Annette Bridges's Blog, page 8
June 27, 2013
What do you make time for…no matter what?
What matters most to us or what will we make time for—no matter what, in any event, in any case? What are we determined to do even if it is difficult? In other words, come hell, hay, or high water, what ranks at the top of our preferences, what takes precedence, what has our highest regard, what is our greatest concern, what will sway us into immediate action, what is so paramount that we can’t live without it? I suspect you get the idea.
This type of questioning can help us set priorities that are truly significant and important to us. With priorities that have our utmost concern, we will be motivated to action. We will set goals that we are impelled to accomplish, yes, come hell, hay, or high water. I suspect our time management skills would also greatly improve.
…
I think that a person striving to accomplish her goals and dreams or reach her destination, in spite of hell and high water, has clarity of intention, purpose, reason, motive and rationale. Consequently, this person will be able to stay focused on her direction and objective, and she will let nothing stop her from doing what she must—again, COME HELL, HAY, or HIGH WATER!
What keeps you focused on your goals?
This is an excerpt from:
June 23, 2013
10 Hot Summer Reads from my Daughter
My soon-to-have-her-PhD-in-history daughter has always been an avid reader! As a toddler, she loved her plastic non-tearable books. But even when she started holding paper books, she gently turned the pages as she read the stories to all of her stuffed animal friends. Her love for story and the smell of paper continued to grow as she blossomed into a beautiful and intelligent woman. She still much prefers to hold her cherished books in her hands (rather than using her iPad) as she anxiously turns their pages to discover what happens next.
So when I’m looking for good book suggestions to read myself, I ask my daughter. And I’ve never been disappointed. Below are her Summer 2013 top 10 picks!
Inferno by Dan Brown
A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn
The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Revenge Wears Prade: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger
What’s on your summer reading list?
June 18, 2013
What picks you up?
Everyone has one of THOSE days when you’re feeling a bit low and long for something that will lift your spirits. When you feel depressed, overwhelmed, sad, exhausted, bored or trying to find that perfect shot of inspiration, what do you do, where do you look, how do you find what you need and hope for?
Sometimes all we need is a quick little “pick-me-up” to get us back on our happy tracks. I’ve been asking a few folks what does the trick for them and below is some of their responses.
But I would LOVE for you to add your favorite “pick-me-up” to the list!!!!
Watch a funny movie!
Treat yourself to a treat!
Play with your pet!
Bake an old family recipe!
Exercise!
Call a friend!
Play your favorite song as loud as you can & dance, dance, dance…
What do YOU do?
June 13, 2013
Wait no longer!
“Why wait for summer to make the memories of a lifetime!” the Coastal Living Magazine advertisement exclaimed. “Good point!” I considered.
But then I briskly interjected, “Why DO I wait for many things? Like why do I wait for that thing, person, time or place that somehow suddenly gives me permission to be happy, to have peace of mind, to find the calm I long for, or the satisfaction and contentment that sometimes feels impossible to acquire.
Needless to say I’ve asked myself the question, “What are you waiting for” more than once. And most of the time – these days – when the question comes to mind, the image of a favorite “Curly Girl” greeting card appears in my thought that swiftly answers, “Someday is now!” 
As I wrote in my new book, The Queen of Damn Good Advice, when trying to make just about any decision, I also emphatically ask myself, “What’s stopping you? When I mention to my husband something I’m thinking about changing, he often responds with, “Why now?” My response to him is always, “Why not?”
For me, it’s been the “Why not?” question that had to be answered when making decisions, setting new goals or even planning a dream vacation. And I’ve often found that there really wasn’t a good enough reason not to.
Regardless of the season, stage or time in your life, your answer to “Why not?” may inform you to wait no longer.
May 28, 2013
Book Sale and Signing
I’ll be selling and signing my books
at
Confections Boutique and Bags
Open House Trunk Show!
Thursday, May 30, 5 PM – 8 PM
8756 Teel Parkway, Frisco, Texas 75034
214-872-1777
Enjoy an amazing night of jewelry new to North Texas, upscale chic clothing, accessories and cocktails with girlfriends! Register to win an awesome “spring” accessories package and join the Confections Boutique “V.I.P. Sweets” Member Club for savings and specials!
And meet Cindy and Alex of “Big Rich Texas!”
Hope you can come and please help me spread the word about this fun girlfriend evening!
May 15, 2013
Looking for that four-leaf clover?
