Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day
by Annie Tornabene



Labor Day, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers in other words, we the people. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers (the average American) have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

In 1882 it began being celebrated and became a national holiday in 1884. The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. We the people are a vital force of labor adding to the highest standard of living and the greatest production that is realized in our economic and political lives. We are a light to the rest of the world.

So today we celebrate you! Happy Labor Day! Have you made plans for having fun today? Are you on course to live your best life now? Celebrate today as your day for the achievements that you have accomplished. Celebrate today for the freedom from depression. You have struggled... you have labored day after day in your struggle to break from depression.

Seek the light from within you to guide you. Enjoy the celebration of your best life now. You can do it one step at a time! Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and celebrating our best life now!

The World Needs Love

The World Needs Love
by Annie Tornabene



What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Remember that tune. Here it is 30 or 4o years later and we are still crying out for love. Not the mushy kind of love, true unconditional love for each other. There is so little of it. We look for love in all the wrong places. Do you realize how much can be done with love?

The Power that created you has the power to heal you. How you ask? With love. The world needs love. A powerful reaction can be implemented one person at a time with love. There is no more powerful medicine or antidote than love. I've seen love revive a person on their death bed. I've seen marriages rekindled because of love. I've seen diseased ridden people healed because someone loved them enough in spite of their disease. I've seen doctors wash their hands and say they have done all they could do, then love stepped in and took over. I've seen harden people change their mind because of love. This kind of love isn't easy but it is definitely worth it.

Do you realize the power of your love? Love begins with you loving yourself. You need to love others as yourself. So if you don't love yourself, how can you say you love others? You are an important part of the secret to healing the world. It all begins with you. Together we can make a difference with the world needs love. What you do today makes a difference! What are you doing about love?

Begin with an open heart. In an attitude of gratitude, pure and simple, look into the mirror and say "I love you!" Say it again. Say it louder. Really mean it. Say it often. Fake it until you make it. Then start saying it to others. If you can't say it, think it. Look at them or a picture of them and think "I love you!" Say it to your enemies. First it will shock them. The element of surprise is good. I had a friend, that taught me to meditate, that during his daily meditation in the morning and evening, he would meditate and send love to his enemies. Keep on keeping on and have faith that you have put love in motion. Then let love take over. Together we can make a difference, one person at a time. Are you with me in the war of love?

Keep Your Chin Up

Keep Your Chin Up
by Annie Tornabene

When is a boxer at his greatest risk? It may not be when you think. As a child I had to watch all the boxing matches. The only one I remember in real life was George Foreman. My Dad was a golden glove boxer in his early years and was disappointed when I went into martial arts. After seeing me perform, he said it was like boxing without the gloves. You never knew you could learn lessons about the strings of life from a boxer, did you? It's not in the fight that the boxer is at his greatest risk. That is usually when he is using extra precaution. It's in the morning when he wakes up and looks in the mirror. He or she is more prone to losing the battle when they look in the mirror...when they see themselves eye to eye. It's that space between the ears that catches them off guard. It's the place where he is less dangerous physically and more often throws caution to the wind. Wow, that's the same with you and me.

It's in the mind that he wins or loses the fight. Nine times out of ten, the fight is won when he looks in the mirror with his chin up and feels he can win. He has to remind himself, "Keep your chin up!" His manager has to remind him, "Keep your chin up." Looking down, he is at risk of being hit. Looking eye to eye with your chin up, he's prepared and ready to fight. He can see every movement...every flinch of his opponent.

It's the same with us. We have to prepare ourselves every day. We have to keep your chin up. We have to smile at adversity. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. It's not how far you've come; it's just that you get back up! Hold your head up high, keep your chin up. You can do it!

When things are going pretty good, it's easy to get distracted from keeping your chin up. You forget that you need to keep your chin up and are vulnerable to getting hit. You know what I'm talking about. Keep your guard up. It's easy to slide right down into the depth of depression when you least expect the darkness to set in...when you have a sudden blow. When you've had a bad day, keep your chin up. Who knows with another blow you just may have a knock out and you win!

As my Grandmaster says, do it in an attitude of gratitude. OK, he said to say "Beat you to a bloody pulp cheerfully." It says the same thing. Keep your chin up. Together we can make a difference in learning to keep our chin up and healing our mind.

Glamour Shots

Glamour Shots
by Annie Tornabene

Put your best face forward is what my Mother always said. Your Mother may have told you similar statements. Whatever trouble gets you down, whatever circumstances you face, hold your chin up high and smile. It makes your enemies wonder what is going on in your life that makes you smile in the face of adversary. Your friends will admire you for your courage.

It is like a stain glass window. You can rave about its beauty in the daylight. However, you never know its true beauty until darkness sets in and the light from within shines through.

Glamour shots are being taken every moment along the strings of life. What does your latest glamour shot say about you?

As you look through the glamour shots along the strings of life, what are you portraying? Are you angry and scowling? Are you peaceful and tranquil? Are your eyes full of compassion? Do you have an attitude of gratitude and a thankful heart? Shine your light for all to see your beautiful glamour shot. Love your life. Together we can make a difference.

Celebrate Life

Celebrate Life

by Annie Tornabene

Yesterday I was at a funeral of an elderly lady that I didn't know. I did know her children. As I sat there, I was reminded of my own Father's Celebration of Life ceremony over two and a half years ago. (We didn't call it a funeral - it was a celebration of his life.) We looked at a picture slide show of his life and told warm heart-felt and funny stories about his life. In the end, we felt a light-hearted peace in our life and felt blessed to have had him in our life.

When was the last time you celebrated life? When did you experience joy and laughter in your life? When did you celebrate love? Love your life by celebrating your life. Celebrate all the goodness in your life. Be in an attitude of gratitude in all things. Celebrate peace and tranquility in your life. Celebrate the abundance that is flowing in your life. Celebrate life and more peace and hope will be with you. Together we can make a difference. The celebration of life makes a difference in our lives.

