life

“I Had a Little Health Scare”

/ Anne Dennish / 8 Comments

There’s something I’d like to share with all of you and I’m hoping that my experience helps save a life or prevent the loss of one.

After Thanksgiving dinner I started to have a back ache. It felt like a pinched nerve on the left side of my back. I woke up Friday morning with the pain worse and it was now on both sides of my back. Silly me, I went for a pedicure just to use the massage chair in the hopes that it would help my back. It didn’t.

Saturday night the pain was extremely bad in my entire back and had now moved around to both sides of my upper chest. I slept sitting up on the couch because I couldn’t lay in my bed or roll from side to side. It was a struggle to get to the bathroom and I needed help just getting my pants on. The pain became excruciating and the muscle relaxers I had did nothing to help. I called the doctor on Tuesday for something that could help but they wanted me to come in on Thursday, which I did.

My doctor did an EKG and said that I may have had a heart attack or was about to have one or possibly a stroke. I was rushed to the hospital and admitted. After x-rays, a CT scan and ultrasound, the verdict was in. I did not have a heart attack but had blood clots in both lungs and one in my leg. I have NEVER felt such fear in my life. It made breast cancer seem like nothing but a bad dream. THIS was a nightmare!

I’m happy to say that I’m feeling better! I’m on medication and am able to walk up to 20 minutes a day now without chest pain or shortness of breath and am so grateful for that!

I went to my doctor a week later for a check-up. She hugged me and said that I had had a “near death” experience, which is why I was feeling more emotional than usual. She also told me that most people wouldn’t be alive after staying home with that much pain and those symptoms for eight days like I had, and that someone on the other side was watching out for me. She also believed that it was a sign that it just wasn’t my time! 

She saved my life and there are no words to thank her enough, so I will share this experience with you in the hopes that you will not ignore symptoms such as these like I did. I still sit here some days and can’t believe I didn’t do something sooner, but it’s done and over with and I’m here, thank God. Now, it’s time to get on with life and life is even more precious than it was. 

I say to all of you, don’t take one day for granted and don’t take the people in your life for granted. If you think of them throughout your day, let them know. If you love them, let them know as often as you can. And never, ever, take someone you care about for granted.

That’s my story and it’s been quite an eye opener for me. It’s changed me in many ways and I will certainly share those changes with you as time goes on. 

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“One Year In Florida”

/ Anne Dennish / 4 Comments

Today marks one year that I’ve been in Florida and what a year it’s been. Eleven days after I moved here Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 hurricane, hit and I had to grab my parents and evacuate to the East Coast until it passed. Happily, I had minimal damage done to my little Florida house!

It’s been a year of trying to find my balance and my place here in Punta Gorda. My significant other stayed up North for six months before he moved here. I’ve tried to find part-time work and have ended up with some crazy jobs. It’s been quite an experience, to say the least. 

I did learn some interesting things about living in this area.

Florida has no cold water in the summer months, due to the extreme heat. The most you’ll get out of your faucet is warm water. 

Porches are called “lanai’s” which drives some of my friends crazy when I say that.

Most bars have a last call at 9:30 pm and close at 10. 

Onions are very strong here and if you cook them I can tell you that you will smell them in your house for over 24 hours!

I learned that lightning can, indeed, strike a car because we saw it happen while driving.

Some of the great things are that you can eat outside at almost every restaurant all throughout the year.

Though the summer is hot, the fall, winter and spring are beautiful. 

I love thunder and lightning and this is definitely the place to witness some beauty in the storms here.

The clouds are absolutely stunning at sunset.

I’ll never get used to alligators and snakes. I do love the sounds of the pack of coyotes that live at the end of my street, especially during a full moon when they howl for quite a long time.

Here’s to Year #2 in Florida. It’s taken me this last year to get used to it, but I’m working on it. I still miss the beach at the Jersey Shore but know that I’ll make it back there at some point.

Here’s to change, finding the positive in it and making the best of it.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“A Work In Progress”

/ Anne Dennish / 15 Comments

We’re all a work in progress. We’re not the same person as we were a year ago, five years ago or 10 years ago, and that’s what life is about: change. When we stop changing, we stop living.

I can honestly say that I’m definitely a different person than I was a year ago or twenty years ago. Life teaches us lessons that help us, sometimes “force” us, to change. We live through circumstances that change us. It’s survival and it’s also becoming a person who can survive those moments and thrive because of them. 

If only others could see in us what we see in ourselves. If only they could see how far we’ve come in our life and how much we’ve learned about ourselves. If only they could see the effort it took us to get to “now.”

Sometimes I feel as though strangers see the changes more than the people closest to me, but more often than not, that’s the way it goes.

Still, I’ll never stop learning and growing. I’ll never stop changing into the best possible version of myself that I can be. I’ll never stop trying to live my best life.

