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“Through The Eyes Of A Child”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my life experiences is that more often than not, my children were right. They were right when I thought I was right. They were right when I thought they were wrong. They, as my children, could see things that I couldn’t, at least until time showed me just what it was that they could see.

“Through the eyes of a child…”

My children are all grown now yet I can look back and remember times that they had a strong opinion about a situation that I was in or about something I was doing. At the time I thought that they were just children, they couldn’t possibly know what I was going through.

But the truth is, as children they didn’t have to know.

As children they could see through their eyes of innocence.

As children they could feel that something was wrong for their mother.

As children they had a sixth sense, one that as I’ve grown older I wish I’d paid more attention to or listened to.

We often dismiss the opinions of our children simply because they are our children. I’ve learned through time and experience that that isn’t always true.

Sometimes our children see what we, as adults, can’t.

There are days that I wish I had listened to their opinion and feelings, yet if I do that I’d end up living a life of regret but instead just take my accountability that I was wrong.

There were so many times that I should have listened to them.

And for what it’s worth, I’m listening now.

And for those times I hope that they can forgive me.

I try not to regret those times but instead consider them a learning experience, a life lesson, if you will.

There are no perfect mothers or fathers but there are mothers and fathers that try their best.

And that’s what I’ve tried to do.

Sometimes my best wasn’t good enough yet it’s all in the past. As long as I’ve learned from it, that’s the best I can do.

I wish, as adults, we could see life “through the eyes of a child.”

But there’s always hope that we can still learn how.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Stand With Ukraine”

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Dear Beautiful People of Ukraine,

I can’t thank all of you enough for keeping me informed about how you’re doing in the midst of all this ugliness. Please know that I am keeping you tight in my prayers and thinking of all of you each and every day. I pray that this will end and that you will once again have peace in your lives and in your beautiful country.

You are in an incredibly strong group of people. Please don’t lose hope because you have my support and prayers as well as from so many people around the world.

We’re all thinking of you.

Love, light and prayers of hope, strength and peace are being sent to all of you.

With love,

~Anne Dennish~

“To The People of Ukraine”

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Dear People of Ukraine,

It breaks my heart at what all of you have to endure, what you’re living through right now and for those of you who have lost loved ones and friends. You’re all on my mind and tucked tightly in my heart.

Yet in the midst of the ugliness it warms my heart and gives me hope to see the entire world standing behind you, sending prayers, love and support. You are an amazing group of people who are doing what you can to stand strong through the ugliness happening all around you and even with all that you’re going through, you’re filled with gratitude for all of us showing you our support. I’m truly humbled by that.

I’m one person yet I’ll do whatever it takes as “one” person to show my support, to send my love, and to keep you in my prayers.

I can use my words through my writing to share your stories with others.

I can use my voice so that others may hear what they can do to help you.

And I can use my time to pray for your safety and for peace for you and the world.

We need to stand together so that we can stand behind all of you in Ukraine.

We need to speak out together so that the world knows that there’s strength in numbers.

We need to pray together because there’s strength when one or more pray together.

I truly believe that together we can heal this world.

You’re in my heart, Ukraine, and I’m keeping each and every one of you tight in my prayers.

With all my love,

~Anne~

“The Lady On The Corner”

/ Anne Dennish / 4 Comments

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~

“I Wanna Go Back…”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

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~

“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~

“My Mom and Me”

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It’s the day after Christmas and I’ve taken the day off from cooking, baking and all other holiday tasks and relaxed. I missed having my children home but I did make a beautiful Christmas dinner for my parents and spent time with them, yet it’s my mom that is in my mind today.

My mom and I have had a strained relationship most of my life yet as she gets older and I get older, I believe that we have a newfound respect for one another. I love my mom and always felt that I never measured up, never pleased her, and never made her proud. Yet I’ve learned to understand her and take into account the life she lived as a child and as she became a mom.

That’s the thing as our parents get older, we see things differently and begin to understand them in a whole new way. I needed to find forgiveness for the mistakes that my mom made because I’ve made mistakes of my own. I needed to understand that my mom was young once with her own heartache from losing her dad at the age of 7 and being raised by a single mom. And I needed to know and accept that she did the best that she could, because she really did try to do her best and she still does.

And I understand all of that now because I’m a mom who has tried to do the best she could, mistakes and all. I understand my mom now because I’m a mom and because I realized that she was also a person who was trying to live her life the best that she could.

This Christmas I may have been missing my children yet I also realized that in time I’ll be missing my mom, and I don’t want to miss any chance of that time we have together.

I love these pictures that were taken of my mom and I on Christmas night. We laughed a lot and I am so grateful for the time we spent together last night. Apologies to my dad for no pictures but this was all about my mom and me.

Moments we spend with those we love are meant to be treasured and I am holding the memories of last night tight in my heart.

I am grateful to have spent Christmas night with my parents, especially with my mom.

Life is precious. Embrace it. Love one another. And please, be kind.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Christmas Plans Have Changed”

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And just like that, my Christmas plans have changed. None of my children will be home as we had all planned, thanks to a tricky virus that seems to be running rampant lately. I’m disappointed but have to be honest in telling you that I was beginning to worry about two of them flying right now and one is getting over having this little bug.

I’m sad that they won’t be home. It’s the first Christmas I’ve ever spent without even two of them home. 

This was supposed to be my “Christmas Miracle,” having them all together with me again but the Universe had other plans and I understand that. Still, it would have been the greatest gift for me to be together with all of them.

And I truly believe that Christmas lives within our hearts, remembering the memories of Christmas past and making memories of Christmas “present.” Whether we’re together or apart, my children will always be the Christmas that lives in my heart. 

This “staycation” has certainly been good for me because if I hadn’t had this time to myself I probably would have been more upset and sad about it all week. And I haven’t been. I’m glad they made decisions in their best interest and in my parents and in mine.

Christmas will be quiet, as was Thanksgiving, but I’m grateful to have another one. I’m grateful that I had this “staycation.” I’m grateful for the peace I’ve found this week.

And I’m grateful for all of you. 

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~