mindset

“What Happened To You?”

/ Anne Dennish / Leave a comment

I woke up this morning, looked into the mirror and said, “What happened to you?” If you’ve been following me you’ll know that I’ve been in a strange place in the last few weeks and I’m not talking about location. I’m talking about my mindset and feeling lost, needing a routine and needing a kick in the pants to get back to where I was with my writing.

So it was no surprise that the girl I saw in the mirror was a bit disappointed in me. It’s as if she was saying “Why’d you let this happen to you? Get back to doing things that make you feel good about yourself and make you feel happy.” And she was right. 

I got to thinking about the last few weeks. I’m a girl that loves to wear make-up yet I haven’t had any on in weeks. I didn’t see the reason to put it on if I wasn’t going out. I usually get a pedicure every few weeks but didn’t see the importance of it right now. I haven’t listened to much music lately because I didn’t feel the need to dance.

Now there’s something to think about. Why was that? Why wasn’t I still doing all the things that made me feel good about myself? Was it just because I moved? Was it because I wasn’t working? Was it because I wasn’t going out as much?

Yes and no.

And as I thought about it I changed my mindset. I shouldn’t have to have a reason to do what makes me happy and feel good about myself. I should be the reason.

Suddenly, it all made sense. Circumstances and location shouldn’t matter. Nothing should matter except that it makes me feel good and if I feel good then I can do more good for others. If I’m happy I can share that with the world.

Take my advice and my lesson learned and “do what makes YOU feel good,” no matter what. I’ve realized how important of a piece these things are for me in getting back into a routine. 

“You don’t need a reason to do the things that make you feel happy and good about yourself. YOU are the reason! And YOU are a very good reason.”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Routine”

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I’ve been in Delaware for about a month now and have had way too much time to “think” about why I haven’t been writing as much as I used to, why I haven’t finished the final edits on my new book or why I feel so lost.

After much soul searching I got my answer: I lost my routine.

And in losing my “routine” I’ve lost my balance and a little bit of myself.

Back in Jersey I was working full-time and writing in my free time. I don’t miss working the daily grind BUT I do miss the routine. I’d get up everyday at 5:30, grab my coffee and do my hair and makeup as I peered out the window to see the sunrise. I was off to work by 8 and home after 4. It was a “routine.”

The other piece I’m missing is the daily interaction with my boss, co-workers, customers and vendors. I was always meeting someone new and interesting, yet I can remember coming home some days and not wanting to talk to anyone because I was “talked out” from work. Now I long for those days of communication.

It’s quiet here and unless we go out, there’s not much communication with the outside world. There are days that I wish my phone would ring with a friendly voice on the other end just ready for a nice, long conversation.

But it doesn’t and I feel as though I’m left with too much idle time and that’s not me.

This move wasn’t easy but I know that finding a routine here is in my best interest. I’m lost without one. I’m lost without accountability for a job. I’m lost being away from the friends and places that I loved.

Maybe I took too much of that for granted and can now see how important all of that was for me. I can definitely see it now and while there’s no sense in missing it all, there is a sense in being grateful that I had it in the first place.

Today is a new day and I have to push myself to find a new “routine.” I need to make myself accountable for a full time job as a writer. I need to stop feeling lost and find what works for me. And instead of missing my friends and places, I need to incorporate them into a new routine of seeing them when I can.

“Mindset and perspective” are what I’ve been lacking and thankfully this time of feeling lost helped to change mine and hopefully has me moving forward in the right direction.

I believe that “it’s the times we feel most lost in our lives that we’re actually finding ourselves.”

And I believe the last month of feeling lost has helped me to find myself again.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“This Bug Has Left The Building!”

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The nasty little bug I’ve had for over a week has finally left the building and for that, I am truly grateful. I am left with the fatigue but that’s just fine by me. 

I found myself getting frustrated while I was sick because I had no energy to do anything except sleep or sit on the couch watching movies. I was home for over a week and kept thinking to myself: “You should be writing, reading or catching up by phone with old friends. You should…you should…you should.” It was driving me crazy until I changed my perspective on this time at home.

My body needed to rest. It needed to BE at rest. My mind wasn’t in any shape to write anything because all my mind kept thinking was “I don’t feel good.” I’m a believer in that the Universe whacks us with a 2×4 when we’re not taking care of ourselves the way that we should, and that’s just what it did to me.