Hope

Hope
by Annie Tornabene















In each one's life a little pain and grief must fall. It's part of being alive. Sometimes pain and grief feel like the rainforest's rains. We wonder if it will ever end. Crushing poverty, rampant drug and alcohol use, increasing economic conditions, diseases, and chronic racial and relationship tensions have largely caused a problem for many. No matter what circumstances you are facing as long as you have hope, you are going to make it. According to Martin Luther, "Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."

Hope is that glimmer of light in a room full of darkness. Hope is that victorious song of the sparrow that sings through the silence of defeat. Hope is that spark that ignites the flame in a pile of burning ashes. True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings, said William Shakespeare. Hope is that blade of grass piercing through the snow to let you know that new life is there. Hope dispels all negative thoughts.

When I was suffering from the fog of depression, I did a painting of a dark night with the moon shining through. Because I knew as long as I could see the light, I could face tomorrow. You can too. I have enough hope for both of us until you have courage to realize you have hope.

If you are going through a tough time, know that hope is there with you. It may be a little spark, all it needs is a little fanning and it will rise up to help you seize the moment. It will help you make it. Together we can make a difference. Hope makes a difference.

Out Of The Ashes

Out Of The Ashes
by Annie Tornabene

As I watch the burning embers from the pile of burning dead tree limbs that had fallen in my yard from a recent storm that went through here, it brings me to the realization that our lives are like ashes. Ashes are the dead residue of what had been on fire...a flame of passion gone dead...the hurts and pains that is left in our lives from past troubles and storms in the strings of life. Everyone has them. The disappointments...the grief...the sorrow...the pain and agony...the dark cloud of depression are all ashes. The past is nothing more than a bucket of ashes.

Ashes are what keep the fire from burning. . . Ashes slowly kill the flame. They smother the fire. They keep oxygen from breathing new life into the fire. Just like when we hold on to our old hurts or hold a grudge, it keeps us from fully living in our present.

In the movie, Kung Fu Panda, the Grandmaster stated, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it the present." And so it is.

We can't do anything about the past. It is a bucket of ashes. Dump it out! Sweep off the ashes that are holding you back. Let a new fire rise out of the ashes. Out of the ashes of burning rubble comes new hope, a resurrection of life. Just like the donkey did.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about the donkey. A donkey fell in a deep hole that the farmer was digging for a well. The farmer said the hole was too deep and the donkey too heavy to try to pull the donkey out of the hole. So he prepared to bury the donkey in the hole. He shovelled dirt into the hole. As the dirt fell, it fell on the donkey's back. The donkey didn't know what was going on so he brushed the dirt off his back and stepped on it. The donkey kept doing this over and over again never giving up. He had hope that his master would get him out. To the farmer's surprise, the donkey was getting closer to the top with each pile of dirt that was going into the hole. The donkey was brushing it off and stepping on it. So he used the ashes of what was to be his burial to be his stepping stones. Soon the donkey was able to walk out of the hole. You will too. Doesn't some of this sound like our lives? Everyone will be amazed at the ease that you walked through the storm in the strings of life.

Out of the ashes will rise your tomorrows. In the present you may not know if you are building a sandcastle or if a dust storm is on the way. Have hope! You are building your dream castle out of the ashes of your life. Love your life. Together we can make a difference.

Walking A Tightrope

Walking A Tightrope

by Annie Tornabene

Does just daily living leave you feeling a little stressed out? Headlines loom of world hunger. International conflict. Political unrest. Drugs. Violence. Everywhere you turn you see poverty on the rise. Maybe you look at your cashflow and wonder how you are going to pay all the bills. Maybe you have other issues that are causing you to feel like you are walking a tightrope. Sometimes it feels like you are walking a tightrope and you are afraid the net is not under you. Do you ever feel like that? If you feel like that, you are not alone.

Whatever situation you are in the world, you can feel confident that your Creator has a net of protection for you. Our paths have crossed for a reason. I can throw out a lifeline to assist you but it is up to you to grab hold. Remember the anchor holds the lifeline to safety. Only by considering and practicing the true law can we escape from this sorrow-piled mountain in the world in which we live. We are all one tribe on this planet we call Earth. We are all brothers and sisters and interconnect with each other. No one is alone walking a tightrope on the strings of life. Focus on the good around you. Take a deep breath and be still. Slow down and you will see that all is under control.

What you focus on is what you are attracting. If you focus on negativity, negativity finds you. If you focus on poverty, poverty finds you. If you focus on abuse, more abuse finds you. You got the picture? Therefore, change your focus and you will find that the new focus finds you. Together we can make a difference to living an abundant life. The abundant life is better than walking a tightrope. For more help contact us. Let's work together to live a more empowered life...an abundant life. Love the life you are living. Please take our survey.
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Amazing Gratitude

Amazing Gratitude

by Annie Tornabene

In an attitude of amazing gratitude today I want you to listen to Mike Dooley talk about how thoughts become things. You've often heard me say that our thoughts become our actions, actions bring about results. Together we can make a difference.

This is how you have a week of empowerment. Begin and end each day in an attitude of amazing gratitude. Begin on Sunday, do something for yourself. Monday Do something for your family. Tuesday Do something for your local group. Wednesday Do something for your community. Thursday Do something for this organization. Friday Do something for your Nation. Saturday Do something for mankind. When I say do something, I mean give of your thoughts, your time and assets. Take action, postulate positive thoughts, tell somebody, show your sign of support, give of your thoughts, time and things of value such items you no longer need, a click of the button, whatever you can. Always with a gratiful heart. Every positive thought turns into an action; action brings results. Thinking your way to an abundant life is the first step. Together we can all make a difference. !!!! Amazing gratitude make a difference.

Abundant Living

Abundant Living
by Annie Tornabene

I'm Rich...... This morning I searched my wallet. It was empty. Then, I checked my pockets . I found a few coins . I then searched my heart and found you. Then, I realized how rich I really am... Thanks for being my friend and e-mail buddy! May you be as rich as I am!

