Tag: Toni O’Keeffe

Tear drops from the sky~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey

You gaze outside you see them,
those dark clouds rolling in,
you know the rain is coming,
you feel it deep within.

You pull out your umbrella,
slip your gum boots on,
step outside, inhale the air,
this ache will soon be gone.

The heaviness you feel,
tears pooling in your eyes,
set them free, let them flow
with the tears-drops from the sky.

A license to slow down,
and block out all the world,
pour out your tired soul,
let your heart unfurl.

At first a salty trickle,
rolls gently down your cheek,
then the others follow,
and the ache begins to leak.

You feel the healing touch you,
it’s as if those rain clouds knew,
life was feeling heavy,
and you were feeling blue.

Teardrops from the sky,
can whisk your blues away,
allowing the light within you,
to shine upon your day.

Surrender, let them fall,
the hurt begins to fade,
to the rhythm of tiny raindrops,
in unison they cascade.

With each step you release,
all that made you sad,
after walking for awhile,
“It” doesn’t feel so bad.

What hurt you has now softened,
melting slowly to the ground,
carried away by streams of hope,
and that gentle tapping sound.

The heaviness in your heart,
the streaming from your eyes,
has now been washed away,
with tears-drops from the sky.

Toni O’KEEFFE🌹❤️

Slow down

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey, Reflection, self discovery, Toni O’KEEFFE

Go slowly~

Life goes by oh so quickly. It seems the faster we go, the faster it all goes by and, the more we miss along the way.

Like looking out the window of a speeding train, when we move too fast or we’re too busy, we barely see a thing, just bits and pieces and most of life becomes a blur.

When we slow down, we begin to observe and listen more deeply, and, we see our lives, each other and the world more clearly.

I don’t know why we were led to believe that being busy and doing things quickly, is better. For some things, of course, but in general, life is calmer when we live, work, play and love slowly.

You may actually get to where you’re going quicker and achieve your goals faster by slowing down. Walking gently through life improves our ability to be mindful and focus; which can result in better decision-making, fewer accidents, less stress and, better emotional self-control.

Allow yourself to go slowly, to savour the sights, the sounds, the feelings and the moments that make up your life. Take time to inhale life deeply and enjoy the view.

If you don’t know how to slow down, you can start by;

  1. Slowly letting go of things and people that misuse your time. If it’s not necessary or doesn’t bring you joy, let it go.
  2. Spend time in nature. Nature has a calming and healing effect that causes us to slow down, to breathe deeply and release anxiety and stress.
  3. Practicing mindfulness and meditation, teaches us how to slow down and observe life as it is.
  4. Slow down your morning routine. Sip your coffee or tea slowly, stand out on your patio or balcony and slowly inhale and exhale as you begin your day.
  5. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude; Gratitude helps us focus on what we have instead of what we think is lacking, which then reduces our need to work harder and faster to acquire more.

As you pass through your one, short, beautiful, life, you’ll see more, feel more, experience more and be happier when you move slowly and gently along your path.

None of us are getting any more time, so enjoy the time you’ve got, whats the rush?

Toni O’KEEFFE🌹❤️

Where do you belong?

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in follow your path, growth, life challenges, Wisdom, Life Journey,

The day may come when the people, things and habits you’re used to, no longer fit or feel like you. You may feel stuck, trapped or craving more.

Every once in a while, this is exactly how we’re supposed to feel. It’s this feeling that moves us to let go of what no longer belongs and make a change.

Human beings are weird little creatures. We stay in uncomfortable relationships, uncomfortable situations, uncomfortable jobs, uncomfortable communities, uncomfortable shoes and uncomfortable behaviours and habits because they’re familiar, or sometimes they’re “ALL”, we know.

Questions you can ask yourself to help you move forward.
~ Am I happy?
~ If I had one year to live, what would I do with that year?
~ If I had to let three things go in my life, what would they be?
~ Whats the greatest barrier blocking me from moving forward? And, what’s the one thing I can do to move beyond it?

Don’t waste your one beautiful life and your curious mind, feeling caged in. The place that feels familiar, may not be the place you belong.

Toni O’KEEFFE ~🌹❤️

Find peace amidst the chaos

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in authentic, busyness, earth, mother nature, planet, poplution, pandemic, population, follow your path, growth, Life Journey

If you can~
🍃 still your mind,
when chaos surrounds you,
🍃 observe life,
without judgement
🍃 see freedom in having
less rather than more,
🍃 hold the natural world,
in reverence for the majesty she is,
🍃 appreciate simple pleasures
and simple times,
🍃 regard kindness and gratitude,
as two of the most important and beautiful human characteristics,
And,
🍃 maintain your sense of self,
in a world that’s constantly trying
to shape you into something you’re not,
then,… you my friend, will find peace as you sail upon, this funny little thing called life.