So, I let go of feeling frustrated and began to feel grateful that I could be home to take care of myself, to rest and relax, and to just “be.” My body needed that, especially after the holidays, and my mind needed that as well.

Life is a mindset of perspectives and if we can take an unpleasant situation and find something positive in it, I believe the situation won’t be as unpleasant as we had believed. Your thoughts are powerful and you are in control of them. It can be difficult to stay positive when we’re in the midst of something negative, but it’s worth the effort.

And you can do it.

And so can I.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

#mindset #perspective #covid #life #gratitude #theuniverse #feelingsick #rest #relax #positivethoughts #youcandoit #onthemend

“Make 2022 The Year of YOU!”

/ Anne Dennish / 2 Comments

“Let’s make this New Year of 2022

The year of making choices that help you become your best  “YOU!”

Happy New Year! Have you all thought about your New Year Revelations? I sure did. One of the lessons that I learned is that I haven’t been making myself as much of a priority as I make everyone else, and that has to change. It has to change because there are times that at the end of the day I have nothing left to give, even to myself. And it’s not selfish to take care of myself.

I know that when I’m taking care of myself that I have so much more to give to others, and that’s what I love to do. I want to have a focused mind to express my feelings when I write. I want to have more energy so that I can be there if someone needs me. And I want to find the balance in my life so that I have more to give to the world.

And it’s so important to take care of your mind, body and spirit. Everything begins with YOU and when YOU are feeling good, you can do good. 

And the world needs as much “good” as it can get!

Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

Life is a mindset and when you set your mind to making changes that make you your best YOU, your life will change. 

And the world will, too.

It’s time to do “you” in 2022!

Are you ready?

I am.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“And On Those Down Days…”

/ Anne Dennish / 1 Comment

It took me over 30 minutes to get the ice and snow off my car this morning but after that I was on my way to work, driving my favorite route: the beach. It was quite a beauty this morning. It’s almost an anomaly to see snow on the sand but one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. It’s haunting yet picturesque. It’s a look that you don’t see often so when you’re lucky enough to see it then you know you’re blessed to have seen something so amazing.

Sometimes our days begin in an awesome way until something trips us up and puts us in a funk, a down mood, so to speak. I had just that type of morning. In the midst of accounting and invoices I found myself feeling sad. I know what caused it but more importantly, I had to figure out why. I wasn’t going to talk about it until I figured out why a certain incident caused me to feel so badly. And that’s where I am tonight. I don’t want to talk about it with anyone until I’ve figured out why I let it bother me.

The key is not to react to whomever may have invoked these feelings within us, but rather look inwards to ourselves to understand and figure out WHY we had those feelings. And that is what my Friday night is tonight, taking a good look inward at my heart and soul to see what I’m really upset about. Was it what was said? Or was it about how I felt about what was said?

And that’s up to each of us. We need to understand that our feelings, no matter how they were invoked, are OUR feelings and only WE know why we feel that way. This is why it’s important not to react but rather to take it in and think about it. My feelings tonight are MINE and mine alone. I know what upset wasn’t meant to intentionally upset me but sadly, it did. I don’t blame the person who said it but would rather spend my time tonight alone thinking about WHY it upset me. And once I can do that, I’ll be able to say that I learned something else about myself, and isn’t that what life is all about? Learning about ourselves, the why’s and the how’s, and figuring out what to do with all of that. 

I’m learning not to blame the messenger but to understand the message and deal with it.

Life is always changing and we are always learning more and more about ourselves, if we’re open to learning, not blaming. And isn’t that what our down days are all about? Learning, not blaming. Understanding, not judging. Accepting, not allowing.

I love life more than I can tell you, the good days and the bad. I know that they all came to teach me, help me, and move me forward. And my hope is that you see your life as a gift, not a burden, no matter what it hands you.

As for me? My Friday night is filled with a hot bath, a cup of lavender tea, and a martini glass filled with tears and understanding.

Good night, my loves. May life be good to you and may you take those “down days” as your life lesson on how to turn them into your “up days!”

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Wish The Pandemic Away, Not Your Precious Time”

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I hear so many people say that they can’t wait until this year is over. I get it, it’s been a crazy year with this virus but why wish your precious time away? Why wish a year away that you were gifted to live each day through?