Have you ever realized how rich you truly are to have at least one friend? My daughter told me today that we were rich. I thought of friends that had mansions. I was thinking of material wealth and said no we're not. Then she smiled at me and said, "We're rich in love." My heart melted. She was right. It doesn't matter how much money a person has. It doesn't matter how fancy the car. It doesn't matter what clothes we wear. Who really cares about those designer labels? It doesn't matter how big the house is. What matters is that we love one another. We have abundant living.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If you have more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 700 million people in the world. If you can attend a church or religious ceremony without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world. If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in depression and downtrodden. If you are reading this on your computer, you are among the 1% who has that opportunity and more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

You have a friend that was thinking of you. You have abundant living. In an attitude of gratitude, be thankful for the abundant living you possess. Allow abundant living to flow more readily in your life. Be thankful for the abundance that you are enjoying and living. Be thankful for the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. As they follow the little things.

Family Ties

Family Ties
by Annie Tornabene


Growing up the first contact we have with anyone is our families. Whatever experience we have, it begins with the family. Some of us had good experiences with family. And some not good experiences with family. Some of us didn't know we had bad experiences with family, we just thought that was the way it was. It was not until later in life, when we experience other families that we notice our family may be dysfunctional.

If the family is sick, meaning dysfunctional, co-dependent, alcoholism (you don't have to drink to be an alcoholic - it could pass for generations), family abuse, violence, racism and sexual abuse, the family can get used to this and think this is normal. In other words, the families are asleep. They don't know that there is a better way. It takes one member to be awakened to say the buck stops here. They may become a nuisance and irritate the rest of the family to wake up.

A big fear that many dysfunctional members have is being afraid to love. It is one of the most basic needs we have, yet for many growing up in a dysfunctional family, it was the most frightening. They end up searching for love in all the wrong places. It is how they keep safe from being hurt. Many freak out once someone shows real love to them. They say they are getting too close. They run and try to hide.

I dated a guy like this. Every time we started getting "serious", he would break up with me. It never lasted very long. He would start missing the love that I had and call to start the "game" all over again. His daughter is the one that calls me "Mom" because she said I was like a Mom to her. She said everything she learned about real love came from me. She is married to a wonderful man and has three beautiful children that call me Grandma. She felt her Dad missed out. I dated her Dad for seven years before I finally said, "Enough is enough." I told him he had a yellow streak down his back. And he has spent his entire life running from love.

For individuals like this, the fear of love and inability to trust had deep roots in early childhood. Many feel that if you love them, you will leave them, reject them, hurt them, smother them, or you may even try to kill them. This unconscious fear grows into their adult life. One lady told me that is why she became depressed. She thought by being depressed, she could hide.

Withdrawal is a downright dirty way to fight. It can be a form of passive hostility, self-pity, or self-justification. It can be caused by a fear of conflict, a fear of being dominated by the other person, a fear of love and trust, or any of a number of other reasons. However, when one party withdraws, there is no possible chance for resolution. It's even worse when both parties withdraw. Snow White came from a dysfunctional family and lived with a man named Grumpy. See you are not alone.

It is never too late to learn how to love and trust. It is never too late to awaken the family. You can't always choose your family, but you can choose your friends. You can include your circle of friends as your family. Family ties are important to keep us growing...to keep us moving in the right direction...to keep us remembering we are human. If your family ties are dysfunctional, start new family ties. The buck stops here. You can't do anything but learn from the past. The past is a bucket of ashes. Dump the bucket out and begin a new day of living a fuller more fulfilled life. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression.

The Champion

The Champion
By Annie Tornabene


As we watch the Olympic games in Beijing, I am reminded what it take to be the champion. That include finding the champion in you.

In 1644, a child named Antonio Stradivari was born. He, at a time when the average person lived be 35-40 years old, lived to be 93 years old. Amazing!

The reason I talk about him today is because he used very primitive tools to be the best he could be. I'm sure you have heard of his work today. Stradivari's Violins. Every step of the process was focused on providing excellence to each violin he created before he would sign his name on it. Many times he worked long and tedious hours alone to complete his violins. He spent his life doing his best life now.

Striving for excellence is not something you can turn on and off at the push of a button. The champions in the Olympics don't just become gold medalist overnight. It is something they strive for every day. They practice it for hours on end. They eat, live and breath it. They stay focused on living their best life now. When family and friends want to do something else, they stay focused.

Are you staying focused with your life? Are you going through the motions of living day to day, just getting by? Are you staying focused to live your best life now. You are the champion of your life. There is the champion within you.

Do you think Tiger Woods or Mike Phelps became champions overnight? No, They did the little things each day that made a difference in their lives. Stay focused when you are alone. Stay focused when you find negativity around you. You deserve to live your best life now. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Making a commitment to staying focused will help you live your best life now.

Many times we allow ourselves to become stuck in our present circumstances even if we are unhappy and really want to strive in a new direction. Why? Because it's familiar. One of the most important factors in understanding depression is the willingness to try things out, to experiment, to test new grounds. In fact, this is the only way to rock the boat and get unstuck. We may have to try and try again. It is a far better thing to try to succeed and fail, than to do nothing and succeed. Discover the champion in you! Make your dreams come true.

My Gift To You

My Gift To You

by Annie Tornabene





























My gift to you is the present.
What a gift!
Grab it before it slips away.
Guide me, through the sand I shift.

Precious moments are all we have.
You would give me your precious moments.
They can take away our possessions,
Nay can they rob us of our few comments.

Our moments are precious and few.
The moments we share I can take anywhere.
If I never hear from you again,
I will hold to the moments of you there.

© 2006 Annie Tornabene

Give with an abundant heart in all that you do and say. An abundant giver knows that there is more than enough to supply our needs. An abundant giver knows that they are allowing the Creator to supply a gift to another through the use of their hands. An abundant giver gives of their time, their energy, their resources, their thoughts and their money knowing that it is with an attitude of gratitude that all be blessed.

