Gratitude

“8 Year Breast Cancer Survivor”

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I’m grateful for every day that I wake up yet I’m especially grateful for this day. Today I woke up as an 8 year breast cancer survivor and I have to say, it feels wonderful! I am filled with gratitude for my life and the people in it who have supported me throughout my journey and who still support me throughout my adventures.

The kids aren’t around to celebrate this milestone with me but my Noah did something special for me all the way from Hawaii. They ordered the most delicious, homemade bagels from their friend, Maggie, the “Bagel Bandita,” who lives here at the Jersey Shore.

What a beautiful surprise when the “Bagel Bandita” showed up at my work with a dozen bagels!

Thank you, Noah, for being “you” and remembering me on this very important day.

And just like that, I’m an 8 year breast cancer survivor!

Here’s to the beginning of the countdown to next year!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“That Oneness Guy” Interview with Anne Dennish

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Danny Rongo, “That Oneness Guy” asked me to kick off the fifth season of his podcast and I was thrilled to do it! We had a great time doing this interview as we talked about my books, my breast cancer and how we both keep a positive outlook on life. If you’re looking for some encouragement, motivation and inspiration, take a listen.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“When Mother Nature Smiles On The Jersey Shore In Winter”

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Every so often Mother Nature smiles down on the Jersey Shore in the middle of winter and gifts us with a springlike day. The temperatures were well into the 60’s, baby blue skies and plenty of sunshine! And what do all us locals do when we wake up to such a day? We head to the boardwalk and walk the beach.

Yesterday we took off before noon and strolled down the boardwalk into one of my favorite towns, Asbury Park. We had lunch at the Seahorse, which is located in Convention Hall, complete with live music. We were surrounded by many vendors at the Valentine’s Market inside the Grand Arcade. It was the perfect day!

It seemed as though everyone was on the boardwalk, sitting on the beach, or strolling through the town. What a breath of fresh air in the middle of winter to be outside without a coat and hat, just a hoodie.

It was a wonderful surprise to have a day like that in the middle of winter but it was no surprise to wake up this morning to freezing temperatures, gray skies and light snow.

Life at the Jersey Shore is always interesting. 

And I’m grateful to live here.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Life Is Always Changing”

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Life is changing, I can feel it to my toes and it’s happening quickly. There are days that I have to remind myself to breathe, that it’s all happening just as it should.

And experience has taught me throughout the years that it always is happening as it should.

I’m so excited about my new book and am praying that it brings the changes in my life that I want, perhaps even need. 

So each day I wake up I’m grateful.

Each day that I wake up I try to do better.

Each day that I wake up I try to do what it takes to turn my dreams into my reality.

And each day that I wake up I remind myself to keep moving forward and never give up on my dreams. 

Life is always changing.

Dreams can be turned into reality.

And each day is a chance to do it better than the day before.

Keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the path may be that day.


Everything is happening just as it should.

You have to believe.

And you have to have faith.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Can You Taste The Love?”

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I remember when my oldest was about two years old and eating some of my home baked cookies. I asked him, “ Can you taste all the love I put in there?”

To which he replied, “I can! You put a lot of love in there.”

And so began the phrase of “I can taste the love” from all five of my children with every meal I made or cookies and cakes that I baked. 

There were times when I made their favorite food that they would say, “You put extra love in this! I can taste it!”

I was reminded of this precious tradition that began over 30 years ago when I spoke with my Noah last night. They asked me if I still had my old Better Homes and Garden Cookbook (which I do!) and could I send them a screenshot of the banana bread recipe. I told them that I would and I did.

Such a simple thing yet one that is so precious.

I can still see those sweet little faces eating a chocolate chip cookie, the chocolate all over their mouths saying “I can taste the love!”

And you know what? I always did put the love in whatever I made for them to eat, no matter their age. It meant so much to me to see how happy that made them and I hope someday they’ll understand that it made me even happier.

Once in a while there are those rare moments as adults that they’ll still say that they “can taste the love.”

