Speaking Italian
Buon Giorno ( Good Morning), One of my truths is I want to live in Italy one day. One of my 2021 intentions is to learn and use Italian.This intention encourages me to embody Italy. It is the last quarter of 2021 and I have been dabbling, but not committed to this...
All Work and No Play Makes For a Dull Day
It was not logical to drive 1.5 hours to the beach at 4:30 pm. It was not logical to walk on the beach, hear the waves and watch the sunset. It was not logical to sit and feel the sand on my toes, the warm sun on my face. Oh, but it felt so in alignment! It did not...
Be a Magnet
What if you shifted from being a magnet of the negative and the doom and gloom, to a magnet of your dreams and desires! A magnet of abundance! When we radiate God’s love, we are also attracting his goodness. There are a few catches!! 1.You must ask God! You must be...
NO is a detour to YES!
Have you ever had a deep desire for something? Not like “I-want-that-chocolate-cake” desire (I have a thing for chocolate cake!) but a profound yearning to attain a goal, a wish, or a dream. The one that is deep in your soul. The one that you may not speak of. What do...
Burden to Blessing
Do you want to move from burden to blessings? Did you ever wake up with a gigantic to-do list running through your head? Your feet haven’t even touched the ground and you are already overwhelmed, stressed, and want to give up. You are tired and haven’t even gotten out...
Do You Really Want To Learn How To Love Yourself?
Do you really want to learn how to love yourself? Bullying, shamming, guilting, beating yourself up does not work but loving yourself does! Are you being called to heal your relationship with your body? Do you REALLY want to learn how to love yourself, all of you, no...
A Valentine’s Day Twist
How do you view Valentine’s Day? I bet you thought it was just a day to celebrate the love you have for the other people in your life, yes, that is true! BUT, how about a twist this year? What about making Valentine’s Day a reminder to celebrate your OWN HEART, a time...
Miracles
Often we hear people talk about the Christmas Spirit. What does this exactly mean? For me, it means a time of celebration, a time to create beauty, share love, to give and to receive. December is also a time of miracles. To pay attention to all the miracles that...
Opportunity Clock
What if every morning you woke up and the first thought you had was a thought of gratitude? What if you were thankful for the gift of today? The opportunity to experience the day and see what adventures unfolded? What if you woke up expecting something good to...
Paradigm Shift
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” COVID has brought on so many changes and so much unknown. I have had the gorgeous opportunity to witness...
Do you play small?
Good morning world! A gift of another beautiful day! It is so amazing to look at the abundance before me...the sun, the sand, the ocean breeze, the waves. Do any of them say, I'll play it small today so the others can shine? Does the sun say, “ I won’t shine bright...
You Do You!
Just because it has always been done this way, does not mean you can’t do it a different way. Can you trust yourself enough to follow your own path and not the traditional path? Can you trust yourself enough to know your speed? To not conform? Choosing your unique...
Roots and Wings
With so much change in the world happening right now, 'normalcy' has taken on a beautiful design. This week, my daughter is leaving for college. A proud moment in any parent's life, I am also painfully aware that the landscapes of these big life moments have...
Not Your Story
What is your story? I keep singing the lyrics to "Write Your Story" by Francesca Battistelli. Over and over again the words are repeated and I can't get the song out of my head. " Write your story, write your story on my heart. I am a blank page, an open book, write...
Stay in the wave of life
For me at this exact moment LIFE IS GOOD! So YES YES YES, I want to try to stay in this wave of life. Riding the wave is staying steady and patient in the low parts (trough) of the wave as well. The troughs can be filled with sadness, overwhelm, and even fear (fear...
The Unknown
Oh what an honor it is to live through history! World Wars have changed the face of the earth and the faces and the lives of its people. To observe people and to see contrasting reactions. One of the excitements for this opportunity is to slow down, get back to basics...
Walls
Walls are built for two reasons; to protect or to divide. Many times we build a wall as a means to protect ourselves, but sometimes the walls turn into an obstacle. The walls block us from receiving love, joy, and prosperity. It separates us from the...
Love Rains Down
How can you be true to yourself, listen to your gut or just know? The answer is always; come back to your heart in all things. For me, pink roses are the scent of love. The petals are soft and smooth. Love tastes sweet and sounds like voices in harmony. Choosing...
Reset!
January brings New Years resolutions that come from a space of wanting to change and fix something. Well let me tell you, you are not broken and do not need to be fixed. You are a beautiful human growing and evolving. So this year, what if you really started to...
Stay In Tune!
Have you ever thought about the many definitions of “tune”? Tune: (noun) — A melody, especially one that characterizes a certain piece of music; Tune (verb) — adjust (a musical instrument) to the correct or uniform pitch;...
Surfer Girl
Summer is over and we are heading into Winter! Yikes! Surfing seems like the last thing on my mind but, about 4 years ago, my youngst daughter wanted to learn to surf, so on our summer vacation, she took a lesson. She was young and quickly got the basics. Each year...
Season of change
Good morning, cool, crisp air! It feels like fall, or as they say, "sweatshirt weather"! A fancier way to say it, "the first day of autumn”, reminds me that autumn is such a pretty word. In fact, it is calling me. Just saying or thinking of autumn stirs my heart. This...
Week 32
This morning I sit outside in the beautiful morning air overlooking the Long Island Sound at the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa. For the past 15 years my family spends one week in August at the “EDGE". In timeshare lingo, it is week 32. We have made many friends at the...