Here’s to being “a work in progress” and growing into the best version of yourself that you can be today. And who knows? You could be an even better version of yourself in a year, or two, or more.

However long it takes, live each day living, learning and becoming the best version of yourself that you can.

You got this!

And so do I!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Where You Belong”

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“Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, taking us on the journey of a lifetime. We may not end up where we dreamed, but we’ll always end up where we belong.” 

~Anne Dennish~

I wrote this quote at what seems like a lifetime ago, but I’m glad I was reminded of it because it’s true and so fitting of my life right now.

I can honestly say that I’m not where I dreamed I’d be, but rest assured, I’m in the place that I belong.

I’m in the place I need to be to take care of my parents, the place to learn patience in adapting to a new area to live in, a place to learn more about myself and the many changes I’m going through, and a place to write my books in.

I’m where I belong and I’m making the best of it. 

I believe that our lives are a series of “unexpected turns,” and it’s up to us to step up and be equal to the challenge.

I do believe that we’ll all end up where we dream to be, we just need to learn the lessons that life is teaching us and change our perspective on where we are at this moment.

We all end up where we belong…

And I believe that in time we’ll all end up where we dreamed.

Be grateful to be in the place that you belong.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“The Magic Carpet Ride!”

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I was speaking to a good friend of mine yesterday and she said that she thought that my life was “a magic carpet ride.” And how right she is! So many amazing things have happened since my novel came out but it’s so much more…

Life is a “magic carpet ride” if we want it to be. So often we think that our lives are just living one day to the next but that’s not true. YOU have a life that is so much more! Each and every one of us has a life worthy of a “magic carpet ride.” Change your perspective on the mundane and look at the amazing. Look at how awesome your life truly is. Find at least one thing each day that is worthy of “a magic carpet ride!”

I don’t believe that any life is mundane or boring, that’s what we tell ourselves. Look deeper, look harder and truly see the magic that every day has to bring to you. Open your heart, open your eyes and open your minds! Look past the daily grind.

See your life as “an amazing carpet ride!” 

Because it is.

And it is because you’re here to live it, see it, and feel it.

Try it! It’s worth the effort and it feels amazing!

Enjoy the ride on “your magic carpet!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

I Don’t Need Easy, Just “Not So Hard”

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I don’t need easy, I just need “not so hard.”

Have you ever felt that way? I know that I have. I get tired of the obstacles that I have to get around, the hurdles that I have to jump over and the situations that I have to deal with. Life hands us some crazy situations yet I’m not alone on this one. I know that you’ve felt the same way once or twice in your life as well.

Moving to Florida was a difficult transition for me, even though I made the move for the right reasons: to be closer to my parents. It’s been almost 7 months and I still feel as though I’m searching for that feeling of “home.” There are days that I miss my Jersey Shore, the surf, the sand and the ocean. I miss my friends back home and I miss Asbury Park.

But this is where I live now. 

And I’m trying to make it “home.”

Life has been a bit tougher than I thought it would be but I’m plugging away at it, trying to find my balance and trying to get my “groove” back. I’m trying to find my place and where I fit in. It’s a process and I’m willing to do what it takes to get to that “happy place.”

Today I had a day in which I thought to myself “I don’t need easy, I just need not so hard.” And I’m okay with that. It’s just for today, not forever, and for each day that I open my eyes to face another day in my life, I’m grateful

Life has never been easy for me, but that’s what makes me “me.” It’s what made me into the person that I am today, the one trying to make others feel better, to feel less alone, and to try and change this crazy world into a better place.

I can’t thank all of you enough for your support, for following me, and for your beautiful words of encouragement.

We’re all in this together and together we can make a difference.

You’ve got this and I have to believe that I do, too!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“My Plate is full”

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You know that old saying: “I’ve got a lot on my plate?” I know it all too well. There are days I feel as though my whole life has been one full plate after another. It’s frustrating but as I believe, the Universe is trying to teach me something about myself.

I feel as though it asks me: “Why do you have so much on your plate? What choices did you make that piled your plate with things you didn’t want? Why aren’t you clearing your plate?”

Smart questions that force you to face difficult answers. And the only answer is this: “You allowed it.”

Today I sit with a plate that feels as though it’s overflowing and I’m trying to figure out how to clear it. 

Have you ever felt that way? Have you wondered why life is handing you one difficult situation after another? 

If you have, then the only answer is to look within yourself and at the choices you have made. Did those choices fill your plate? Are your actions bringing you one difficult situation after another?

The only answer I have is to stay calm and stay positive. Think about all those things on your plate and scrape off the situations that aren’t yours. After that take a look at what’s left and come up with a plan to scrape off the rest.

Life isn’t always easy and solving our own “full plates” can be difficult, but I promise you this, it’s worth your time to clear it.

Here’s to “full plates becoming empty.” Here’s to seeing the positive in what seems so negative at this moment. 

And here’s to you. 

You got this, and so do I!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“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~

“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~