I texted Noah the banana bread recipe last night and reminded him to put the “love” in it.

And they said that they remembered that.

It was a “be still my heart” moment and I’m grateful for that.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“The Lady On The Corner”

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You never know when you’re going to step into your next adventure.

A small group of us went out to dinner on Saturday night in Asbury Park. The dinner was over the top delicious and the company was even better. I couldn’t have planned a more perfect evening.

After dinner we walked across the street to a very cool store called “The Severed Wing.” As I walked to the back of the shop there she was, a woman that I’ve seen on social media known as “the lady on the corner.”

And she is “the lady on the corner,” an interesting person who I was grateful to have met and happy that she snapped this picture of us. She has her own style of photography and she can be found on “the corner,” taking pictures and meeting people. I felt like I had just met a celebrity. 

You never know where you’ll find your next adventure…

You may even find it right on the corner.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“And The Down Day Has Passed!”

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And just like that, my “down day” has passed!

After a good night’s sleep I woke up this morning feeling like my old self!

Funny how those moods sneak up on us without warning, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned is not to get too upset with them or let them stress me out. They come for a reason and sometimes it’s best not to fight them, but to surrender to them until they’ve passed.

And that’s what I did yesterday.

I’m grateful for that day yesterday and as I always told my children: “It won’t be like this forever, just for today.”

And I was right.

Here’s to the down days, the up days, the good days and the bad. Here’s to every single day that we can experience life and all that comes with it. Here’s to being grateful for all of it.

As I stepped out of my back door to go to work I had to stop and take a deep breath! The smell of the salt air was so strong and smelled so wonderful that I took a drive down to the beach. The skies were stormy and the seas were rough but still an absolutely beautiful sight to see.

I’m grateful for feeling better this morning and I’m grateful for this magical place that brings me so much joy: the beach.

Thank you for all your support during my “down day.” I appreciate it and your comments helped me through.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“A Night At The Beach”

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The weather is a bit warmer here at the Jersey Shore today and the remnants of the blizzard we had are melting away. The fog was rolling in thick so I decided to sit out on my back step. All I could hear was the strong sounds of the ocean and of course you know that I just had to take a walk to the beach.

And I did.

The words are hard to find to describe the beauty of the ocean, the fog, the lights and the sound. I could smell the salt air from my house and it was even stronger as my feet hit the sands. What an incredible night to be able to see all that was in front of me.

And I am so grateful for that walk that took me to see a sight that most aren’t able to witness. It was both beautiful and eerie at the same time. I felt peaceful and at the same time felt restless. There’s something about an ocean that’s churning that brings so many different emotions, so many feelings, so many thoughts.

Tonight I was able to feel the wind, smell the seas, and taste the salt air.

And I am incredibly grateful.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“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~

“I Wanna Go Back…”

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Do you ever hear a song on the radio that takes you back in time? One that transports you to a time when you were younger and life seemed much simpler?

It’s that song that brings you back to a precious memory, of a time when you remember being so carefree and happy.

For me it’s a song sung by Eddie Money that makes me think that “I wanna go back and do it all over, but I can’t back, I know.” 

But I can’t go back. None of us can.

What we can do is hold onto those memories from a lifetime ago.

Keep them safely tucked inside of your heart.

And don’t lose sight of “now.”

When life isn’t going the way we had planned, or we’re feeling sad or depressed, or as though we’ll never be happy again, we often go back to those times.

We all do.

But don’t go back to those times and wish that you were there again.

Visit those times to remind you that you have been happy and that life was all that you wanted it to be at that time.

And let those times remind you that you can have that in the “now.” You didn’t leave happiness in your past. It was simply a different time in your life that taught you what “happiness” feels like. 

Take those feelings of old memories with you into your “now.” 

And let your “now” guide you into your “future.”

Life is a series of memories, good and bad, a series of life lessons, easy and hard, and a series of ups and downs. Experience is a great teacher and memories are gifts that we are given along the way.

Go back and visit if only to remind you that your “now” is just as precious as your “then.”

And remember to be grateful for it all.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~