love

“Don’t You Forget About Me”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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For those of you old enough to remember the movie, you’ll understand when I say this: I feel like I’m part of “The Breakfast Club!” And all I can hear is that song playing in my head: “Don’t you….forget about me!”

There have been times in the last few weeks that I find myself feeling “forgotten.” And I have to wonder how and why that’s happened. I always pay attention to someone while they’re speaking to me, I listen to them and try to offer advice if they need it, but more importantly, I respect them. Yet turn the tables and I find myself becoming “white noise” to them, feeling like a burden as I speak to them about me, and more importantly, I feel disrespected. I feel “forgotten.”

This has been going on for some time now, and I’ve been trying to figure out how it happened. I find myself in conversations where I just want to say: “Don’t you forget about me!”

But they do, and they did.

And I’m feeling upset and hurt.

And I allowed it.

The truth is that they didn’t forget about me, I forgot about me. I forgot to do what’s best for me, I forgot to speak my truth, I forgot to be sure they respected my boundaries.

I don’t like confrontation, yet speaking my truth and expressing it to someone with kindness isn’t confrontation; it’s owning who I am. So why is it so difficult for us to do that?

No one likes to hurt someone’s feelings and most of us try to avoid doing that. But what if someone else is doing that to us? Why do we find that acceptable?

We find it acceptable because we don’t like to feel uncomfortable yet:

“Sometimes we have to do something uncomfortable to be comfortable.”

And that is the truth. We, as humans, like things smooth and easy, but if you’re in the right relationship, no matter the type, being yourself and being honest shouldn’t be uncomfortable. All relationships should be based on respect and love, yet sometimes that line gets lost. And we find ourselves stressing over emotions and feelings that we allowed to happen.

Well, it’s time to STOP doing that, because protecting, respecting and loving yourself enough to tell someone the truth IS truth…your truth!

It’s my personal experience that the people that “forget about me” only do so because I’ve “forgotten about me.”

Stand in your truth, respect yourself, stand firm on your boundaries… and remember who you are!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“I’m Not…But I Am”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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I write books, short  stories’s, poetry, posts and even song lyrics about being positive. I write to inspire others, to make a difference in their lives, to make someone feel better about themselves and their life. I write the words to help someone find hope and faith, and to release fear. I write about the lessons I’ve learned about negative thoughts and actions bringing only negative things into our lives.

Yet  something happened to me in the last week, and I found myself in the hospital for the last two days under observation for my heart.  After countless tests and a five hours stress test the verdict was in: my heart and my brain were completely fine. No signs of heart attack, blockage, stroke or any other medical condition. So what the hell was wrong with me? Why had I been feeling “off” for the last week?

I left the hospital with my love late in the afternoon, came home and showered, did my hair and make-up, and went out to dinner to celebrate my son’s 19th birthday. I kept thinking to myself:  “What just happened to me?”

This morning the answer came, and I wanted to share it with all of you. The answer was this: All I have been saying in the last two weeks is:  “I’m not.”  And I know better than that! I know that thinking that way and saying that out loud only brings negative to me. Wow, I just had an enormous “waking up” moment, and truth be told, didn’t see this one coming!

I thought about all the “I’m not’s” I’ve been saying: “I’m not getting my writing done, I’m not getting anything done that’s on my  to do list, I’m not getting the housework done, and I’m not feeling like myself!” Wow, it makes me feel tired just thinking of all of that. And it makes me angry with myself for doing that because I don’t believe in negative thinking. Yet, it happened, and I’m sharing it with you to let you know we’re all human, and we all fall. And we all have a choice to “get back up.”

And this morning, I’m back up. First things first: forgive myself for the “I’m not’s.” They happened for a reason, and taught me something. They taught me that I lost sight of myself, and was doing everything for everyone else except me. And I know for fact, if I don’t take care of myself, no one around me will benefit from it. Lesson learned there!

Next, it’s time to replace all those nasty, little “I’m not’s” with powerful “I AM’S.” No i ammore negative thoughts, only positive affirmations, thoughts, words, feelings and actions!