Live your life in a life of abundant living. Give of your time, energy, resources so that you will be blessed with abundant living. Our numbers are few but precious moments in abundant living are all we have. Make the most of it!

In an attitude of gratitude, I thank you for your precious gift of friendship. Live your best life now. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression.

Doing Hula Hoops

Doing Hula Hoops
by Annie Tornabene



What impels you to get out of bed each morning? What is your passion? What keeps you going? Are you trying to live up to someone else's dream? Are you living your dream?

I've been watching the Olympics this week and it is amazing what some of these athletes do every day. They exercise their skill seven or eight hours a day. They eat, breath and live their skill. They never seem to tire out. It's because they are passionate about what they do. They found their true reason for living. They don't live it for their parents or coach. It's something inside of them that carries a torch. It's the spark that makes a difference.

If you are fighting the current for the life you really want to live, then no wonder you are exhausted. Doing something for someone else or living your life for someone else is the quickest way to feel defeated, to feel exhausted. Why are you jumping through hoops for someone's life. You must live your own life. Do the things that you want to do. Do the things that inspire you.

You will find that by doing the things that inspire you, you will have more energy. You will want to wake up and do hula hoops because it is your life!!!

Happiness comes when you forget about yourself. When the attention is on what you do makes a difference not that it is you. When you can feel good about what you do is helping someone or what you do makes a difference in your life and those whom you come in contact, then you find that it is worth it to do hula hoops, it makes a difference in life. You realize that happiness has found you, not that you are chasing happiness for happiness to allude you.

Never give up. You are worth it! Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. We can learn to live the life we dream and doing our own hula hoops. Go for it!

Toxic Emotions

Toxic Emotions
by Annie Tornabene

SEXY & HOT COMMENTS



Have you ever felt the venom of anger? The bitterness of fear? Or the sting of hatred? All of these emotions are toxic to our bodies just like poison. It's like going pass a chemical plant that is releasing toxin gases into the air. It makes it hard to breathe. Have you passed a chemical plant like that? It takes your breath away.

Then why to we rob ourselves of precious moments of life with these toxic emotions? It's not the emotions that are bad for us, it is how we deal with them. These toxic emotions let us know that we are human, we all have them. These emotions are toxic subtle energy. If you hold it in, they fester in your system, eating you alive, or else exploded. I'm sure you have heard of at least one or two who have made the headlines. They were seemingly quiet people who suddenly snapped and took revenge. I remember having days like that. Maybe you have too.

I remember one day being so frustrated with insurance companies and pharmacies after my accident. I yelled and screamed at the pharmacy because my pain medicine wasn't ready. Finally I snapped and screamed, "What do I have to do to make someone notice that I have a problem? Kill someone? Or kill myself?"

Everyone in the store heard me. Everything got quiet. The pharmacist was trying to keep me calm. That was a wake-up call for me. I realized I had to start monitoring my emotions. It was not healthy to allow my emotions to get so far out of control. I had to learn to diffuse my emotions before they got to that point.

I had to learn to identify the source of my emotions. What was the trigger? On a scale of one to ten, what was the level of anxiety that I was feeling? Impulsive and unconscious emotions were ten and mildly agitated was a one or two. I had to learn to slow down my reaction.

You can 't run or hide from your toxic emotions, but you can slow down your reactions. In the heat of the emotions is not the best time to try and correct the problem. Otherwise, you're like a snake coiled to strike at it's victim. No one wins but damage is left behind from the toxic emotions. If you can avoid confrontation and allow the emotions to cool, you can calmly talk out your problems and come to a peaceful resolution.

I learned when I was feeling these emotions, I had to take a deep breath and remove myself from the situation at least by the time it got to a four. Sometimes I didn't notice I had the emotions until it got to a three. Then had to quickly rate it and realize that I had to have the courage to get out while it was on the rise. Taking a deep breath helped me slow down my toxic emotions. It gave me time to think what was the source of my feeling and what was the rate of it. Most of the time, 24 hours made a big difference. After 24 hours I could look at the situation a little different and was more realistic about the outcome. I could write about it in my journal which didn't hurt anyone or I could do a painting which again didn't hurt anyone.

Some of my paintings have become known as the suicidal paintings. My family learned when I was painting one of those to get out of my way while I was painting. After I got the emotions out, I was calm and could talk to them. If they interfered while I was in that mood, they were liable to get blasted.

Sometimes after I wrote about it in my journal or did a painting of it, I could see the humor in it. I learned to laugh about the problem and about how quick I was to coil over the problem. Does any of this sound familiar?

I learned to meditate to help me stay focused; to allow peace to enter into my life. Those two minute meditations became calming for me. They became my lifesavers. The longer meditations helped me start and end the day in peace.

I learned to drop my fears and human emotions into our Creator's hands and watch them sink from sight just like a drop of water into a pool. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and toxic emotions. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Love Your Life

Love Your Life
by Annie Tornabene

We have our circle of friends. I call you my friend. We all get by with a little help from our friends. Sometimes I help you. Sometimes you help me. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Sometimes in life we get hurt. It's hard to know what to say. It's hard to express what we are feeling inside. It's hard to know who to trust with our innermost feelings when we are hurting. It's hard to talk when you want to run and hide. The truth is we have to get the hurt out or the hurt will fester inside and eat us alive.

I knew a man once who wouldn't talk about his problem. All he did was complain and his days got darker and darker. He wanted help and asked for it. When we talked he wouldn't talk. He couldn't forgive and he couldn't forget. He just sat there in silence and darkness. Tormented by his life. His life was a living hell. Because he wouldn't move, he got weaker. He submitted his life to living with the darkest monster. He had been a good man but he had a secret life that he took to his grave. His daughter pleaded with him, but he got worst.

He summoned me to sit with him again on the day he died. I talked, I listened but only silence and guttural sounds appeared. I held his hand. He screamed in agony. If you don't believe in hell, seeing a man die like this changes your thoughts. Whatever he saw on his deathbed was frightening. . . was terrifying. I could make out that something was coming for him. It took five strong nurses to hold him down and try to sedate him to keep him calm.

