Category: be you

Yes, you can say no!

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in acceptance, be you, Boundaries, Life Journey

~ YES you can say NO

How many times have you;
agreed to do favours, taken on extra work, loaned money, attended events, compromised your values, lifestyle or well-being to please others or, avoid conflict?

Of course we make sacrifices or compromises in support of our loved ones. However, when people-pleasing becomes “the norm” and you’re constantly sacrificing your time, resources, or your physical or mental well-being, it might be time to reevaluate the people you loan yourself out too.

Seeking acceptance from others can be exhausting. The right relationship won’t drain you, they should lift you up.

Setting boundaries and saying NO to the things that make you uncomfortable or put you in situations where you’re overextending, overspending, overindulging or make you unwell, is necessary.

Wasting time on things that don’t matter,
and those who don’t care, takes time away from the things and those who do.

So yes, you can say NO!

Toni O’Keeffe🔆

Your journey, your life

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in acceptance, authentic, be you, follow your path, Life Journey

Your journey, your life. No one will ever understand or walk your path, better than you.

If you’re living, dressing, or acting a certain way to please others, you’ll constantly be uncomfortable and, unhappy.

To feel fully alive, you have to follow your dreams, set your goals and dress for the life you want to live, not the life others want you to live.

The most uncomfortable, yet necessary thing, you might ever do, is learn how to be comfortable being you.

It might also be, the most beautiful and liberating thing you ever do.

Toni O’KEEFFE🔆

Dream anyway

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in be you, follow your path, Life Journey, Personal Growth, Reflection, Toni O’KEEFFE

Not every race will be won,
Not every dream will come true,
Not everyone you love, will love you back.
Not every goal will be reached.

Run anyway,
Dream anyway,
Love anyway.
Reach anyway

Every step in the wrong direction,
every dream that fades,
every love thats lost,
every unfulfilled goal.
puts you on the path towards
what and who is meant for you.

Nothing you do is ever wasted, nothing.
There is wisdom, lessons and growth in everything, even the most painful of things.

Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️

Thank you for not giving up❤️

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in be you, follow your path, judgement, Life Journey, Toni O’Keeffe

To the artists, dancers, singers, musicians, composers, poets, writers and creators~ who were told “you’re not good enough” and told to give up your creative dream and get a real job……..
THANK YOU for NOT giving up!
You add the colour, the music, the passion, the words, the fun and the inspiration our world so desperately needs right now.

Your creative gifts are the tether we cling to as our world dangles in peril.

Some of the most creative minds including; Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, JK Rowling, Elvis Presley, Fred Astaire, Walt Disney, and many more, were told to give up their creative dreams ~ thankfully they didn’t listen.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

You’re not broken ~ you’re beautiful ~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in authentic, be you, follow your path, healing, life challenges, Life Journey, Wisdom, Life Journey,

Stop believing anyone who tells you you’re broken. You’re not, you’re absolutely beautiful.

You might hurt and have scars, but the pain you feel is growth, not brokenness.

Our life experiences aren’t supposed to feel, look or be the same as everyone else. So lets stop judging ourselves against the lives we see others live.

Your life journey might be painful because it’s about falling down and learning to get back up.

My journey might be filled with grief and heartache so I can understand loss and then comfort and have compassion for others when they experience it.

My neighbours journey might be about tolerance, acceptance and compassion, so they can become advocates for diversity and understanding.

We’re all going to fall and get hurt along the way, it’s part of the journey. Our hearts might get heavy and our spirits might crumble but, these are the experiences and emotions we’re meant to “grow” through.

Each stabbing ache, each crushing disappointment, every loss or painful fall from grace, provides us and those who bear witness to our lives, the opportunities to learn and transform. This pain shouldn’t break us, it should makes us stronger and wiser.

If you perceive your life as broken because you’ve been knocked down a few times, then you’ll feel broken. However, if you perceive your life as an amazing classroom, where you’re constantly learning and growing, then, you’ll greet each day with curiosity and excitement. You’ll become stronger and better equipped to deal with the tough stuff when it comes along. Let your scars be a reminder of how far you’ve come.