“I am well, I am healthy, I am taking care of myself, I am getting things done when they need to be, I am happy, I am balanced, I am myself and most importantly: I am loved.”

Whew, I feel so much better already! All those unwarranted “I’m not’s” brought me to the hospital, and as I sit in my house today, I know this is where I want to be, not in an emergency room with a crazy heart! I am where I belong.

You see, this is how we learn, this is how we grow, and this is how we take the lessons we learned and use them to help someone else. This is how we make a difference.

My “waking up” moment was brief, but powerful enough to put me back on track and allow me to see what I was blind to: “myself”.

This is my story, and I’m sharing it with you so it doesn’t become yours. Focus on the “I AM” thoughts and actions for yourself and forget about any “I’M NOT” moments; they don’t exist unless you allow them to.

Be well, my friends, and stand in your power of “I AM!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“The Sweetness of Doing Nothing”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

 

It was blue skies, bright sun, and warm weather here at the Jersey Shore this weekend, and this writer took full advantage of it all!

I managed to get some writing done, then did something I don’t normally do: I did nothing! And it felt great!

Doing “nothing” is actually doing “something,” and that something is so important for dolce 1your mind, body and spirit. It’s your time to sit and relax, still your mind, recuperate from all the responsibilities of the week, and just “be!” It’s your time so spend with family and friends, or to just be alone. It’s your time to let your body slow down and enjoy the outdoors. Whatever you choose to do, remember: it’s “your” time!

There’s an Italian phrase, “il dolce far niente” which means “the sweetness of doing nothing,” and it’s one of my favorites! I have it written down on a post it note (one of many I have!) and hung above my computer as a reminder to find that sweet time of doing nothing every so often.

And remember, doing “nothing” is one of the most important “somethings” you can do for yourself… and all the good you do for yourself spills onto all those around you.

“It’s time to make a difference, and we can make a difference together!”

And that “difference” begins with YOU!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Under The Tree”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I wanted to share the latest song by Sutton Thomas and myself called “Under The Tree.” It’s a song based on the poem I wrote in my book “Waking Up,” and is about hearing the voices of our loved ones that have passed.

We’ve all experienced the loss of a loved one at one time or another in our life, and I’m no exception. Yet my belief is that the love we had lives on through us, and that all of us are still connected with them through spirit.

Yes, the physical body may be gone, but I believe that their soul lives on, in and around us… if we only take the time to listen.

This poem was born on a day that I was sitting under a tree at my grandmother’s grave. The sun was shining and a slight breeze was blowing through the tree, and it was quiet. It was in that silence that the breeze seemed to be carrying the voices of not just my grandmother, but all those that I loved who had passed.

I believe that love transcends everything, and that those who love us most who have passed will always be with us, watching over us and protecting us. Love never dies. The physical body may be gone, yet the soul is with us always. Close your eyes, still your mind, and listen with your heart…they’re always there waiting for you.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“It’s A Guy/Girl Thing”

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As my love and I were having our morning coffee together, we began to discuss our “miscommunication” from the night before. It’s funny how two people can be in the same situation, yet both can see it so differently. I guess that’s the difference between men and women: men see it one way, and women see it another.

That’s not to say it happens all the time, because I truly believe that when you’re in balance and in the right relationship, it happens very little. Yet I do believe that when it happens it does so to teach us something about ourselves and each other.

It also teaches us about our relationship.

I tossed and turned all night, thinking about what had transpired. It was such a small and inconsequential thing, yet couple that with being tired, working long hours and too much on your mind, well, you’ve got a recipe for disaster… or at least a minor miscommunication.

Women and men think differently, process things differently and react differently. Yet what I’ve learned over the years is this: If women can learn to accept the differences of a man, and a man can learn compassion for a woman’s differences, then all is right with the relationship. Truth be told, we should all have respect for each others’ differences, whether you’re a man or a woman.

How many times have you said: “It’s a guy thing, or it’s a girl thing?” I’m sure you’ve found yourself thinking it or saying it on several occasions. And you would be right because men and women are different, and that’s a fact.

So what do you do with these differences? You embrace them with love, try and understand them if you can, and be grateful for the lessons you learn from them. It’s these very lessons that teach you more about yourself, and about your relationship.