I suspect we all have dreams of the person we want to become, the life we look forward to, the goals we yearn to accomplish, the ambitions we hope to achieve, the experiences we long to have, and undoubtedly we can also envision the assets we wish to acquire over the course of our lifetime. And I suspect many of us have wished for that yellow brick road that would get us to our pot of gold as fast as possible.
As I was walking around our farm the other day, I noticed a huge patch of clover. I fondly recalled the many hours I spent as a young child sitting in the midst of a clover patch looking for one with four leafs.
Wikipedia explains that the four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. In addition, each leaf is believed to represent something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.
Someone had told me that finding a four-leaf clover brought the promise of good fortune. Granted, at six years old, I’m not sure I had a real sense of what good fortune would mean, other than an endless stockpile of my favorite candy. But I knew it sounded like a good thing and was worth my search effort.
With the odds one in 10,000, I never found my four-leaf clover, however.
Even though I gave up long ago the idea of finding the coveted four-leaf clover, I have often longed for some kind of faster track to reaching my dreams. Since most of my dreams cost money, there have been times when I purchased a lottery ticket, rationalizing somebody had to win so why couldn’t it be me.
Other times I go about my dreams the old-fashioned way – setting goals and implementing plans that hopefully – eventually – will help me accomplish them.
It is still tempting to wish for that easier and faster route. And the long, dusty, dirt road we often must endure can become discouraging. It wasn’t too long ago when I had an epiphany that calmed my anxiousness.
I concluded that living the life of our dreams never reaches a final destination; that our lifetime is always ahead of us. I reasoned it didn’t matter if I had not yet become the person I’ve always wanted to be because we’re always in the state of “becoming.” We never reach the point where we can say there’s nothing more to learn or experience or achieve. So there wasn’t an ultimate “pot of gold” to obtain that would indicate my journey was over. This was a relief!
May 9, 2013
Inspirational quotes from “The Queen of Damn Good Advice”
Here are a few of the many great quotes inside “The Queen of Damn Good Advice” to uplift you in your day!
Inspirational quotes from “The Queen of Damn Good Advice” from Annette Bridges
April 30, 2013
Book Launch Party Time!
Thursday, May 9th at 12 Noon
Introducing my new book ~ The Queen of Damn Good Advice
At my favorite North Texas boutique!
Sunny Paige
501 N. Union, Whitesboro, TX, 76273 ~ 903-564-5500
It’s also Customer Appreciation Day at Sunny Paige
Come for yummy food, fabulous apparel, shoes, accessories and home decor and MY BOOKS – both are great gifts for moms and graduating seniors, by the way!
So yes, The Gospel According to Mamma will be there! And ME, TOO!!!
March 31, 2013
Introducing my new book! The Queen of Damn Good Advice
My new book offers the kind of inspiration that will cheer you on!
Queen wants to…
Teach you how to find a good man
Share her secret to having marital bliss
Show the best way to cope with change
Enhance your communication skills
Provide time management tips
Give you bountiful advice that will help you reach your goals and oh….so much more!
Click on the book image and you’ll be taken to Queen’s new home on my website where you can read a book summary, read what some early readers have to say, read an excerpt and find out where to purchase!
March 22, 2013
Five excuses that keep us from “seizing the moment”
There have been many times in my life when I’ve not “seized the moment.” I’ve always had my reasons, of course. But later, after moments have come and gone, I would wonder whether or not my reasons for missing some opportunities were good enough.
What is it that keeps us from “seizing moments” when they come along?
Hoping to learn that I was not the ONLY person in the world who has struggled with missed opportunities, I asked several friends what kept them from “seizing the moment.” Below are the top 5 excuses….oh…I mean “reasons” they shared with me.
FEAR: Fear of what may happen, fear of failure, fear of change, fear of risk, fear of disapproval…
UNCERTAINTY about a decision – questioning if it’s the best thing to do or not – often makes us afraid to act and so we don’t
PROCRASTINATION: We put off thinking about “something” only to realize later what should have been done or said
TIME EXCUSES: Our schedule is already too full. There are too many demands on our time.
WE HAVE AN UNWORTHY VIEW OF OURSELVES. A focus on our limitations that determines what we can or can’t do. We don’t believe we have the ability, skills, talent needed.
Do you have different reasons you could add to this list?
♥
Savoring each moment of our lives brings joy and thankfulness for each life moment. Let’s be willing to explore new territories, go places we’ve never been before. Life is fresh, exhilarating and full of limitless possibilities when we live fully and mindfully in the moment. Our comfort zone may be comfortable, but it also offers nothing new. As singer Lee Ann Womack sang, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.”
