The way we live, laugh, learn, love and play
Every day, the rest of the world,
will try and tell you;
~ who you should be,
~ what you should believe,
~ where, when and how you should show up, and, what’s important.
DON’T LISTEN.
The dreams pounding in your chest, your curious nature calling you to explore, the art-music-poetry or whatever it is in you that’s urning to be born; listen to that.
Toni O’KEEFFE~🌹❤️
We all need stillness,
moments of calm,
time to unwind when
we’re not called upon.
Stillness to breathe,
time to let go,
releasing the heaviness
of all that we tow.
To inhale the forest,
take in the view,
feel the cool wind,
as it dances past you.
To drink in the ocean,
gaze at the moon,
connecting to something
that’s greater than you.
To ponder the mystery
of all that you are,
a masterpiece, a miracle,
a unique shining star.
You’re not meant to be
stressed or constantly racing,
slow your pace, hush, theres
nothing you need to be chasing.
Savour the moment that’s
right here, right now,
live in it fully, to yourself
make this vow.
So exhale you sweet soul,
let your mind release,
the rush of the day,
inhale the sweetness
of peace.
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️
We all twinkle a little bit brighter, when we’re sharing our gifts, shining our lights, and, doing what we love.
There’s nothing more beautiful than you, laughing, feeling, connecting, discovering, growing and sharing your music, your art, your words, your light, your love and your beautiful heart and soul with the world.
So twinkle, twinkle on, all you beautiful little stars, twinkle on 🌟
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️
As we enter
the gentle years
of our lives,
Lets not carry
the weight of the
world upon our
shoulders, or
in our hearts.
Let’s choose to
be happy, kind,
curious, forgiving
whimsy little humans,
shining our lights.
No drama,
no conflicts,
just each of us,
merrily and peacefully
doing our thing.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Get your giggle on😁
Children find humour where most adults don’t. They have a natural inclination to be amused, we all do. Then somewhere in our hectic grown up lives, our sense of humour can get tempered by stress, politics, world affairs, the busyness of our adult lives and responsibilities.
Life’s an unhinged rollercoaster ride, it will always be complicated and messy. Laughter is the safety harness that can get us through the ride.
Laughter is good for our health, strengthens the immune system, improves mood, gives us energy, defuses conflict, increases alertness, improves sleep, releases endorphins, improves creativity, reduces pain and makes us happier and more productive people. It truly is a powerful healing tool, making it one of the best medicines. And, it’s infectious, spreading faster than the common cold.
Like your beautiful smile, laughter can be understood in any language. According to data from the Mayo Clinic, those who laugh more than the average person are happier, healthier and live longer. The average adult laughs 17 times a day, a child laughs on average of 300 times a day.
So pull out your best bad dad (or mom) jokes, your whoopee cushions, funny faces, turn on a Netflix comedy, watch YouTube videos of babies laughing and get your giggle on. If that doesn’t work, spend some time with a four-year-old and remember what use to make you chuckle.
We can make the world a happier place, one guffaw, chuckle, giggle, snort, or one big-old-belly-laugh, at a time
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Change or the thought of change, can rattle the smooth edges of our lives.
For some, change is uncomfortable and painful, but, so is staying in the same place, doing the same thing, tolerating the same behaviour, staring at the same mess and listening to the same nonsense for too long.
Humans are weird little creatures, we get comfortable being uncomfortable, even if the discomfort is horribly bad for us. We stay in places, jobs, relationships, even clothing, that’s uncomfortable because these things are familiar and the thought of moving on seems hard.
You’d think we’d be used to change. From the day we’re born, we’re in a constant state of change. We’re growing, learning, shedding cells, and replacing them with new ones 24/7. The people around us change, the environment, the seasons, the weather (especially if you live in Canada) all change. We live through technological, political, and societal change every single day. In many ways change is the only thing that remains constant.
Being uncomfortable is the body and minds way of telling us something has to “change” to move, to shift. Whether you feel uncomfortable in your office chair, your relationship, a friendship, your job, the blue jeans you’ve been wearing since high school, or some other life situation, this discomfort is speaking to you. It’s telling you it’s time to “let go and grow”, to make a move, make a shift, to make a change; to let old energy out and create space for new energy to arrive.