None of us know what awaits us in the afterlife. All we have is today. I don't want to go to the hereafter like he did. I would rather go like my Father. . .peacefully in his sleep. He had made peace with his past and was ready to go to whatever awaits in the hereafter. Both my Grandfathers and Grandmothers and my Great-Grandfather, as well as my Father, told me of a beautiful light before they died. They all died peacefully. I choose to believe there is a hereafter. . .whatever it is called. I have seen too many die in agony and too many die peacefully not to believe. The only thing we can do to prepare for the hereafter is to live our best life now.

Remember you have the right to choose to be happy one step at a time. So begin to be happy from the moment you awake and then keep choosing happiness moment by moment throughout your day. Seize the day with happy thoughts. Whenever stinking thinking enters in, change it to a positive thought. Turn it around. You can only have one thought at a time so choose your thoughts wisely. What's your choice?

Live in the now. Today is a gift, yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. That's why they call it the present. Happiness is found in the present. It is in this very moment of now. You can do it, one step, one baby step at a time. Say what you believe in the present and soon it will be that way. Choose to love your life.

In an attitude of gratitude, get your mind crystal clear on your goals. Your mind will take you places that you have only dreamed. Follow that dream and give thanks for the journey. Have courage to move beyond your fears and overcome the obstacles blocking your movement. Keep on keeping on one step at a time. With the forward movement, it will empower you to move forward and to keep moving forward. If you stagnate you block the flow of abundance to your life. If you are stuck, ask for help. Together we can make a difference.

Choose to love your life as a journey of love and enjoy the journey. All of us can implement this into our daily life, practice it and have our best life now.

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
by Annie Tornabene

Sometimes we feel like nobody notices all that we do. We feel nobody knows how deeply we love. Nobody know how hard we try. Little acts of kindness never go unnoticed. Someone is always watching. You may not realize it, but someone is watching. They may not tell you, they may not be thankful for all that you do, but they notice. Don't worry, be happy that you are able to do those little acts of kindness, that you are able to love so deeply.

Turn your fears into little steps of faith. Trust in our Creator. No excuses, no fear, no boundaries. Forget about the past. Forget your resentment. Live in the present. Allow abundance to flow through you. In an attitude of gratitude be thankful for all that you are able to do. Be thankful for this moment to love. Don't worry about the approval from others. Live your life to the fullest. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. It is your life!

When you least expect it, someone will notice and it will come back to you when you least expect it. The expecting it blocks the flow of abundance. Take a deep breath. Let go of your fears. Let go of your worries. Your Creator is always by your side, no matter what good or bad. Meditate and talk to your Creator--talk, laugh, cry, scream, sing. You'll discover that you are never alone on this journey, and knowing this is vital in getting wherever you want to go.

Turn those stinking thinking to positive and move forward in your life. You'll be saying hit me with your best shot. Nothing can get you down. Trust that everything you do is notice.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye

by Annie Tornabene




My nephew didn't get to come to his Granddad's (my Dad) funeral two and a half years ago because of the distance and cost. My how time flies. Since he's been down here, I've tried not to say anything about Granddad. Being a curious boy, he has asked many questions about Granddad. He instinctively knew not to ask the questions around my Mom or his new Grandfather (PappaSam). I don't know if his parents said something to him before he came down or how he figured it out. However, I am thankful.

One day, he asked me when we were in the car, "Where's my Granddad?" I thought he was referring to PappaSam and told him where is was.

He said, "No, I love my new PappaSam, but I miss my other Granddad."

"I miss him, too," I said, then added, "Remember he died."

"I know, but where did they put him. Remember I couldn't come down for the funeral."

"Oh, you want to know where he's buried?" I said.

"Yes, can we go there?" he said.

It was getting close to dusk but I thought the cemetery was still opened. So we hurried over there so he could see. I pointed it out and brushed a few leaves off the headstone. He notice several of the markers had flowers and Granddad's didn't. I guess the keepers remove the flowers or in one of the storms we've had recently they blew away and the vase was turned back into the marker. He said he wanted to get some more flowers for the grave. I told him we couldn't now because the cemetery was closing but we would another day.

Well, out of the clear blue on Sunday afternoon, he reminded me that we were suppose to get flowers for Granddad's grave. You know kids are better at reminding you of things than any PDA or Blackberry or any reminder. So we went to pick out some flowers and he wanted a lei too. He remembered that from being in Hawaii. Then we had to pick up some duck feed too.

We went to the cemetery. He said he wasn't sure how to say goodbye to Granddad. Many of us find it difficult to say goodbye to someone who has died. I remembered an episode of Magnum PI where Magnum's Granddad died and he had to help his nephew say goodbye too. We talked about how death is like the butterfly in the cocoon. My Great Grandfather told me this when I was three on the day he died. It has helped me throughout my life. So we talked about how much we loved Granddad and how blessed we were to have him in our life. We said we missed him, but we believe that we will see him again someday. We talked about how even though we could not see him, the love we have for him is still in our hearts and will always be there. We put the flowers in the vase and then he put the lei on the headstone. We sat silently for a few moments.

We got up and got the duck feed out of the car. He said that Granddad was lucky to have been buried in such a beautiful garden. His site overlooks the duck pond. There are majestic oak trees and flowers all around. He said that Granddad was blessed to have the ducks and trees all around. We fed the ducks and had a wonderful time.

Death is not reserved for the privileged few. All of us at one time or another will experience the loss of a loved one - it just part of the strings of life. Just remember after the death of a loved one, to find that thread that survives death. Love survives death. Love is eternal. My Dad told me in many of the talks we shared before his death, how every day of his life after his parents died, he thought of them but remembered their love. I have thought of my Dad everyday since he died but it is his love that keeps me going. Your love will continue throughout and remain in you heart. Cherish it. Honor it. Have you said goodbye to your loss and found your thread that survives their death? Together we can make a difference in understanding depression.

