Tag: 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 gentleness of human touch, the tastes, textures, aromas, views and songs of life, savour these things, take them in slowly.

You’ll miss the most beautiful and best parts of life if you’re madly racing to get to the finish line. No matter how fast or slow you go, you’ll arrive at the end exactly when you’re supposed to.

In the mean time, take time to wander through the forest or in fields of daisies. Stop and inhale the lavender, savour; the coffee, the cake, the company, the slow dance, the view of hummingbirds at your window or whatever else greets you on your path.

Life is good, really good, when it’s seen, felt and inhaled slowly, so, slow your pace, slow your breath and tread gently on this day and every day that follows.

Toni O’Keeffe🌹❤️

It’s not uncommon to feel lost, adrift or alone when facing something new and unknown.

You might feel fearful about tackling this new “thing” or new chapter in your life because it’s not familiar.

But you’re okay, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, on a path, your path, towards something new, something different, something you’ve never experienced before. It might even turn out better than you expect.

The first day of school, starting a new job, the moment you found out you were going to be a parent, the day an important relationship ended, the day your doctor gave you news that was less than pleasant or the loss of a loved one; any of these events would feel scary, shocking, uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Good news is; you’ve already survived a few of these things. You used your inner compass, figured them out and found your way.

So this new thing, new relationship, new way of life, new whatever “it” is that’s facing you, embrace it, even if it feels scary, unfamiliar or temporarily painful, step into it knowing you’re not lost, you’ve just never been “this way” before.

Toni O’KEEFFE🌹❤️

Once upon-a-time there was a girl.
She believed in herself.
She believed in everyone around her.
She believed in kindness, compassion, gratitude, magic and love.
Her light was beautiful and bright.

One day she went into the world and came upon an angry, soulless beast.
He looked at her and ripped her beliefs from her soul and handed her a sack filled with FEAR;
~ Fear of judgment
~ Fear of alienation and rejection
~ Fear of heartache
~ Fear of her authentic self, her own creativity,
~ Fear of her potential and her light

He demanded that she never put the sack down. She saw others carrying similar sacks so she complied, she thought it was what she was supposed to do.

So she carried that sack for years. It was heavy and weighed her down.

Deep inside she ached for who she knew she was supposed to be.

The memories of who she authentically was kept her soul always hopeful. But, too afraid to BE herself, she continued to carry the sack.

Years went by and she met the beast again. He was weak and haggard and she asked him, “Why did you ask me to carry these things?”

“Because,” he said, “I was afraid of what your beautiful soul might accomplish, I was jealous of the light that radiated from you. I wanted your light for myself. I wanted to shine and wanted you to always be heavy with fear. I wanted to control your light.”

“But you’re not shining, you’re not radiating my light?” she replied.
“Yes I know,” said the beast. “You’re light belongs to you, it will only shine for you.”
“Who are you?” she boldly asked?”
“I am no thing. I am no person. I am no place.
I am the manifestation of collective human fear, greed, anger, jealousy and hatred.”

In that moment she realized he had no power over her. It was she that had given her power away to him.
She dropped the sack.
She stared into his cold eyes.
Oddly she was not angry, she was not spiteful, she was grateful.
She did not slay the beast, she didn’t have to, she kissed him on the forehead, stroked his cheek and left him there to die in a pool of his own darkness.
And she lived happily ever after.

Stop feeding a beast that doesn’t exist.
The fear, the anger, whatever it is, it’s weighing you down. Let it go,

Toni O’KEEFFE 🌹❤️

Some people come into our lives not because they need us, but because we need them.

They may shelter or guide us through the storms in our lives, be the mirror reflecting the unhealthy attitudes and behaviours we need to let go of, they may shine their light on answers we’ve been seeking, they may bring us pain causing us to make important shifts or changes in how we live, or, they may bring us comfort when we need it most.

Let’s greet each other with gentle curiosity, kindness and gratitude, knowing we’ve shown up in each other’s lives for a reason, even if the reasons are painful.

Toni O’KEEFFE~🌹❤️