Why not just wish the pandemic away? After all, that’s been the problem, hasn’t it?

I always say that life is a mindset and this is more true than ever. Stop wishing the year away because those are days you weren’t promised but days you were blessed to have. Don’t take any of them for granted.

Wish the pandemic away and do what you can to prevent the spread of it.

Life is short enough as it is so please don’t let this pandemic make you lose sight of how precious each day of your life is. Don’t let the pandemic make you forget to live each day to its fullest. 

And don’t let the pandemic make you forget that each day with the ones you love, whether together or apart, is a gift.

Go ahead and wish the pandemic away.

But please don’t wish your precious time away because of it.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“When Tensions Run High”

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When one person lives alone during a quarantine, they can get lonely.

When one person lives with a few other people during a quarantine, they can get frustrated.

We’re living in uncertain times right now and I know that social distancing and staying at home can get to some people because I know it gets to me every now and again, especially living with three other people.

Patience is definitely a virtue and one that is tested, sometimes on a daily basis, when you’re living with other people, but that doesn’t mean that it will turn into a battle…unless you let it.

I’m used to being alone most of the day so having three other people in the house with me 24/7 has definitely disrupted my routine and there are moments I want the television turned off and the computers turned down. My patience is tested when one has a problem with another, or one stays up all night when the rest are trying to sleep, or when one always has the volume on high while others are reading or resting.

So, what do I do?

I remind myself that this is a gift. It’s a gift of “time” to spend with the ones I love, time to relax with them, laugh with them, and talk with them. I remind myself that I’m blessed to be here with them and am reminded to reach out to friends and family that are home alone.

I remind myself that “flaws are flavorful” and that none of us are perfect. 

I remind myself that lack of sleep will test even the most patient person and that having a roof over my head, food on the table and a bed to sleep in each night will definitely put things into perspective.

And I remind myself that when tensions are running high and patience wears thin, I can go outside alone to sit under the stars or in the warmth of the sun. I can find a quiet spot in my home to sit by myself and find my balance again or I can put on my headphones and listen to music.

I remind myself that what is going on outside of my front door and in this world right now is far more important than the tensions that my flare up now and again or the patience that wears thin. We can change those things.

And the only way we’re going to change the outcome of this virus is by staying home.

I know it’s hard sometimes but it’s important to remind yourself that “you’re not stuck at home, you’re safe at home.”

And if you’re lucky, you’re safe at home with the people you love.

Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay home.

Love the ones you’re with and reach out to the ones that are alone.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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“Anxiety and COVID-19”

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We’re all experiencing some amount of anxiety throughout this terrible virus. I’m going through it, too, and wanted you to know that you’re not alone.

Take a listen.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

“Finding Your Strength During The Coronavirus”

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I wrote a story in my latest book, “Each Breath Along The Journey” called “Moment’s In Life.” In it I write about the importance of turning off the world during crazy times so that you can find your strength to turn it back on. How true that is right now!

Take a listen.

“Sometimes you have to turn the world off to find the strength you need to turn it back on.”

Stay calm. Stay safe. Stay home.

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light

~Anne Dennish~

(You can find “Each Breath Along The Journey,” as well as my other two books, “Waking Up: Lessons Learned Through My Adventures With Life and Breast Cancer” and “My Collective Soul: Things I Know Without Knowing Why” on Amazon.com. All books are available on Kindle.)

 

 

 

“The Gratitude List”

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Everyday is a day to be grateful and today I wanted to share my gratitude list with you.

  • I’m grateful that I woke up to another day to live my best life.sunday
  • I’m grateful for the beautiful early morning sky in Virginia.
  • I’m grateful that with each day my sister is healing more and more from her surgery.
  • I’m grateful for my first cup of coffee with a different view.
  • I’m grateful that the ice is gone and the temperature is much warmer.
  • I’m grateful that my sister and I hung out on the couches last night watching movies.
  • I’m grateful for doors that have opened up for me.
  • I’m grateful for my loved ones back home and for all of you who support me.

It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing. What matters is that there is always something to be grateful for. Life is what you make it, so make it amazing and be grateful for each day you have. 

What are you grateful for today? Let me know!

And be grateful for “each breath along the journey.”

It’s a good thing.

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~

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