life

“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~

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“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~

“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~

“Restless Soul Syndrome”

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I’ve got “restless soul syndrome” again. It could be that I’ve been sitting in this “comfort zone” for too long knowing that it isn’t actually all that comfortable! Or it could be that I’ve been sitting in the same “box” for so long that I need to step out of it!In other words, I need a change. A change of scenery, a change of heart, a change of perspective. In any case, it’s a change of some sort I’m sure.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy but I do feel restless, and I’m working on stepping out of my comfort zone and out of the box!I’ve been working hard on my novel, which I hope to have released by early spring and I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly happy I feel when I’m writing. It’s a feeling of pure joy for me and this new book is one completely different from all the others I wrote before. I’m hoping for the best for this “baby” of mine. I actually wrote this novel 17 years ago and have procrastinated long enough in rewriting it. The story needed an update and that’s what I’ve been doing. My intention is to have it in the hands of the publisher by March and on the market by spring.

I’m hoping this book brings exciting changes in my life, ones that I’ve wanted for a long time, but I’m doing more than “hoping” and “working” on it.I’m allowing myself to “see it, believe it and achieve it.”

Sometimes “restless soul syndrome” comes around to “shake you up and wake you up!”

I believe that it’s helping me finish the book. It’s helping me see it as I picture it to be, helping me to believe in the changes it will bring, and helping me do what it takes to achieve it.

And for that, I’m grateful.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“You’ll Figure It Out”

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My friend, Billy, sent me this picture yesterday and I had to laugh a bit because it’s just what I needed to hear! And he’s right, I always do figure it out…eventually.I can’t help but think that we all are trying to figure it out. The world that we thought would have calmed down by now is still somewhat chaotic. That virus seems to be everywhere, causing turmoil wherever it goes. Businesses can’t get help and customers have no patience for wait times. The shelves at the food store haven’t been restocked in weeks. Mask mandates are cropping up again all over. It’s no wonder that we’re feeling anxious or stressed. It’s no wonder that we’re trying to figure it out. And it’s no wonder that we’re trying to “figure out” what we’re actually trying to figure out.

All we can do is keep the faith, stay positive and be there for one another.

After all, as I’ve always said to my children, “It won’t be like this forever, just for today.”

At least I’d like to believe that.

Don’t worry, my loves, we’re in this together and eventually we will all “figure it out!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“On Finding Joy In The Simple Things”

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It’s a cloudy, dreary Sunday here at the Jersey Shore and it’s the perfect day to make some gravy (or sauce) with sausage and meatballs. I gathered all of my ingredients early this morning, chopped some garlic, made my meatballs and sausage and turned on the soundtrack from the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun.” Life is good.

Cooking gravy (or sauce) is very therapeutic for me. It’s the process of putting the perfect combination of spices together, the constant stirring and taste testing to get it just right.

While I find this therapeutic, I realized that this brings me “joy,” and as I wrote years ago: “Joy is the elevated state of happiness.” Such a simple task of cooking yet one that truly brings me joy. 

So here I am today working on writing my next book and stirring my gravy (sauce) every so often. It’s the perfect combination of two things that bring me great joy.

What brings you joy? 

I find that sometimes it’s the simplest and smallest of things that bring us the most joy.

My wish for you is that you find joy in your life.

I often find it in mine.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“This Bug Has Left The Building!”

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The nasty little bug I’ve had for over a week has finally left the building and for that, I am truly grateful. I am left with the fatigue but that’s just fine by me. 

I found myself getting frustrated while I was sick because I had no energy to do anything except sleep or sit on the couch watching movies. I was home for over a week and kept thinking to myself: “You should be writing, reading or catching up by phone with old friends. You should…you should…you should.” It was driving me crazy until I changed my perspective on this time at home.

My body needed to rest. It needed to BE at rest. My mind wasn’t in any shape to write anything because all my mind kept thinking was “I don’t feel good.” I’m a believer in that the Universe whacks us with a 2×4 when we’re not taking care of ourselves the way that we should, and that’s just what it did to me.

