If you;
…good for you, you know what we’re here to do.
Toni O’Keeffe🔆
The field~
This sweet dream carried me away to a field of flowers, where I fell in awe of the tapestry of colour so brilliantly stitched together.
Floating above the field, I gazed down upon tall golden sunflowers reaching for the sky, lupins exploding in hues of purple and blue, sunny daffodils and wild crocus all sharing the same soil and blooming side-by-side.
Crimson poppies, delicate white daisies and purple bachelor buttons their stems splendidly entangled, grew freely, no fences, no boarders, just beautiful wide open space allowing their roots to stretch and grow.
Rays of sunlight touched each flower, and bounced off dew-drops, making every flower sparkle. Tiny delightful buttercups dancing between it all, knit this rich bouquet of diverse colours, scents, sizes and varieties together.
Bees, butterflies, birds and bugs of every type, moved above, below and upon the tapestry doing their part. How wonderfully all life here cooperated, grew, bloomed and thrived perfectly together, it was stunning.
Then a single dandelion, falling to seed at the end of her days, but still so beautiful, called to me and asked me if I’d like to make a wish upon her, I did. I was moved that in her final moments of life, she still had something to offer, and she offered it to me.
As I continued to float above this kaleidoscope of grace and peacefulness, the flowers became us; me, you, my family, my neighbours, strangers and I knew this peaceful field was showing me, how life could be, how life should be.
I drifted back to this world, and woke, with new hope and optimism for our own diverse, and colourful human garden.
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️
Every day our lives touch the lives of others in ways we don’t always understand. These interactions, even small ones, can create positive or negative ripples in the lives of others.
For example; imagine the barista who made your coffee this morning, perhaps they’re having a bad day and accidentally messed up your order. You can be compassionate, extra patient, tell them it’s okay and maybe even double your tip. Or, you can be nasty and impatient.
Your actions have now set in motion a ripple of behaviour. If you choose to be nasty and impatient, that might be the behaviour that’s passed on to the next customer.
If you choose to be kind, your actions and words may have relieved the stress on the barista and allowed them to “reset”.
They are now more likely to pass along a kind act to another person, possibly without even realizing it. And, that person might do the same, and so on.
Along the way these acts of kindness inspire others, build momentum and create stronger human connections.
Science has proven that being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure centers in your brain to light up and, release endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer.
The possibilities from your one small act of kindness are infinite.
So start a ripple. Your kindness ripple might be the one that grows into something absolutely beautiful, for all of us.
Kindness~ pass it on. Then, enjoy your coffee and have an absolutely wonderful day ☕️🤗.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Millions of single people (and people in unhappy relationships) are consumed with finding the perfect partner.
They scour dating sites and social media profiles, look across crowded rooms, join singles clubs or go to bars looking for “the one”.
In reality, I don’t believe this perfect partner exists. They “become”.
When two perfectly flawed, quirky people come together, they can BECOME perfect for each other if they accept each other as they are, trusting that together they can grow into better versions of themselves.
Human beings have a tendency to be judgmental and look at the messy flaws in each other before we look at the endearing and beautiful qualities we all possess. If you do this (assess the flaws) you’ll never find “the one” because we’re all messy little humans filled with flaws and cracks.
When we plant a seed or a bulb in the ground, it’s messy, it doesn’t grow over night. When planted in the right conditions and when it’s taken care of, the seed grows into exactly what it’s supposed to be. Relationships are the same, they don’t just happen. When planted in the right conditions and with the right care, they can flourish and grow.
*The right conditions implies there are no abuse, infidelity, addiction, moral differences or other serious issues that have to be addressed.
Everything ever created (even YOU) was messy in the beginning. An oak tree, a symphony, a work-of-art, a relationship, all require time to germinate and grow before they BECOME the masterpiece they’re destined to be.
So try looking for the one who is not perfect, but is authentic and possesses qualities such as kindness, respect, a sense of humour, someone who’s supportive, caring, playful and shares similar values.
