Touch the ocean

I wander back to places I’ve been,

people I’ve met,

wonder why they’re part of

this one life I get.

It goes by fast,

this adventure is swift,

Every breath, every step,

every scene is a gift

Your days will end,

It’s not a race.

Slow down, breath,

Laugh, love and embrace.

I understanding,

why we’re here,

But, the lessons that come

are not always clear.

Candles of hope,

lit day-after-day,

the choices we make,

lighting our way.

Vistas to feast on,

new lives to hold,

Stories are written,

then rewritten and retold.

Keep your heart open,

your mind curious,

enjoy the dance,

don’t be so serious.

Kindness is key

Don’t hold a grudge,

What your neighbours doing,

is not yours to judge.

This path seems long

when we first arrive,

It’s not long at all,

I now realize.

Release the things

that tie you down

They won’t matter,

when you’re no longer around

So touch the ocean,

Kiss the sky,

Embrace this life

Before you die.

Toni O’Keeffe~🌹❤️

This is where I’m going

… to arrive at a place where the soul is calm and at peace with the storms its walked through,

…to hold no anger or regret,

… to carry a deep love and gratitude for the ones who have shared the journey, even if what was shared was painful,

…to love and be loved authentically,

…to sit in silence with the messiness of the world beside me and still be okay.

Ah yes, this is where I’m going…

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹 ❤️

What’s calling you?

You were born with a “calling”, a “ gift”, a “talent”, and it’s meant to be exercised and shared.

Your calling might be creating music, poetry, art, laughter, or joy. It could be building, healing, teaching, cooking, inspiring, protecting, inventing or caring for or being of service to others. It could be anything.

Depending on the cultural, religious, social and political environments we grow up in, our natural callings might be stifled. We may be forced to put our callings aside and place ourselves into boxes that fit our environment, but don’t fit us.

When we’re NOT exercising our callings we’re not being our authentic selves and, we might feel un-easy, sad, depressed, frustrated, confused and a sense of longing to find and understand ourselves creeps in. We might feel uninspired, lethargic or bored and adopt toxic habits and addictive or risky behaviours in order to feel something and fill the void of whats missing. This dis-ease, can make us physically and mentally unwell.

When we’re doing what we’re born to do, we “feel”it. We feel inspired and motivated, we feel joy, a sense of purpose and we feel grateful and happy.

Some people know early on what their calling is. Others have a hard time finding it beneath the layers of life circumstances that have been thrown upon them.

If you haven’t found your calling, go into the world and experience new art, music, architecture, food, nature, culture and people. Read, travel, learn, meditate, develop networks of friends who are different than you. As you do these things, be aware of what resonates for you, sense what feels right. These feelings, might be a calling pointing you towards a happier, healthier life.

Become a curious explorer and dive deep into the mysteries of your own mind, attitudes and beliefs to unearth where your gift(s) have been buried and then set them free.

You beautiful, wild and whimsy spirit, is something calling you? Don’t be afraid to answer the call.

Toni O’KEEFFE~🌹❤️

When life knocks you down, stay there for awhile

When life knocks you down,
stay there for awhile.
Catch your breath,
rest, look up at the sky,
gaze at the clouds,
the birds, the stars,
the moon, whatever’s
up there, and know,
this thing that knocked
you down, is only a
lesson along a path that
leads to something better.

What happens to us,
doesn’t determine
who we are. So rest.
When you’re ready,
carry on knowing
this lesson is now
behind you.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

Is it time?

A moment will arrive when you realize it’s time to tread beyond your comfort zone, escape your fears and everything weighing you down.

In this moment you will know with great clarity, it’s time to move beyond the obstacles blocking your path and allow the things calling you from beyond the veil of fear, doubt and judgment, to be born. Let them be born.

The fear you face may appear larger than it actually is, because it’s standing right in front of you. This fear may merely be the voices of others who have constantly told you what you should or shouldn’t be. Tune the voices out and walk, ride, skip, jump, sail or fly forward. Once you do, the fear will be gone, the fog will lift and you will clearly see the path towards the things you’ve been wanting to do, see, say, and become.

Be brave and muster your courage.
We never know exactly when our journey here will end, but we know it will end.
So, those dreams, goals, aspirations, creations ~ is it time?🌟

Toni O’Keeffe ~🌹❤️

Let’s Dance

Let’s dance ~

You may be sent into the lives of others to help them find a way through the heaviness of their pain or the turmoil in their life.

They may not understand or appreciate the meaning of your presence, help them anyway.

Plant seeds of kindness, compassion and wisdom all around them and hope the seeds take root and grow.

No matter how strong, brave, smart or tough we think we are, none of us can do this alone. We’re not supposed to.

We’re at our best when we show up for each other to offer comfort, create laughter, provide light, offer healing and love. In fact, when we’re helping others, we realize, we’re really helping ourselves.

And maybe that’s what this human journey is all about, just showing up for each other, without expectation, because it feels so good when our messy, yet amazing little souls are entangled in this colourful cosmic dance.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

We’ll all look back one day,

We’ll all look back one day.
Will you like what you see?

Will you see yourself meeting others
along their path and offering them
kindness, compassion, positivity and love?

Will you feel content knowing you used the gifts you were given to live your best life?

Were you able to conquer your fears, negative emotions and your own stubbornness before your happiness and the happiness of others was sabotaged?

Did you say the words you wanted to say,
see the oceans, deserts, mountain tops and other marvels your heart hoped it would?

Did you take care of yourself so you were able to travel the highways and take the adventures that had been calling out to you?

Did you learn to appreciate how absolutely amazing you are?

Did you thank the ones who brought comfort to your journey?

Did you offer forgiveness to others and more importantly, to yourself?

Did you let love in when it was offered?

Did you release the people, judgment, opinions and things that poisoned your journey, so you could grow into the masterpiece you were meant to be?

Are you settled and at peace with the memories you’ve left in the hearts and minds of those who loved and cared for you?

Can you look back on all of it with a grateful heart, and understand what it was you were here to do?

If you answered no to any of the above, the good news is, you’ve still got time.

We’ll all look back one day.
Will you like what you see?
I hope you do❤️

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

After the storm, look for what’s left behind.

After every life storm, look for what’s left behind.

Don’t dismiss the experiences or relationships you’ve had with anyone who’s come in-and-out of your life. Even if these relationships or experiences were brief or messy, they contained messages, learning, gems of wisdom and personal growth meant just for you.

Sometimes the greatest treasure is found amongst the rubble.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~ 🌹❤️

Your pain is showing you which way to go.

One day, she felt a shift. She ripped open her wounds, released the weight of her tears, and cleared a path for the pain, heartache, grief, disappointment, and sadness to leave.

As the anguish flowed away, she gave thanks, as she knew without the ache of it all, she would never have found the path to her place, her peace, her light or, herself.

Her pain had come with a purpose and, she was grateful. She exhaled, smiled, made coffee, booked a trip to Italy, then picked up her notebook, went to the beach and life began again.

~ Your pain and discomfort has a purpose. Its pointing you towards healing, new opportunities and new ways of “being.”

Its helping you see who and what really matters. And sweet, darling soul, it’s you, you’re what matters.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️