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 🌹❤️
Surrender is not about giving up.
It’s about courage, trust and acceptance.
To surrender does not mean marching into battle and surrendering to your enemy. It means, mindfully making a decision, trusting you’ve made the right decision, then, having the courage to accept the outcome and the consequences.
When we fully surrendered to life we’re able to;
~ take on new challenges and follow our dreams, without the interference of ego, trusting and accepting we’re where we’re meant to be, even if that place is painful.
~ to let go of the need to be in charge, control an outcome, prove we’re right, or attempt to be better than anyone else. Rather, we seek to be better than we were the day before.
~ to recognize we’ve done all we can, we’ve put forth our best effort, given it our all, and then, we allow life to unfold as it’s meant to unfold.
The ability to surrender takes enormous courage, patience, and wisdom. When we surrender, we’re trusting, accepting and loving our self, exactly as we are.
Surrender is perhaps the most mindful, expression of courage and self love a human being can display.
Drop your sword. Let go of the people, things and attitudes that are dark clouds blocking your beautiful light.
Life is more peaceful when we surrender and stop seeing everything as a battle.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
Your journey, your life.
No one will ever know,
or walk your path
better than you.
If you’re living, dressing,
believing, or acting
a certain way to
please others,
you’ll constantly be
uncomfortable.
You’ve got to dress
for the life you’re living,
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.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
When the darkness of unsettled days blocks your light, there’s always a sanctuary of infinite beauty waiting to embrace you and lift your spirit.
Go to the waters edge, breathe slowly and inhale the sweet, softness of the ocean and exhale the weight of the burdens you carry.
Find a mossy, tree lined forest path to lead you away from your busy days, far from whatever’s troubling you.
Retreat to a rocky bluff and let the setting sun melt your pain and relax your worries.
Gaze into the moonlight, allow its glow to warm you and hold your dreams until you’re ready to chase them again.
Before you return to the reality of your world, take a gratitude moment to relish in your own beauty and give thanks for the true miracle you are. Let go of all toxic ideas and reclaim the grace of everything beautiful that’s waiting for you.
No matter what’s blocking your path or causing you pain, nature provides the music, the colour, the awe, the sweet perfume of life and the quiet peaceful sanctuary to help you heal❤️
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
From the day we’re born, we’re programmed to, two-step, side-step, hop, skip, jump, twist, twirl and boogie, between the demands and expectations of family, school, career, relationships, society, our human emotions, our quest for happiness and ultimately “our purpose.” It’s quite the dance.
The music is continually playing and changing. We bump into others, trying not to step on toes. We slip, fall, break a heal, or break a leg. Some days we dance alone but still, we dance.
And even though we all have different dance moves, different tastes in music, wear different colours to the dance and none of us knows when this life ballet will end, we still have to show up, get along and dance whether we want to or not.
So what’s the point of this little song and dance? It’s this; ~ Life IS the dance.
Our purpose is to make the most of every step, every misstep, every song, every partner, every blister, every moment, every “thing”.
No matter how well you dance, what songs you dance to, how fast or slow, you move, who you dance with, how often you change partners or if you dance alone, find the music that’s in harmony with YOU and tap, waltz, jig, jive, polka, salsa, hip-hop, twirl, tango, do-si-do, or plié and enjoy the insanely beautiful rhythm of it all.
Regardless of who you are, what you do, how much money you have, who you voted for or who you worship, we’ll all get sore feet, the shoes will come off and the music will stop, for all of us.
So while you’re here, get those moves on
and, enjoy the dance.
Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️
If life doesn’t excite you once and awhile,
you’re doing it wrong.
That thing, that makes you feel alive, tickles you in all the right places, gives you joy, sets your soul on fire, and allows you to live fully in the moment;
whether it’s riding, gliding, running, singing, sailing, climbing, performing, paddling, or something equally amazing, find that thing, and do it, often.
Despite this wildly weird west coast weather, I hope the week ahead is an absolutely wonderful one for you!!!
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
Everything you need;
to live your best life,
is in here ❤️
not out there…🌍
Your heart
and soul,
they know
the way,
they have
the answers,
they carry
your truth,
Slow down.
Breathe.
Listen.
Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️
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~🌹❤️
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 ~🌹❤️
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 ~🌹❤️
The Whimsey Angel 