memories

“Gratitude For The Memories”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

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One of the things I’m grateful for are the memories I hold deep within my heart: the memories of the birth of each of my five children; the memories of birthday parties and Christmas mornings; and the gratitude for the memories of the emotions that I felt.

Fits Like A GloveI’m grateful for the memory of the feelings of a first date and how it felt the moment I fell in love; for the memory of the excitement of a first kiss; of the feelings to be held in the arms of the one you love for the first time.

I’m grateful for the memories of my kid’s tiny hands in mine; for how wonderful it feltRuthless People that I could fix a boo-boo; for the moments of watching them sleep when they were younger; for the memories of their laughter when they were little and the laughter as they grew older.

I’m grateful for the memories of family parties filled with aunts, uncles and more cousins than you could count. I’m grateful for the memories of my school days and for the nights I spent with my best friends.

tommy-memorialI’m grateful for the memories of my loved ones that have passed on; for the love that I still feel for them and for the love they felt for me; and I’m grateful for all the memories of time spent with them and the difference they made in my life.

I’m grateful for the memories of my first book being published; for the memories of howbnwindow1 it felt the day I submitted my manuscripts to the publisher; and for the memories of the moment that I first held my new book in my hands.

I’m grateful for the good memories that are embedded deep within my heart and soul. No one can take that away from me and on the days I feel a bit sad it’s those memories that can wash that away.

Good memories are stronger than any bad ones.

Today I sit remembering all those wonderful memories and for that I’m grateful.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

open minded book signing

“The Home In My Heart”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

 

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A beating heart is a most precious gift, yet the heart is so much more. Our heart is our home.

I lived in a house for over twenty years with my five children. I moved five years ago and the worst part of it all was that I was saddened by the loss of all that we had in that house, the good times and the bad. It was filled with memories and pencil marks on the wall marking the kid’s height as they grew. It held the sounds of babies crying that grew into the sounds of teenagers laughing. It held everything that was important to me. It held one of the biggest parts of my life.

Yet then I realized that all that I believed  had been living in that house was actually living in my heart and that “my heart is my home.”

The heart is the keeper of our dreams and accomplishments; the guardian of our precious memories; it’s the lens to all those pictures in our minds and the teacher of all that we’ve learned. It holds our deepest secrets and our biggest truths. It holds all that is and all that will be.

My house was a just a building made up of walls, windows and doors, yet it was my heart that filled it with all that it needed to become a “home.”

And  that home lives in my heart.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“The Perfect Christmas”

/ Anne Dennish / 1 Comment

Christmas is fast approaching and the countdown is on. Final decorations are being done on and around the house and wish lists of gifts are being bought. It’s another year of making the “perfect Christmas” happen for your family and friends.

Yet is all this preparation what makes it perfect? Will you and yours remember the decorations and gifts? Will you remember the table and the meal?

Or will you remember the “imperfections?”

Will you remember the year that mom’s arm got caught inside the turkey as she was taking the giblets out? Will you remember the year you broke your arm on Christmas Eve only to wake up to a new skateboard the next day? Will you remember the year the entire family had the stomach virus and all camped out in the living room? Will you remember your sister running down the stairs on Christmas morning only to miss the bottom step?

You see, it’s the “imperfections” that make it perfect. It’s not the matching Christmas pajamas and the family Christmas cards, it’s the family. It’s not the beautifully set Christmas table with a delicious dinner, it’s the people who sit around it.

While “perfection” can be captured in a picture, it’s the “imperfections” which are captured in your heart. They become the stories shared and passed down to other generations. They become the tradition of storytelling and the legacy for our children.

As the years pass, so does the idea of the “perfect” Christmas, and as we grow older, we begin to realize that what means the most is the memory of the “imperfections” and the loved ones who were part of them. Life changes, children move away, and sometimes the many faces that once sat around our table are no longer with us, but their memories, their stories and their love always surrounds us.

And sometimes we forget that. I see so many people writing about their sadness in missing the “old days,” yet I think that is such a waste of energy. I know that there are those I’m missing, yet I choose to embrace the memories as stories to share with my children. I choose to embrace this time, these loved ones who are in my life now, and who will be around my table this year.

Memories aren’t meant to bring sadness, they’re meant to bring joy! And for those feeling an ache in their heart, please try and remember the love, the joy, and the memories of those not present this year. They gifted you with all those things and more.

Take a moment during this busy holiday time to remember the “imperfections” of Christmas’ past, and look forward to the “imperfections” to come!

After all, the “perfect Christmas” lives in your heart.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Bulk Day”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

 

I spent all day yesterday cleaning out my garage…not an easy task. My love moved in over a year ago, and the containers of tools and Rubbermaid containers of his stuff was still riddled all over, along with remnants of my babies childhood…and with too many memories of the past. I started the job at 8 in the morning, and was still at it by 3! And still there’s more to do!