My love and I don’t always agree on everything, yet the love we share and the life we’re building together are much stronger than the little things that come up every so often. Our similarities far outweigh our differences and once we talk about our differences, there’s always laughter to follow… and our love for one another grows stronger.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Finding Your Balance”

/ Anne Dennish / 3 Comments

Life is about balance, and the truth is, balance can sometimes be hard to find, yet it’s not impossible. You can find your balance in life if you pay attention to the signs that you’re NOT in balance.

I, too, find myself wondering why I’m feeling exhausted and unable to get anything on my “to do” list done; I wonder why things aren’t going as I had hoped or why my goals are taking too long to achieve.

I wonder why I’m feeling as though I’m in a fog, or why my mind keeps racing to places it shouldn’t go. And I wonder why all of this is happening…that is, until I stop, sit in silence outside, and meditate. I still my mind, hard as that may be sometimes, and take deep breaths.

And then I realize why I’m wondering and feeling all these “not so good” feelings: I’m out of balance.

I’m not getting enough sleep, I’m trying to do everything for everyone but myself, and I’m forgetting to love myself the way I love everyone else. Those are just a few reasons we find ourselves out of balance.

One of my favorite quotes from “Eat, Pray, Love” is this: “Balance, my darling, is not letting anybody love you less than you love yourself.” And that’s how we fall out of balance: we’re loving ourselves less.

So, what next? Get back on track, say “no” to situations or people that do not serve your Highest Good, make time for yourself, and most importantly: LOVE YOURSELF! Take a few moments each day and focus on yourself; envision a white light of love and joy surrounding you; and remember that just as you are kind and loving to others, you need to be that way with yourself.

You’ll find your balance when you find yourself.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Just be kind…”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

I see so many references to “random acts of kindness” that I have to wonder just how many of us live by that. There needn’t be a certain day to do it, or a contest to see how many “acts” you can perform. Shouldn’t we all live each day by sharing an act of kindness to someone? Has the world gotten so busy that we’ve forgotten to take a minute or more to do something for someone else?

I love to make someone happy, to make them smile or laugh; I’m grateful if I can help someone through a bad day or simply let someone know how much I love them. I believe these to be “random acts of kindness” as well.

The world is focused on so many “other” things at the moment, and let’s face it, there are days that we, ourselves, get caught up in the drama and the rat race of life. Yet, “kindness” is stress-free, drama-free, and one of the easiest acts to commit! “Kindness” to others is a two way street; everyone benefits from it.

Don’t you feel good when you’ve done something for someone else? Can you imagine a world filled with people that act from the heart and with kindness? It’s not a fantasy to imagine that, because it all begins with “you.” And as I always say: “It’s time to make a difference, and we can make a difference together!”

Make every day an “act of kindness” day and watch the world change!

Wishing you love, light, and kindness,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Waking Up”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

“It takes but one moment in your life that you find yourself waking up…
To all that you’ve been through, to all that you still want to do,
Well the journey begins and the road may get rough…”

It’s time to “wake up” to the latest song by Anne Dennish and Sutton Thomas: “Waking Up!”

Once again, Sutton Thomas created a beautiful song that is the essence of my new book and the theme of what its’ all about…waking up to lessons learned through my adventures with life and breast cancer.

“Just believe, just have faith, everything else will fall into place.”

Everyone can have the life they want and deserve, but you must believe in yourself and have faith that everything that happens is a lesson for you to learn more about yourself. When you love yourself the way you want to be loved, love will find you. When you surround yourself with positive people, positive things will come to you. And most importantly, when you believe in yourself, all things are possible!

I hope you enjoy this new song, and that you find yourself “waking up” to all that you deserve in life; truth be told, we all deserve the best that life has to offer us, we just need to make the choice to have it.

Once again, my heartfelt gratitude to Sutton Thomas, a creative musician that can take any lyrics and turn them into a beautiful song! Check out his Facebook page at Heart2Song!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne  Dennish~

Author of “Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures With Life and Breast Cancer”

Available at Barnes and Noble.com and Amazon.com

“Fallen Angel”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I have some exciting news that I’ve been waiting to share with all of you…and today is the day!

