens when we are our “authentic self,” not someone other people expect us to be. As I told my children, if people don’t like you or respect you for who you are, then they’re not your “people.”

And it’s true.

It’s a lesson I learn more and more as life goes on.

Congratulations to my fifth child, Sam, as he begins the next chapter of his life. I hope it’s a grand adventure. He certainly deserves it!

And here’s to all of us being our authentic self and beginning another chapter in our lives. Enjoy the journey and embrace the adventure.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

sammy

 

“We’re Dreamers ‘Til The End”

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“A dreamer is a realist with faith.”

Faith in their dreams and faith in themselves.

I was in Virginia a few weeks ago to celebrate my nephew, Gavin’s, high school graduation. It was the first time in years that so much of our family was under the same roof for the night and we all had a good time.

I was in Virginia a few weeks ago to celebrate my nephew, Gavin’s, high school graduation and I got to spend some time alone with him. We had a conversation I’ll remember forever: he shared his “dreams” with me. 

Yes, we spoke of college and his football career, but most of the conversation was about his dreams. 

And he said he must get that “dreamer” thing from me.

And I couldn’t have been more proud.

Gavin told me that he wants to make a difference in the world, even if it’s making a difference to just one person. He told me that he’s not looking to be famous, but if he is he wants to be famous for helping people and changing someone’s life for the better. He told me his “dreams” of a better world and I understood exactly what he was talking about because I dream of the same. Gavin and I aren’t just waiting for our dreams to come true, we’re doing what it takes to turn our dreams into a reality.

I received a “thank you” card from Gavin and this proud auntie shed a tear at the last line of the card: “We’re dreamers together ‘til the end!”

And we will always will be.

I believe in the “dreamers” because I’ve been one for as long as I can remember. When I was much younger I  remember being told that it was okay to have dreams as long as I understood that they were just dreams, not reality. I used to believe that a dreamer was just a person who went through life with their head in the clouds, but that’s not true.

We dreamers have our feet planted firmly on the ground, yet we have enough faith in ourselves to believe that we can turn our dreams into reality; we have an intense passion for our dreams; and we believe in our dreams and in ourselves.

I believe in my nephew, Gavin, I believe in me, and I believe in all of you.

Thank you, Gavin, for letting your aunt know that she made a difference in your life.

After all, that’s what us “dreamers” are all about…

And it’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

gavin dreamer

“Find The Time To Make The Time”

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Isn’t funny how we can “find the time” to “make the time” for a hair appointment or visit to the spa, a trip to the store or a night of mindless television, yet we can’t seem to find the time for the most important things in life that truly matter: the moments we share with the people we love and the moments we need just for us, the kind that soothes our souls.

We say that we have to “find the time,” yet the reality is that we have to “find the time” to “make the time.”

Make the time to take care of yourself.

Make the time to stop what you’re doing and listen to someone who needs to be heard.

Make the time to stop and see the beauty around you.

Make the time to tell someone you love them and how important they are to you.

Make the time to enjoy the holidays, not just prepare for them.

Make the time to still your mind and listen to your intuition.

Make the time to make memories, not just money.

Make the time to let your heart take a picture of those “be still my heart” moments.

Make the time to count your blessings.

And make the time to be grateful for all of them.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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