There are many things and moments we’d love to hang on to, things so joyful we want to sit with them forever. It’s “knowing” they will change, that creates this joy. Change is necessary, it provides hope for tomorrow, reminiscing of yesterday and is the inspiration to live fully in each moment, knowing it will pass and transform into something new.
Embracing change, is embracing life as it really is, not as we’d like it to be.
Whether we want to or not, we will all change and transform. Rather than resist the call or “the discomfort” to change, flow with it and see where it takes you.
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️
You and I can arrive at the same place by taking different paths. In fact, we will.
We’ll have different beliefs, opinions, interests, tastes, goals and different ways of getting things done. This is good.
We will challenge each other’s thinking, curiosity, patience and tolerance and, these challenges will help us both learn and grow.
No matter how different we are or what paths were on, we need each other to shape our journeys and write our stories.
So, let’s show up for one another, share our light, our wisdom, our love and our acts of compassion. Let’s write some epic tales of discovery and adventure together.
Then, on the day when it’s time for one of us to exit, there will be no regret, no anger, only love and grateful hearts and perhaps some tears, for the time we spent together, even if those times were hard.
We came in on different paths, we’ll go out on different paths. So let’s make the best of everything that happens in between.
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️
~ I took a walk without you
Toni O’KEEFFE
I took a walk without you,
it wasn’t quite the same,
though it was quiet beautiful,
the wind kept calling out your name.
Wandering by the places,
that we used to go,
remembering the gift of you,
that was here not so long ago.
I held a space beside me,
in case you wanted to drop by,
and walk silently next to me,
remembering days gone by.
The sun broke through the clouds,
and tears welled in my eyes,
as the heavens opened up,
revealing clear blue skies.
Was that you telling me,
you’re not to far away,
and we’ll be back together,
it just won’t be today.
I’m so glad I got to tell you,
you really were the best,
I’m so very grateful,
because of you,
my life was truly blessed.
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
Thank you for the outpouring of love for my beautiful wee Bo. The impact he had on those around him is truly amazing,
Along with his “cuteness” perhaps it was Bo’s forgiving nature, sense of loyalty, loving heart, enthusiastic affection, and his keen awareness of who needed nurturing, that drew us to him. Perhaps we saw Bo’ as a reflection of what we could be.
Our beloved pets love us exactly as we are, never asking us to change. Without wealth or fortune, the gifts they offer are perhaps the most valuable and precious. They gift us with purpose and allow us to feel the beauty of loving and caring for something other than ourselves. They show us what compassion, selflessness, devotion, loyalty, gratitude, friendship and mindfulness look like. My god they see us for who we really are, and they love us anyway, and that’s priceless.
They don’t overanalyze or overthink anything. They live in the moment, don’t look back, don’t look forward, they are fully present no matter what they’re doing.
Our non-human companions provide us with some of the best insight and lessons on how we can be better humans.
It’s due to one tiny dog, and observing how he interacted with the world around him, that I am kinder, more loving, patient, forgiving, and more atune to those in need of compassion and understanding..
Bo taught me how important it is to slow down, to be present, to stop and take in the view, to lift my gaze to the sky and drink in the sun, the clouds, the moon, the stars and surrender to the winds of change.
Yes, one small dog with an enormous heart, gave me more than I ever thought was possible or probably deserved.
He taught me how to be a human, in its most tender and humblest form.
On that note, I leave this final tribute to my tiny but mighty teacher Bo’. The best of me was born after he came into my life.
Yup, if you want to learn how to be a better human, get a dog.
❤️🐾🐶🌈.
Love Toni
Find the “still point” between the outside world and your inner peace.
This point may be a cozy chair, a bathtub, a moss covered log, a park bench or a soft place in the sand.
Take time to pause at this place every day and remind yourself that;
~ what’s happening outside of you, is not as important as what’s happening inside you,
~ the way the outside world sees and treats you, is not as important as how you see and treat yourself.
This point of stillness, is where you pull back the veil and uncover wisdom, develop insight about who you are and what you’re here to do. This point of stillness is your personal cathedral, the place you go to both rest and grow.
Once you find it. Visit often.
Toni O’KEEFFE🌹❤️
The Whimsey Angel 