Definition of a badass & new eBook coming
Aug 5, 2011

Definition of a badass & new eBook coming

By ·

What, exactly, is a badass trailblazer?

A badass trailblazer is someone who has integrity, self-confidence, strives for excellence, stands up for what’s right, owns their mistakes, takes responsibility, knows when to walk away, is well-informed and educated.

In essence, a badass trailblazer is someone who has their shit together. ;-)

Realize I’m not talking about a badass as in a “bad boy” or “bad girl” image. You know, the guy or gal from the wrong side of the tracks. The one who doesn’t care that what they’re doing is harmful or hurtful to someone else. Someone who is out of control. The one with the reputation that everyone tells you to stay away from.

No, I’m talking about a badass in the sense that he or she fully has their shit together. They know where they’re going and what they want and even though they may be afraid now and then, they go after it anyway.

They live with honesty and integrity. They stand up for themselves and for others, especially when there’s been a wrong committed. They’re kind, compassionate, strong. Know where they’re going and exactly what they want out of life. They work hard and give everything they do 100% of their time, attention and effort. They’re loyal, punctual and fun to be around.

They’re not flakey or fake. They don’t do a job half-assed. They don’t go off half-cocked.

A badass trailblazer is a strong leader. Someone who encourages and motivates others. Someone who takes the road less traveled, the unknown path. Someone who isn’t afraid to be different, to have fun and let loose, too.

That is a true a badass trailblazer.

And that’s who I aspire to be. Even though I’m pretty close, there’s always room for improvement and I’m not afraid to refine things or adjust course when necessary. In fact, I’d say that if you’re not willing to adjust and refine, then you’re going to move forward. That’s what moving forward is – it requires change, growth and action to make happen.

What’s in store here on AA | Blog

To help facilitate that change, not only for myself but for you, I’m putting together a short eBook, probably around 50 pages or so, all about how to use my 10 Rules for Being a Badass Trailblazer. It’s all about what they mean and how to implement them into your life.

I had first planned to create a full-detailed blog post out of each one but then, I decided what the heck! I’ll make it an eBook. A FREE eBook, in fact. ;-)

Yeah, thought you might like that!

I hope to have it finished within the next few weeks. And I’ll post it right here on the blog for you to download as soon as it’s ready.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the posts I have set up for you. I’ve written many of them in advance so I can concentrate on finishing the eBook.

Of course, I’ll be around and available via email if you need anything.

Until then . . . keep blazin’!

 

Filed Under: Announcements, Personal Development ·
I’m calling it quits
Aug 3, 2011

I’m calling it quits

By ·

No, not the blog, don’t worry! ;-)

No, see – I’m quitting a bunch of other stuff. Stuff that just doesn’t float my boat any more. Or maybe some of them never really did but I kept up with them because I felt obligated somehow.

Anyway, as I more narrowly define my focus, I’ve decided it’s time to just dump everything that doesn’t directly relate to my life mission, my driving force.

To start, I quit saving emails. I’m cleaning out my inbox. I’m deleting old emails that I only saved because I thought I’d read them again someday. Well, someday never came and they’re just clutter. So, they’re going. Instead, I’ll only save emails that really mean something or have crucial info in them like logins and receipts and stuff like that.

Plus, I’m unsubscribing from newsletters and blogs that I just don’t love anymore. If it’s not something (or someone) I truly care about, then, I quit that too. The only subscriptions I’ll keep will be to newsletters and blogs I actually read every time it hits my inbox.

And I’m going to quit keeping clothes I no longer wear or don’t like. I’m going to clean out my closet and my dresser. If I haven’t worn it in the last year, it’s going out. If I don’t like it, it’s going out. If I don’t like the way it looks on me, it’s going out. I’m only keeping things I truly love and truly love to wear. (This could be seriously interesting, folks!) Because the truth is – I hate buying new clothes. I know, that’s sacrilege for a girl. But I’m not a shopper or clothes buyer. Which is probably why I keep every piece of clothing I do buy. From now on, only the clothes I feel good in will be kept. Everything else is going to the donation pile.

I’m also going to quit things like

  • second-guessing myself
  • not reading more
  • saying yes to things I really have no interest in just to be polite
  • worrying about things beyond my control
  • being just a lurker on several blogs I do love reading
  • holding my tongue
  • thinking everything has to be “just right” before I plunge ahead

And honestly, that last one there is likely to be the hardest of them all.

What about you? Do you have things you could quit that would improve the quality of your life somehow? What are they?

Until next time . . . keep blazin’!

Filed Under: Intentions ·
Will the real Annie please stand up?
Aug 2, 2011

Will the real Annie please stand up?

By ·

Ok – I have a confession to make -

I’ve always been the good girl. You know, the one who always did what her parents told her to, never lied about where she was going or who she was hanging out with.

Well, 97% of the time, anyway. ;-)

That’s not to say I didn’t a have a certain amount of rebelliousness in me or that I was a perfect angel. Because I did and I sure as hell wasn’t! I mean, I smoked, listened to heavy metal and hard rock, hung out with “questionable” friends. Sometimes I got bad grades, skipped classes and told my teachers exactly what I thought.

But I tried hard not to disappoint my parents most of the time. It’s not that I was afraid of them or anything like most of my friends were of their own parents – it’s that I actually liked and respected them. For the most part, the person I aspire to be most like is mom, even still.