Toni O’KEEFFE ❤️🌹

Step into the real world

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in authentic, blessing, earth, mother nature, planet, poplution, pandemic, population, Life Journey, nature, natural world, environment, Planet Earth

I don’t go to the forest
to get away from the real world,
I go to the forest to be with
the REAL WORLD.
The quiet, the beauty,
the safe embrace of the trees,
and the voice of wisdom that
comes when the mind is still;
these are things that provide
a tranquil retreat and a peaceful
haven from our busy human world.

Do you need a time out?
step into the real world.
🌲🌲🌲🌲
Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️

Let’s not wait till death do us part~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey

As I get older, the frequency in which I receive news of a friend, acquaintance, colleague, neighbour or family member passing, increases.

When we, or someone we know, loses a loved one, the realization that our time here is temporary comes sharply into focus.

Each loss moves us to scour the cracks that separate our days, making sure we didn’t miss an opportunity to say;
“I love you”
“I miss you”
“I’m sorry”
“I forgive you”
“Can I help”
We look back on that last conversation and our last moments together and replay what we wish we had said or done.

We waste so much time and energy, being “busy”, angry, negative, stubborn, dismissive, judgmental, stuck or offended.

What if we were more mindful of the time we spent together, set our egos aside and let kindness, forgiveness, compassion, gratitude and love be our guides? Then, perhaps when it’s time to say goodbye, we will not lament, but celebrate and give thanks for the pleasure of sharing time with the ones we loved and lost.

It’s the impermanence of life itself that should make every simple, ordinary moment, shared with those we love, a beautiful and cherished event.

Let’s not wait till death do us part,
to love, cherish and forgive each other.
Let’s do it while we’re still here.

Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️

Create the space for adventure~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey

Create space in your life for more happy adventures.

Any adventure big or small can help get you out of a rut, will exercise your curiosity (and your body), tickle your senses, expand your mind and add colour to your life.

Opportunities for adventure are all around you. Sometimes you just have to open the door and go.

Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️

Reach for the good stuff~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey

When it all feels like too much;
the news, the weather, the loss,
the lies, the demands, the cost,
the noise, the political unrest,
the sadness, the brokenness, or,
whatever it is for you,
Pause
Unplug, step back, and
reach for the good stuff.
The beauty in nature,
the beauty in you,
the generosity and
kindness of those
who love you.
Laughter, music, art,
pets, flowers, sunshine,
rain, colourful sunsets,
your favourite cozy blanket,
the perfect cup of coffee,
the sound of the ocean,
a kiss from the wind,
and all the other
little miracles
that surround you.

Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️

Let neither success or failure go to your head ~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in acceptance, authentic, Life Journey, personal growth,

Let neither success or failure go to your head. Both are simply stepping stones guiding you down your path. Neither make you better, less, above or below anyone.

Judging yourself or comparing your successes and failures to others is futile. We don’t compare a cactus to an oak tree, or, poison ivy to a lotus or, a zucchini to bamboo. While they are all plants, each serve a different purpose within the environment they grow. Like plants, we each play different roles within the environments, families and cultures where we grow.

Be grateful for both your successes and your failures. They are the sign posts pointing the way and fuelling your personal growth.

Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️

Let them hang on to their whimsy bits~

by The Whimsey Angel, posted in Life Journey

Let them hang on to their whimsy~

Let them wander through forests and meadows, explore seasides and mud puddles. Let them dance, sing their whimsy songs, colour outside the lines, paint the sky, hang off clouds, dream their big dreams and tell their tall tales.

When we try to shut down an individuals, creativity and move them onto a path that’s not authentic for them, often, what we’re really doing, is crushing souls.

When we say things like; “grow up” “that’s stupid,” “that’s childish,” or “don’t be so ridiculous;” we might be robbing someone of their dreams, their creative gifts, their playfulness and taking away the thing that gives them joy.

The damage done with a few mocking comments takes only seconds to utter, but decades or an entire lifetime to repair.

Whether they’re four or 84, nurture their joyful, silly, whimsy bits. That spark of wonder is their light, and could evolve into a masterpiece, an important scientific discovery, a life’s work or might merely be the thing that allows an individual to cope in an often cold, critical and angry world.

Let them hang on to their whimsy bits.
That’s where the light resides in all of us.

Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️