So, I let go of feeling frustrated and began to feel grateful that I could be home to take care of myself, to rest and relax, and to just “be.” My body needed that, especially after the holidays, and my mind needed that as well.

Life is a mindset of perspectives and if we can take an unpleasant situation and find something positive in it, I believe the situation won’t be as unpleasant as we had believed. Your thoughts are powerful and you are in control of them. It can be difficult to stay positive when we’re in the midst of something negative, but it’s worth the effort.

And you can do it.

And so can I.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

#mindset #perspective #covid #life #gratitude #theuniverse #feelingsick #rest #relax #positivethoughts #youcandoit #onthemend

“Another New Year’s Eve”

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How is the second day of the New Year treating everyone? I hope it finds you well. As for me, that nasty little virus found its’ way to my door and I’ve been dealing with it for the last few days. I’m missing all the energy I usually have but this bug decided to make me extremely tired and give me a little fever to fight off every day. No worries, I’m resting, taking it easy and letting it run its course. As all things in life, this too shall pass.

I forgot all about this poem that I wrote that’s published in my book, “Each Breath Along The Journey.” I hope you enjoy it and my wish for you is that this year of 2022 is being kind to you.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“New Year’s Revelations in 2022!”

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“Resolutions are promises you don’t often keep. Revelations are lessons you learn that can change your life.”I learned that the only way for my life to change in the New Year was to think about the lessons that the year had taught me. Those lessons became my “New Year Revelations.”

Every year I notice that as the New Year approaches, people start talking about their “resolutions.” There’s things they want to do and things they want to change in their life so they make a list of “resolutions.”

I threw that concept out years ago because to me, resolutions were nothing more than making promises to myself that I couldn’t keep. They were goals for sure, but seriously, how many of us actually stick to those resolutions? I always tried, failed at some, then beat myself up for not doing what I had wanted.

So, years ago I realized that the only way for my life to change was by learning the lessons that life had handed me, learning from my mistakes, and learning from my experiences, and so I decided to have my “New Year’s Revelations!” I ask myself some important questions throughout the month of December: What opened my eyes this past year? What did I learn about myself? What type of people am I surrounding myself? Am I taking care of myself and loving myself enough or giving too much of myself away? And what do I need to let go of that has no place in the New Year coming up and in my life?

These are the questions to ask yourself and answer honestly. You see, when you have those “revelations” about yourself and the year that’s about to come to an end, you take those lessons and truths with you. When you do that, the New Year will open the door to endless possibilities. Don’t put added stress on yourself by making “resolutions.”

Take the time to think about your “revelations” and begin the New Year in a positive light. All things are possible if you just believe in yourself!

Here’s to an awesome 2022! Happy New Year, my loves!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Don’t You Forget About Me”

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And just like that, my staycation is over and I’m back at work. And life seems to be back to where it was before the staycation as well. As for me? I’m pushing myself to remember the girl that I had forgotten about until that time alone. I’m being diligent about not letting that girl go so far away again. And I don’t want to forget that amazing time of writing like I used to, of feeling sure of myself, of truly letting the “real me” shine through.

Life is a funny, wonderful, crazy thing. We live it in our day to day routines, not noticing much until we’re given the time to notice, to remember, to be who we are. And I won’t give that up.

We spend so much time doing the same things every day that we forget to take the time and “make” the time to notice the people in our lives, the beauty that surrounds us, and more importantly, we forget about ourselves. We forget why we’re here. We forget who we are. We forget to love ourselves.

Yes, my staycation is over. Yes, I’m back at work. Yes, my old life seems to be creeping into the life that I found during that short period of time.

But I’m not going to forget how I felt, what I learned, and what I want to do from here on in.

My staycation changed me yet it brought out the best in me.

I found myself.

And I’m not going to let that girl go again.

Pay attention, my loves, to the world and the life that surrounds you.

More importantly, pay attention to “you,” because you are amazing and “you” have the ability to change the world.

We got this!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~