life

“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~

“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~