Shake Your Boody

Shake Your Boody
by Annie Tornabene

Some days I'm in pain so much that I just want to sit there and not move. Or when a dark cloud looms over me, I think I will just sit here. When I sit; nothing happens. I slip into greater darkness of depression and I hurt more. Our Creator created us to move. Our bodies are not solid and unmovable like a board or piece of wood. Our bodies were created for movement. When our bodies remain still, they become stiff and inflexible.

When we move our bodies become flexible, increase blood flow and oil our mind so it can send messages to the rest of the body. In my water aerobic class, I find that movement is easy. Parts of my body that are difficult to move out of the water, float and move easily with the water and flotation devices. The gentle movement are easy on the body. I feel energized and empowered after class. I feel like I can conquer the world. I feel energized and empowered. Not only does exercise lift the dark clouds of depression, it makes me feel like I have a sense of accomplishment. It helps me want to get out and do things. It is a key to finding a reason to living positively.

A heart-driven, purpose-driven life is the source of immense power, solution and positive abundant living. The most important step you will take in your journey in the strings of life is finding your true purpose in life. Once you find your purpose, you will begin living an abundant, extraordinary life with greater happiness, more contribution to your world, greater prosperity and living the life you dreamed. A good book to read is Max Luccado's A Purpose Driven Life.

Are you ready to live the abundant life? Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and living an abundant life.

War Zone

War Zone
by Annie Tornabene

You feel like you've had a bad day? If you heard sirens blaring, rockets going off and people screaming, you would think you were in the middle of a war zone. Wouldn't you? You would be running to prepare for battle. Well millions of people every day are in a battle over depression. It's a battle in their mind. You may be one of those facing a battle or battles in your mind right now. I know I have felt like sirens and rockets were glaring and everything anyone said sent me screaming. Looking back at it, I wonder how I made it. Ever feel like that?

This story makes my point:
Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned at Sunday school.

"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.

"Well, no. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and overcoming the obstacles that block our paths to the abundant life. Just like the song says, "so you go for a walk and turn yourself around." This could be the day that you turn yourself around. Yeah, things may look bad, but it doesn't have to. Everyone gets down sometime, it's a matter of how long you stay down. You got to get back up. Or maybe you feel like you have never been up. It doesn't have to be that way. There is a better way. Take one step of faith; just one baby step, in turning yourself around. Then keep on keeping on.

If you think about it, I'm sure you can find at least one moment in your life when things didn't look so bad. What was it? Was it yesterday? Last week? Last month? A year ago? Maybe it was when you were a child? Whenever it was, I want you to hold that thought. Remember how it felt. Remember how you felt? Remember what you said. Remember what you heard. Remember what you saw. Did you have a taste in your mouth? What were you holding? Visualize doing it again today! How would you feel? What would you do? I don't care how silly you think it is; no one is going to know but you. You grab hold of that thought and cherish it. Together we are going to make more of those happy abundant thoughts in your life.

It's easy to look at past events and see the successes in your life. Sometimes when you are in the war zone of your mind, your mind forgets about those happy, successful times. It is up to you to bring those happy moments back to life. Prisoners of war have told me that what got them through those really tough days was visualizing times when they weren't in battle. If you keep your mind on the battle, it's difficult to have positive thoughts to help win the war. If you stay focused on happy moments, then your mind starts seeking more happy moments to give you.

Think about your dreams, your hopes, your ambitions. We're all looking for a transformation in some area of our lives. I don't care how big or small your dreams, hopes and ambitions may be, if they're ever going to come to life, it will be because you took those baby steps of faith to turn your life around. The day you realize that you have the power to make a difference in your life as well as those whom you come in contact. If you wait for it, it will probably elude you like a butterfly. If you take seemingly insignificant steps, you will find that you have been empowered with a force within you that will take you places you've always wanted. Your mind is like a computer seeking the results of what is put in.

The question is how long are you going to wait to take those baby steps. Sure it may be tough at first. Maybe you fall down but you pick yourself up and take another baby step. It could be the one that leads to your breakthrough to living the life you dream. . .the abundant life. Make today the day you put away all fear and anxiety to begin empowered living unconditionally abundance in your life.

Are you ready to start living abundantly? Are you ready to get out of the war zone? If you need help, contact me. Together we can make a difference. To email me click here.

The Makeover

The Makeover
by Annie Tornabene

I was reading in Glamour Magazine and realized how much depression is like having a makeover. People who knew me a few years ago would agree. The beauty makeovers that transform a lady who thought she had no beauty transformed into a really beautiful person decked out with flattering clothes and makeup highlighted just in the right spots. That's what I'm talking about.

I was looking at some pictures of me then. I would fly off the handle at the slightest problem. I was always expecting the worst. I was always growling. My pictures show a person that was bitter and heavily overweight. I can't believe I was ever that large. lol The depression was the darkest and they said I was suicidal. I guess it's true, the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

A makeover in depression transforms the character, strengthens the integrity and purifies the motives. In understanding depression, you have to learn to trust in our Creator. Let our Creator empower our makeover. Meditation allows the mind healing. It relieves anxiety and worry. It allows tranquility and peace to enter into every fiber of your being to give you the freedom to live the life you dream and allow possibilities to appear in your subconscious mind that you can react to. Joy and laughter enter into our being. One day you wake up and find that happiness has taken over.

For me, meditation was the biggest key. Oh I had prayed before, but prayer is me asking or telling my Creator my problems. In meditation, it is our Creator communicating with us. If we focus on the light, the Light gives us strength and brings solutions along with peace and tranquility to accept what things cannot be change, the courage to change the things that we can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I start the day with a 20 minute meditation and end the day with a 20 minute meditation. During the day I may have several 2 minute meditations to help keep me focused or reclaim myself when thing seem to becoming unraveled. I was telling someone yesterday how much the 2 minute meditations have helped me. I've learn how to trust in my Creator's inner wisdom and honor my worthiness to receive this gift. I have become empowered with unconditional love, an empowering force of the law of attraction and joy and happiness have become my friends. I find every day a reason to live and laugh. Remember, I'm just like you. When I remind you, I am reminding me.