Then cheer each other on, comfort each other when things don’t go according to plan. When you disagree don’t argue, communicate.
There is some irony in me writing this piece, as I’ve had, hmm a few relationships. They all provided me with insights about myself and human relationships. In particular;
She may not have the perfect body, he may not be perfectly groomed, you may not see eye-to-eye on a-lot of things and, you probably both have flaws, annoying little habits and imperfections. Don’t let that stop you. If the core building blocks of kindness, respect, honesty and trust are there, and you’re both committed to becoming better versions of yourself, together you can BECOME a masterpiece.
Treat your partner like the partner of your dreams, and, they just might BECOME exactly that.
Toni O’Keeffe~🌹❤️
Mr Rogers said; “look for the helpers”.
This is wise advise for both children and adults.
When you’re struggling, be aware of who comes into your life unexpectedly. These helpers may be different than the people you generally welcome into your tribe, all the more reason to welcome them in.
If you’re in pain, lost, drowning in your own messy life circumstances, grief or chaos, you might not recognize these helpers when they show up, you might even push them away.
Put your ego, pride, judgment and stubbornness aside and accept that they are here to help and guide you through the storms in your life. If you don’t have the strength to reach out, accept the help when others reach in.
No matter how strong, brave, smart or tough we think we are, none of us can do this alone. We all need a village.
There are people you haven’t met yet, (and some you have) who will bring peace, comfort, laughter, wisdom, light, healing and help into your life.
Let them.
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
“Helping Hand” painting By Emile Renouf
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~🌹❤️
Showing up for each other is easy.
Sometimes, all we have to do is listen;
not to judge, not to advise, not to jump in with our own commentary, but to listen, really listen, with the kindness and compassion of our whole heart.
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
I dislike and rarely use, the term “The truth hurts.” because, it doesn’t always have to.
Even when we convey disappointing or unpleasant information, we can still use words to reassure, comfort, support, show empathy, motivate, inspire, educate or encourage optimism.
In a world where it’s easy to use multiple mediums to fire off messages filled with emotional backlash and sometimes dire consequences, we need to choose our words carefully.
It’s not always “the truth” that hurts, it can be the mis-truths, the half truth, the lies, the mean spirited intent behind the words or how a message is delivered, that hurts.
Your words can break a spirit or save it, bring light to someones day or shroud it in darkness, can lift someone up or tear them down, can soften a heart or make it cold, deliver tears of joy or tears of sorrow, can influence opinion and evoke emotion.
Our words are little bullets. On average, most of us fire off approximately 7000 of them every single day. (OK some of us may use a few more than that😊)
When eloquently strung together those 26 little letters (if you speak English) can make up words that move us to create, laugh, cry and touch one another in the most profound ways.
Before you speak or send a message ask yourself; have I been kind? have I been sensitive? is the information true? is the information even necessary?
Then ask yourself “Will my words cause pain or discomfort?” If they will, ask yourself how you can be supportive, inspire or encourage optimism, healing and growth?
It’s equally important to be cautious with your silence. Our words when left unspoken, can be just as powerful. The things we do not say or do not ask or do not explore, can send messages indicating we do not care, we’re not interested or we’ve given up. Words left unspoken sometimes create a void others fill with assumptions. Most often, incorrect assumptions.
Other times your silence is exactly what the situation calls for. It says I’m not going to engage in what might be an emotionally charged setting. So rather than using your words, it might be best to listen compassionately to the words of others.
Your words both spoken and unspoken belong to you. Before you fire them off or keep them locked in your holster, consider the impact and the consequences of each powerful bullet.
No work-out routine, diet program, steroid, or sizeable muscle mass will give you more power than the weight your words.
Exercise them carefully.
Toni O’Keeffe~🌹❤️
If what you’re doing is not rooted in kindness or positive intentions, why are you doing it?
Our memories last longer than the moments we created them. They can haunt us or bring us peace. Choose your moments wisely.
Toni O’K~🌹❤️
The Whimsey Angel 