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 🌹❤️
The next time you find yourself walking into a battle, confrontation, debate or an argument, ask yourself if you really need to be there.
Not every battle cry is meant to be answered. Some provide the opportunity to rise above whatever (or whoever) is trying to provoke you.
Of course not all conflict should be avoided. Sometimes conflict is healthy and necessary. Conflict can stimulate new ideas, challenge our thinking, lead to problem solving and foster creativity.
However, when emotions are highly charged or, our ethics or morals feel compromised, or, we don’t feel heard or understood, or, we’re recycling the same old arguments and conflicts with individuals who are disrespectful and manipulative, we might be putting our self esteem and mental well-being at risk.
You CAN walk away from the toxic people, relationships, environments or unhealthy patterns of behaviour, that try to call you into battle.
You don’t have to show up for every conflict that invites you in. Your greatest victories may be realized in the battles you never fight ☮️.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Showing up for each other is easy.
Sometimes, all we have to do is, put down our phones, be present and listen.
Listen not to judge or advise or jump in with our own commentary, but to really listen, with the kindness and compassion of our whole heart.
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
There is beauty in stillness and in quiet, when the pace of all things soften, the mind exhales, the breath becomes gentle and worries fade.
I focus on a single leaf, drifting with the wind, towards the forest floor, marking the end of one season and the beginning of the next.
In this quietude, I bear witness to the most colourful and calming act of life, death and letting go.
Every ending is really a new beginning and all things that begin, will end.
And, this knowing, should be our greatest calling to live🍂
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Anything that’s ever been planted had to make its way through the dirt before it could bloom.
When life gets messy, you might actually be getting ready to bloom into something absolutely beautiful.
Embrace the messy parts of life.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
OK, you might be a little bit messy today.
You might even feel bloated, gassy, cranky and a little less than your awesome self.
But listen, even on the messiest, most uncomfortable, baddest of bad hair days, you’re still a beautiful, fricken’ miracle, capable of achieving BIG ( and I mean HUGE) awesomeness!
Wear that mess of fuzz like a crown and
go make some magic!
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
We don’t arrive to this life adventure knowing it all. If we did, what would be the point?
I remember this chaotic, impatient, awkward, young girl, tripping over life. You might remember a similar girl or boy from the early days of your own life story.
When I reflect back on this girl, I do so with such compassion and love, because I realize now;
~ How hard she worked to find her voice and to be heard.
~ How she struggled to find the values to guide her.
~ How desperately she wanted to find her purpose.
~ How determined she was in her quest to find her place in the world and find her tribe,
And
~ How passionately she craved, and still craves, authentic human connections.
Back “then” she couldn’t even describe what this craving was.
I hope you see and admire the younger version of yourself the same way. Be gentle with, and forgive yourself for the mistakes you think you’ve made, because none of it was a mistake. That younger you, was just trying to figure life out, searching, learning and growing like we all are.
Wherever you are along this life journey, is exactly where you’re meant to be. Be grateful that your younger self got you this far, now, keep on going💖.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
We accept the rain knowing nothing can grow or bloom without it.
When dark clouds move in over your life, accept them, let them pour, knowing every dark cloud brings opportunities for beautiful things to bloom.
Those things that challenge us, cause us pain, grief, or heartache, are also the things that allow us to grow, if we let them.
☔️
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Stop doubting yourself and
allow your soul to do, what
she came here to do.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
We need the struggle.
An acorn needs the struggle from the deep earth into the light to establish its roots.
The butterfly needs the struggle from the cocoon into the world to push blood into its wings, so it can fly.
A baby turtle needs the struggle from the nest across the sand, to fire up its leg muscles so it can swim.
Our human struggles are necessary. They help us plant our roots, exercise our endurance and help us grow.
Without the struggle many things, including us, would never grow.
Toni O’KEEFFE🌹❤️
The Whimsey Angel 