So relax, inhale the lessons, exhale and live the learning. No matter what people tell you or what you see in the mirror, you’re not broken. You’re both a beautiful student and teacher in this insanely wild and wonderful classroom called life. And, you’re right where you’re supposed to be, bumps, bruises, dents, scrapes, scars and all.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~ 🌹❤️

Be still and listen ~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in authentic, be you, follow your path, growth, Life Journey, Reflection

Be still ~
Close yours eye ~
Slowly inhale ~
Hold ~
Now, let your shoulders drop and the muscles across your neck and brow loosen and relax as you slowly exhale.
As you release your breath, imagine all pain, stress, anger, jealousy, fear, fatigue, regret or sadness, melting and floating away.
Let it all go.

These uncomfortable emotions and physical discomfort are often sent to wake us up. They remind us to stop wasting time on the wrong people and the wrong things. They are calling us to to live, create, explore and love in ways that lift us up, not break us down.

If each day is a repeat of the day before and you’re not fully living, your mind, body and spirit will send you messages through feelings of discontent, fatigue, tension and illness. Listen to those messages.

My Dad used to say, “learn something, create something, observe something, meet someone or go somewhere new everyday, it’ll keep life interesting.” He was right.

We never know when we’ll take our last breath. Don’t waste this day, this life, this moment on things and people that bring you down.

You deserve happiness and joy. You have this one, big, colourful life. What wild and wonderful things are you going to do with it?

Don’t die with your hopes, dreams, desires, words, art, music, love, passion still in you. Open your heart and unleash your magic into the world.

Now, be still and listen, where does your mind, body and soul want you to go?

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

  • photo Paul Zizka

Stay Real!

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in be you, fitting in, growth, happiness, Life Journey, Personal Growth, Toni O’Keeffe

Don’t ever apologize for, or be ashamed of, the bits and pieces of you others call kooky or weird.

Honest to fricken Murphy, those kooky, weird bits are the best, most beautiful, unique pieces of you and your happy, colourful soul.

Dance your dance, sing your tunes, blaze trails, light up the sky and bedazzle your world anyway you want.

As long as you’re not hurting anyone,
spread your magic baby!

You my dear deserve to live like the
absolute masterpiece you are.

Toni O’K ~🌹❤️

We’re at our best in the beginning of our journey and at the end.

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in be you, kindness, life challenges, Life Journey, Personal Growth, Planet Earth, Reflection, Toni O’Keeffe, wisdom

Spending time with a four year old or, a 94 year old, reminds us how wonderful it is to play, to laugh, to dream, to love, to observe butterflies and to spend time getting messy eating watermelon, planting flowers or making a campfire.

These wise older and younger souls will gladly take your hand and guide you to the forest or the seashore, as they know these places are extraordinary and make the best classrooms.

Time spent with little people and our elders affirm the fact that naps are necessary, the sun, the stars and the moon are absolutely magical and our beautiful planet deserves to be loved.

They’ll encourage you to be who you are, wear what you want (the more colour the better)and remind you to let others do the same.

Their animated and colourful stories will take you to places you forgot you were missing and remind you that the world is still a dazzling and fascinating place.

You’ll giggle as they whisper secrets in your ear and tell you it’s okay to talk to your cat, dog, bird or other animal because these creatures are wonderful friends and they always listen.

The young and the old teach us kindness, patients, compassion and the importance and beauty in being still when we stop to inhale the essence of a buttercup, tulip or a rose.

Never underestimate their wisdom and the powerful impact they can have on your well-being. Their lingering hugs and the enthusiastic excitement shown when they greet you, is a reminder that you’re awesome and you’re loved.

Human beings are at our best in the beginning of our journey and at the end. It’s during these periods we know what matters and we happily give love away.

The periods of life in between can be confusing. Our minds become overwhelmed and overstimulated by things not really important at all.

We seem to park the wisdom of our early years, somewhere along our path. If we’re lucky we find it again before this amazing adventure ends.

If you’re feeling lost, spending time with little people or your elders can be grounding and humbling. We were them, and we’ll be them again.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️