My two boys spent over an hour hauling stuff to the curb for “bulk day” today, yet as I sat on my front porch with my coffee this morning, I was looking at the pile.

And the memories came flooding back…

And I wondered if I should bring some of it back in…

The one item I keep looking at is my yard swing. It’s over 15 years old, survived two marriages and their divorces, and had a happy life at my prior house that overlooked “my lake.” The kids and I lovingly called it “the sleeping swing” because anyone that sat on it eventually fell asleep, even the animals!

And so the memories of “the sleeping swing” are overtaking my thoughts, and I’m remembering bottle feeding our cat on it when the kids first brought him home, rocking my two youngest to sleep on it, and envisioning all those I love piled onto it.

I remember my kids and my nieces and nephews all piled on it for a group picture for the sleepinggrandparents; I remember my son and his friends hanging out on it in high school, sharing all their stories with me; I remember that swing being my serenity spot at night when everyone went to sleep; and I remember it always being a source of comfort for my kids and I, and anyone else who needed to be outside and find peace.

Yet sadly, the swing didn’t do as well at this house. It lost its’ protection of a roof from my old house, and as much as we tried to keep it covered during a rainstorm, the waters still leaked in, and soon enough, my beige swing was turning green with mold. No matter the effort we put into it to wash it and clean it, nothing seemed to work.

So yesterday we made the decision to say good-bye and put it at the curb. And here I sit, wondering if I should bring it back in.

I keep reminding myself that the memories stay with us much longer than an item does; and that the past is the past, and there’s such a time to let it go and say good-bye.

And I know, this is one of those times. It was so easy to toss it out yesterday, and much more difficult this morning seeing it out at the curb. My love told me he’ll go get it and bring it in, if that’s what I want, or we can get a new one next year.

As hard as it is to see it go, getting a new one to fit with this new life is how it should be. The “sleeping swing” holds memories that I share with my children and a life I had prior to this relationship, and I’m a big believer in letting the past go so that I can move forward.

So, good-bye to our “sleeping swing,” and much love and gratitude to you for over 15 years of peace and serenity…and now to look forward to next summer when we buy our new one.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“The Power of Words”

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Words are very powerful, and you don’t need to be a writer to know that. Yes, writer’s can write a story which allows the reader to feel certain emotions, be it the suspense and fear from a thriller or happiness and joy from an inspirational story. It’s a blessing to be a writer…

It’s also a blessing to be a decent human being. Writers may write words that make you feel something, but as human beings every word we speak to someone else is as powerful as putting it on paper.

Sure, you write a book and it becomes immortal, yet so do the words you speak everyday. They just don’t happen to be on paper… they embed themselves into someone’s mind.

Speak harshly and negatively to someone and they will remember it for the rest of their life, even after they’ve forgiven the person who said it. The wrong words hurt the soul of the recipient, bruises their heart, and takes up residence in their mind.

I always told my children that once they said something nasty or negative to anyone, those words would be out there for eternity. Gone, but never forgotten.

You remember that old saying: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?” Well, it’s true. Even at my age, I can still remember negative things that were said to me throughout my life…I’ve forgiven who said them, I’ve gotten strong enough to ignore them and not let them directly influence my life, but I’ve never forgotten what they said or who said it.

Be kind, with your words and your actions. If you’re having a bad day or aren’t happy with your life, don’t put that on someone else. Look inside yourself and know that you are in control of YOU, not anyone else. If you’re unhappy, change it. Don’t take out your fears and unhappiness on someone else, because that person may actually be someone that can be of help to you.

Choose your words carefully today and everyday. Don’t think about negative things, because you’ll only attract that into your life. Think positive, live positive, and positive people, places and things will come into your life. I’m living proof that this is true.

Wishing you love, light and beautiful words,

~Anne Dennish~

abuse

“The Time Change”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I woke up this morning at 6 am, only to realize that it was 7…ugh, the “time change!” This is the one in which we lose an hour, a precious hour, and the one my body has the hardest time adjusting to. And then I started thinking about “time…”

Aside from time changing our clocks twice a year, it also changes us. Time ages our body, matures our mind, and strengthens or weakens our relationships. Time allows us to heal, to grow, and to love. Time grows a new life, and eventually will take a life whose time has ended. It gifts us the chance to make memories and allows our hearts to take a picture. Time allows us the chance to reminisce of all those chances it gave us. These are all things that time cannot take away.

Time is to be respected and cherished, and as we grow older, we begin to realize just how little of it there is.

As you adapt to the time change today, embrace your personal “time change” as well. Every minute, every hour, and everyday are gifts that time has granted us. Be grateful for your time and feel blessed for your time with your loved ones.

Don’t miss out on one of the most miraculous gifts we’ve been given: “time.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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