The lesson learned on the bench
If you had to choose, who would you choose to sit on your bench of life? Or would your bench rotate with different people who have made an impact in your life at various times ? I couldn't choose as each person who has entered my life has the ability to teach me....
The Love Challenge
Life is not a race, there is no first place or winner. There is just the journey. The journey is all about love; self love for this beautiful mind, body, and soul God created and love for the other beautiful minds, bodies and souls on the journey with you. The good,...
Be your own Super Hero
As a parent of three children, two of which are girls, I am utterly disappointed at how some teenage girls treat each other. They spend most of their energy tearing people down and spreading negativity. During this season of my...
Ripple Effect
The kindness movement! I love it! On the surface, it looks like everyone singing “Kumbaya” and holding hands around a campfire. A sixties movement with a modern-day twist. My children's school district and the one I work in are part of a program...
NO is a detour to YES!
Have you ever had a deep desire for something? Not like “I-want-that-chocolate-cake” desire (I have a thing for chocolate cake!) but a profound yearning to attain a goal, a wish, or a dream. The one that is deep in your soul. The one that you may not speak of. What do...
Connect the Dots
Sit and reflect on life itself and you would discover that nothing is by chance-TB Joshua When I was younger I loved doing connect-the-dots activity pages. I loved how I wasn't always sure what the image would be, but I had so much fun trying to guess. Sometimes...
Reflection
I find this time of year to be a conflict between my soul and my world. In my world, the holiday season is upon me and everyone's energy level is elevated. It is an exciting time of year, yet overwhelming at the same time. There is shopping, wrapping, cooking,...
Abundance
"Just as the grains of sand cannot be numbered, neither can God's love and abundance." A DariaThe infinite source of God. HMM! I am not sure about this!!! I do believe there are limits! I do believe that there is only so much to go around. In my head, I understand the...
WHAT!!! A spoon in the sink!!
The dreaded dirty dishes! Really, no sooner would I finish washing the dishes, somebody would place another dirty dish or utensil in the sink. UGH! When my children were younger a dirty dish would send me over the edge. I had my own OCD and need for everything to be...
Sunrise
It was the first morning of a two-week hiatus I was called to take at the shore. It was a greatly needed time to relax, to renew, and to just be. A time to learn to "be" without a schedule, obligations, or a to-do list. Coincidentally, a dear friend used the term...
Roots and Wings
Re-posting for all who are experiencing the college drop off or any transition.
Eggplant
When you look at this picture do you think "Yum! Eggplant!! I can make eggplant parmigiana, roasted eggplant, stuffed eggplant, grilled eggplant, baba ganoush, or pizza with eggplant!" or "Yuck, I really don't like eggplant."? On a personal note, I do not like...
Pruning Life
"An Important gardening skill, pruning refers to the trimming and cutting of plants to rid them of an injured, dead, or infected roots and wood. In some cases, pruning is also used as a prevention measure to make space for any new seedling or growth."(Maximum Yield)...
Warrior Moms
All Moms are worriers, but there are a few women in my life right now who remind me what it is like to be a warrior. Each of them possesses an inner strength that only unconditional love can fuel. They are incredible women on a journey they did not choose. Each one...
Sounds of spring
Today I am suffering miserably from allergies. After this very long winter all I want to do is go outside, but every time I do my eyes tear, throat scratches, and I start to sneeze uncontrollably! I decide that I am going to suck it up and sit on my patio for 10...
What speed are you going?
My life makes the Indy 500 look like a joy ride and I know I am not alone! I woke up this morning, my feet didn't touch the floor yet, and my to-do list was 10 deep. My mind started racing: I have to get two new tires. After I get new tires, I have to go to the store....
Why are there so many trees in my way?
The picture on the left is what we want our lives to be. We want to get on a path and follow it straight to where we want to go. A straight run, no obstacles, no surprises, just an easy straight path; getting us from point A to point B. That is not life! There are...
What is your signature flower?
"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous." ~Aristotle Do you have a signature flower? Mine is the Sunflower. When I look at a sunflower I can't help but smile! I love to have a bouquet of sunflowers on my desk or kitchen counter. One glance and...
Beacon Of Light
A lighthouse, I am drawn to its solitude yet guiding ways. Its rhythmic light guiding ships to safety or away from danger. The "lighthouse" can be a symbol of hope, guidance, protection, and warning. Each one of us has an internal lighthouse that dwells in us. It is...
Drop the Mic!
The critical voice is so loud!! Who gives this voice the power? Who handed it the mic? Why do we listen? Did you ever stop and wonder, who was living in your head? There is this non-stop chatter! It has power! I bet you don't even realize how much power it actually...
Oh No, Chocolate Cake!
What emotion does this piece of cake evoke? Is it dread, regret, failure, shame, guilt, fear, or stress? Is it forbidden? Why? There are no laws forbidding you from eating cake??(unless you are allergic to the ingredients) It's just a piece of cake; something to be...
Not Another Snow Day!
NOT ANOTHER SNOW DAY!!!! Today in the North East it is yet ANOTHER Snow Day. Many are sick and tired of the snow. They are ready for spring, except if you are a skiing enthusiast! Well I am not! My perspective is that...
The Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
a word from
Anna
Shift your Gaze is a journey that invites you to look at your life from a different perspective. To see the beauty and love that surrounds you. If you have questions along your journey about how to handle certain topics specifically with what I’ve discussed here on the blog, please email me your questions, and I will respond in a timely manner. Read more…