Our Creator designed the earth to be self supporting - everything is interconnected and all things were created to be of service to each other. Generosity to the poor and reverence for our Creator's wisdom is not separate from any part of our lives. It becomes us as we live in an attitude of gratitude. The makeover transforms us to see the beauty within ourselves. Enjoy your makeover. The beauty and light from within shines bright on the outer person.

Click here to hear Dr. Wayne Dyer on meditation.

Count Your Blessings

Today I started a taking a water aerobic body flow class. The great thing about water aerobic exercise is that if you are overweight or recovering from an injury or illness that has left you very weak, it is very hard to hurt yourself doing them. The water is supporting your weight instead of your lower limbs so a workout is less painful. The aerobic water exercises are increase muscular stamina and improve cardiovascular fitness in general. It can also help build strength and increase your flexibility. It is the type of exercise where you can work at your own pace. It is also up to you how hard you will work out in the water making it difficult to overdo it. It is also difficult to get overheated as the water is always cooling you off.

After class, a lady started asking me questions about how she can rid herself of depression. After talking a while, I asked her if she knew it was her last day on earth could she count her blessings. This is what she came up with:

1. I would stress less about the little things.
2. I would categorize everything as little things.
3. I would do more to escape from the pain instead of complaining.
4. I would invest the time I lose in unproductive and dangerous thoughts into planning creative outings for myself and for the family.
5. I would worry less about what others think.
6. I would make more time for coffee or tea and phone calls with friends.
7. I would visit my mom and my sisters more.
8. I would eat more dessert and not care as much about my waist line.
9. I would laugh more - make a point to laugh every day.
10. I would publish my journal online every thought I have, no matter how stupid.
11. I would spend more time outdoors.
12. I would eat breakfast with my kids, lunch with husband, and dinner with my family.
13. I would keep a mood chart that would track how I feel from day to day.
14. I would identify some possible triggers for my bad days.
15. I would invest in some friends like a support group that won't tire of me talking.
16. I would say to myself, "There is a better way. Together we can make a difference."
17. I would learn to take baby steps one day at a time.
18. I would learn to live in an attitude of gratitude.
19. I would write a journal so that I could remember my good days and count my blessings more.
20. I would learn to distract myself more so I could turn myself around.
21. I would make a bucket list and do everything I wanted to do.
22. I would make sure I made a list of the reasons I want to live so when I get down, I can pick myself up again.
23. I would thank my Creator each day for another day to live.
24. I would dance to the music.

What would say to count your blessings?

Looks Like We Made It

The storm has passed and once again, we find we made it. My nephew was disappointed that the storm wasn't any worse. After all the preparing, the storm wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. Just like our own personal storms of life; it wasn't so bad.

During the storm, I saw squirrels running in the trees and flying through the air trying to find safety. I saw these tiny little animals grab a branch and swing their bodies to the next branch. It was amazing. These little animals were really strong. You see, the greatest strength lies not in that which is big and mighty but rather in that which has the ability to flex and bend.

The mighty oak is not as strong as is the willow. When any adversarial force presses against us, the key to survival and harmony is flexibility or to resist resisting. Watch the willow in the wind. It will sway back and forth with the force of the wind, not against it. This does not mean that you just give up. It means in order to survive and thrive, you learn to bend with the strings of life not break. Check the trunk of the willow as the wind blows hard on it.... it is firmly planted in the ground. So too, can you be deeply rooted and planted firmly, yet allow yourself to flex and bend and flow with the forces and energies that come into your world. If you try to go in a certain direction with anything, and something just seems to be resisting, just flow with it and you will find another way.

Want to heal the world? Realize world peace? End poverty? Start being flexible with your life, in your world. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression, one person at a time. When we as human beings learn to share space and time with one another, wars will end and so will hunger and poverty. The problems in the world today are all the result of a lack of flexibility. Flexibility is selfless; it gives and takes a little. Stubbornness is selfish and ignorant. Sometimes we find that we can get more accomplished with learning to give a little. By being flexible, you will learn more and be happier. The more flexible you get, the stronger you will be, and the more in control of your life you will be. Who knows, maybe one day you will find that you are flying through the storms of life with the greatest of ease. And maybe one day, humanity will find itself harmonizing on one planet.

In The Mist Of The Storm

Hello there, happy Tuesday to you all. I know it’s not the best day of the week - heck, I’d say it’s probably the worst, next to Monday - but what can you do other than try and enjoy it? My sentiments exactly. Anyhoo, moving on…

We're awaiting tropical storm or hurricane Edouard to hit the shores of Texas this morning. Life for us is running in a chaotic pace with much anxiety of the approaching storm. Even though I have weathered many storms during my life, each one that approaches the Texas Gulf Coast is waited with baited breath. People waiting in line seem to think it is taking forever. When a storm is not approaching they can stand in the same line and it doesn't seem as long. Everyone wants instant gratification.

My nephew has never been through a storm and is asking 20 questions about everything. So I've had to sit him down and show him how we get prepared. I realized it is much like the storms of life that come our way.

First we have to take priority of our basic needs. We make a list of what we have and what we need to do. Love is the most basic need in all of us. We can lose everything but as long as we love ourselves and each other, we will survive.

Then we must each find our light. In the mist of a storm, often times we find that we are sitting alone in the dark. We will stumble and fall without a light. Do you know where your light is? With a flick of the button or strike of the match our light is ignited. It provides a guide for us to find our way in the dark. You never know the beauty of a stain glassed window until the darkness falls and the light from within shines through. Is your light burning brightly?

Stay calm when chaos is all around. Staying calm in the mist of the storm is opposite of what everybody else is doing. It is choosing to stay focused, to keep your eye on the center of the strings of life's storm. Be still. Meditate. Think on good thoughts. Hold those happy moments. Take time to find your center. Take time to get control of your mind and stay focused. You will find peace and tranquility will sit quietly with you and give you comfort.