I’ve joined creative forces with one of the most amazing, creative and talented singers and musicians that I was blessed to meet through my love and his cousin, Thomas. It’s time to introduce you to Sutton Thomas, owner of Heart2Song.com!

Let me tell you how this new adventure of Anne Dennish and Sutton Thomas began. A few weeks ago I wrote lyrics as a theme song for my new book, “Waking Up,” and sent them to him. He sent back an amazing song and the general feedback from most who heard it said that we should do a compilation of songs together that coincide with the book! I am most honored and thrilled that Sutton Thomas has agreed to work with me on this new adventure!

Here’s your first listen at a song I wrote that goes hand in hand with the story in the book called “Fallen Angel.” I wrote this song for someone who holds a special place in my heart. It’s about his struggles with addiction. I’ve watched him fall, and I’m blessed to be part of watching his journey through recovery.

None of us choose to fall, we are chosen to fall. We are chosen to fall for many reasons, find a strength we never knew we had, and fight our way back up to greatness! I truly believe that it’s the “fallen angels” in this world that rise back up ready to change the world and make a difference.

 

And we don’t just fall from addiction; we fall for many reasons…and the lessons learned from the fall will bring us back to a better life, one that we always wanted and deserved. I’m a big believer that when our lives aren’t going the way they should, the Universe will step in and smack us with a 2×4! It’s that smack, that “fall from grace” that brings us to our knees and makes us take a cold, hard look at ourselves and our truth.

It’s when we finally “choose” to see our truth that the climb back up from the fall will bring us a new life, another chance to do it better, and will have finally taught us what “love of self” is… and how many miraculous, beautiful and wonderful things come into our life when we find that love of self.

I’m thrilled and honored to share “Fallen Angel” with all you! Both Sutton Thomas and I would appreciate any and all comments you have, and please feel free to share it out. Be sure to check out his website and “like” his Facebook page “Heart2Song!”

Once again, “it’s time to make a difference, and we can make a difference together.”

And today, the lyrics of Anne Dennish met the music of Sutton Thomas… and together, he and I want to make a difference through music.

I hope you enjoy the first public release of “Fallen Angel.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“You Had A Bad Day”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

A tone in the voice, a look of the eyes, and a distinct difference in the body language… yes, you’ve just been part of someone’s bad day.

It happens all too often, but the trick is to understand the behavior and realize that it has nothing to do with you.

We get frustrated, angry, or annoyed, and when we feel those negative emotions, it’s the people around us, which are usually the one’s we love the most, who feel it as well. Your unhappy mood can affect someone else’s good mood…but only if they let you.

You see, negative emotions bring negative reactions and responses, and if I’m wrong on this, please let me know. Positive brings positive; negative brings negative. Pretty simply concept, isn’t it? Yet, life get’s to us all now and again, and we feel some negative things, but don’t feel them too long. Take a breath, and think about why you feel that way…and if you’re the recipient of the bad mood, understand that it’s nothing you’ve said or done; it’s their fear, insecurity or unhappiness with themselves, not you.

If I find myself on the other end of someone’s “bad mood,” I’ll only allow myself about 30 seconds to hang my head and feel badly about it…yes, it does make me feel bad, but as soon as those 30 seconds pass, I say to myself: “It’s their bad day, not mine. If I can help them, I will. If they just need to vent, I’ll listen. But no, I’m not taking the blame for their feelings.”

I know, sounds easy, and it’s not always that easy. But this is where your “love of self” is so important! We can’t control another person’s behavior, but we can control what we allow: our feelings, our responses, and our tolerance.

Life isn’t perfect and neither are we. We all have a bad day once in awhile, but the important thing is this: don’t take it out on someone else. That “someone else” just may be the one to help and love you out of that bad mood.

So, on with the day, my friends. Stay strong, stay positive,and know that you are in complete control of your own actions and emotions. In the end, bad moods don’t last forever, and as the saying goes: “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”

Wishing you love, light and a happy mood,

~Anne Dennish~

life is too short