Our first aid kit needs to be near. In the mist of the storm it is common to get hurt. When we get hurt, recovery requires that we take care of the injured party - whether it is ourselves or someone we love. Just as we need a physical first aid kit, we need a mental health first aid kit. It needs to be complete with things in it to help us recover. It helps us get back on the track to healthy mental living. Do you know what's in your mental health first aid kit? Do you have one? If you don't have one, ask me.

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut. We need extra help when this happens. What invades our inner thoughts and become familiar with the way we operate on a daily bases? Whether it's being abused in a relationship, dying around food in one way or another, filling our bodies with drugs, shutting down all feelings, surrendering to violent rage, or isolating or hiding. These behaviors become our pimps, so to speak, and we jump when they beckon. What helps you get unstuck from these behaviors? Do you need someone to help pull you out?

There is a part that no one but you can do. Get up. The storm has hit. Now what? What are you going to do about it?It's not what has happened to you, it's how you react to what has happened. A few years ago when Hurricane Rita came to town, I wrote a song entitled, Get On Up. It means just that, when the storm hits, it doesn't matter how many times you've been knocked down, you have to get on up! It's the getting on up that renews our spirit and causes the passion in our life to flame again. So, just get on up! When you get on up, you find that you are not alone and there are others cheering you on. It's taking those first baby steps that are the most difficult. Taking those first baby steps makes all the difference.

Once you start taking those baby steps, you keep on keeping on! It's the trick that makes the difference. Take one day at a time. One moment at a time and you will make it. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Some days I may need you to walk with me. Some days you may need me to walk with you. Together we can do it! You want to keep walking and smiling until one day you notice, "Hey, we're out of the storm!" Life will be brighter then. Life will be happier then.

May peace and tranquility be with you today as we get ready for the storm!

Monday Morning Blues

People write me all the time telling me how much they stressed out on Monday - like the song says, Monday, Monday can't stand that day -- just because it was "Monday."One lady said she thought every Monday she was pregnant because she had morning sickness on the way to work. I wrote him back and asked her why? She said "I get so nauseated on the way to work now cause I can't stand it there! I feel like I'm gonna get sick even as I get ready for work!" And that's a Crappy way to start the week, I thought. And this woman's NOT alone!!

It's estimated that about 65% of ALL people suffer from what's known as "Monday Morning Blues." This means that about 65 out of every 100 cars you see on the drive to work have a driver at the wheel that feels sick enough to turn the car around and just go home, put on that old T-shirt and be stress-free!

I've had people tell me that doing mundane thing around the house on Monday sends their blood pressure through the roof. I suppose no matter who you are, obstacles and challenges will be tossed in your way. Stressful situations happen to all of us and pressure is a personal thing. Remember it's not what happens to us, it's how we react to what has happened.

It can be our stumbling block or our stepping stone. You can't control the universe, but you can control your thoughts and reactions. The key is to acknowledge and confront our fears, our anxiety and our worries because when we do, and we begin to realize that we are capable of handling them. You are the master of your own fate. Your mind controls your body so you control your mind. Good things in, good things breathe out. Don't get stuck, you take control and take those baby steps forward. The more you do it, the more confident you will become and your mind healing will chase those Monday Morning Blues away.

Doing our daily mind healing rituals is just as important as our physical rituals. Maybe even more important. If you believe you can, then you can. Do whatever it takes to chase those blues away and have your best life now. It helps in clearing the chaos of your mind and in cleaning out the cobwebs. If you need talk, just email me or IM me. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Be happy, don't worry!

Blessed Or Stressed

I am too blessed to be distressed. ~ Annie

In the hustle and bustle of life, men and women are becoming more stressed or worried over the little things. What can you do? What kind of attitude are you carrying? What do you want? Are you happy dragging around? I don't think so. First of all realize, that most of the little things you worry or become stressed over never happen! Taking baby steps forward, leads to action. Action means that you are moving in a direction. You can always change direction.

Low impact exercises like yoga and bodyflow help relieve those little physical blocks within the body to help the whole body be less stressed. It also helps clear the mind so you have have more positive thinking and rid yourself of stinking thinking. You get things off your mind without realizing it.

Eating sweets causes stress. So instead of picking up a candy bar pick up a handful of strawberries or some walnuts or almonds. They fight the stress hormone.

Remove all clutter from your home, car and office. All the stuff that is out of order, the stuff that is out of place, the stuff that makes you feel bad. Change it around make you feel better and less stressed. It will keep your mind on other things.

Take time to meditate. It will allow you to be calm and focused.

Read some good reading material. Good things in allows good things to come out of your mind. You need not be stressed anymore! You are too blessed to be distressed.

Making A Difference

Our Creator created us to make a difference. We are not here by accident. We were given a mind to choose what we will in life. Are you making a difference? Everyone whom we come in contact with, leaves more positive or negative. What are you being left with? What are you leaving behind? When someone gives a little for you, what is your reaction? Do you notice it? Are you willing to do something in return? It's the little things that we do that make a difference.

As women we do many little things for our family without being appreciated. Often times it's those little things that we do, that make a difference is someone else's life. Whether they are our family, children, friends, acquaintances or strangers. A little step can make hugh rewards.

Live your life honestly without a lot of fanfare. Respect others and treat them with all the respect and honor that you would treat a king or queen. Stay true to your heart. It's the deeds done quietly in an attitude of gratitude that make a difference in a person's life; not the flash made by movers and shakers that seek only glory. When all the glitz and glamour is gone, what is left? The little things that you do will mean more than the flash by night.

Next time someone does something for you, be sure to really appreciate them with an attitude of gratitude. Whether it’s your sibling, parent, child, friend or stranger, take time to say how much you appreciate the things they do for you. When your heart is filled with gratitude, you will find that your life is making a difference in your own life as well as those around you.