However, I think there comes a point in everyone’s life where they have to just be themselves. Even if it’s not the way their parents raised them. Even if it goes against everything they ever learned. Or goes against what their parents and family believes.

For example, my mom hates tattoos. She thinks if god wanted you to have them, you’d have been born with them. And I always just went along with her thoughts. You know, like a good daughter. But the truth is – I LOVE tattoos! And while I don’t have any, yet, I do plan to have a couple. And hopefully soon.

Because there comes a point in life when you have to do what you have to do to be YOU. The REAL you. The you, you are inside. The one that longs to be let out.

Even if it goes against the grain.

And I think I’ve kinda done that here on the blog, too. Sometimes I’ve gone off the beaten path but most of the time, I have kinda stayed right where it was expected of me to stay. Talked about the things people expected me to talk about. Said things the way people expected me to say them.

I’ve been careful with my language. Careful not to rock the boat too much. For fear of losing readers. For fear of being perceived as a “bad girl” or something.

Now, that’s not to say that everything I have written on this blog is false or that I didn’t mean what I’ve said. Because that’s not the case. It’s all true and I absolutely mean it.

But I’ve been wearing 2 hats, so to speak. The Annie who is a polite mom with a little attitude who doesn’t want to offend anyone and the Annie who is an outspoken loudmouth mom who swears now and then.

And trust me when I say the latter is Annie my children and friends see. ;-)

So, from this point forward, it’s the one EVERYONE is going to see. This is me and I’m not going to hide it any longer. I’m making peace with myself and letting the real me SHINE.

Because that is what it means to be a Badass Trailblazer. And if I can’t be me here, then what’s the point of writing this blog in the first place?

I love heavy metal and hard rock music, I hate dresses and skirts, I love tattoos and coffee and beer and wine and I prefer jeans and t-shirts. So there ya go! ;-)

And I hope you stick around because I love having you here!

Until next time . . . keep blazin’!


PS – Don’t worry – I no longer smoke. ;-) I gave that up about 13 years ago.

Filed Under: Self ·
Breaking free from a life that confines you
Aug 1, 2011

Breaking free from a life that confines you

By ·

So, as I mentioned in my 10 rules post a few days ago, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. Because I’ll tell you what – living a life of mediocrity scares the shit out of me. And although I’ve been somewhat content in the past to live that life of conformity and mediocrity, it’s becoming harder and harder to continue.

The thing for me is, it’s not that I fear what others will think – because I could honestly care less – it’s more that I fear myself. Fear what I’m capable of. Fear of who I am. I know I’m capable of doing great things and that just scares the hell out of me.

But there comes a point where your fear of NOT doing what you’re meant to do in this lifetime is GREATER than the fear of actually doing it. It’s at that point which I found myself a little more than a year ago.

Here’s what I know -

It’s all about trusting your own genius. Deliberately choosing to speak your own truth. Regardless of what other people think. It’s about standing up for yourself and not waiting for permission from anybody else. Because the bottom line is this: only YOU know how to live your life.

There are no answers out there somewhere. All you need is right inside of you. And all you have to do is grab hold of it and push through the fear. I guarantee that YOU are greater than your fear. The only way to handle fear is feel it and then do it anyway.

It’s pretty frightening to realize you have that much power, isn’t it?

And I’ll tell you something else – the truth is – you have even more power than THAT, even though you may not realize it right now. It’s there.

And all you have to do to tap into it, is look within. Look to your inner strength, your wisdom, your purpose. You have an inner guidance system that will lead you if you let. Listen to that still small voice inside.

Sometimes, though, you need a little push and that’s what I’m here for today.

So, here it is . . .

Realize that you ARE enough. Know that you are worthy and intelligent. You don’t need to justify yourself to anybody and you sure as hell don’t need anyone else’s approval.

Realize that just because it’s right for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Stand up for yourself. Because if you don’t, nobody else will. Your job is to be YOU, not a clone of someone else.

Do it because you want to, not because somebody else (including me) said you should. Your life will become your own when you finally understand that it’s truly the only way to live.

And you’ll know you’re finally on the right path when there is no trail and YOU are the one clearing the way.

Until next time . . . keep blazin’!

Filed Under: Motivation, Trailblazing ·
It’s time for abundance checks
Jul 29, 2011

It’s time for abundance checks

By ·

Abundance Check Ritual for the New Moon

This ritual has been handed down through so many people that its origin has become unknown.

So What Is An Abundance Check?

Writing an Abundance Check is an exercise you can use to create more abundance in your life. The check is to be written within 24 hours after each New Moon.

It is not necessary to believe that the check will work when you write it and you may be surprised at the increased Abundance you find flowing into your life, whether it be financial or in other areas of your life.

It is best to follow the described procedure; however, if you do not have a checking account you may also draw a check on a piece of paper and fill it out the same way to receive the same results.

Follow these steps to write your Abundance checks WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER A NEW MOON:

  1. On your check where it says “Pay to,” write your name.
  2. On the next line where you would write out a dollar amount, write “Paid in full.” [Some say it works better if you don't add the squiggly line.]
  3. On the signature line, sign your check: “The Law of Abundance”

It is not necessary to put a date on the check and you DO NOT write a specific dollar amount on the check. Then put the check away in a safe place and forget about it. The Universe will take over from there.

If you feel skeptical about the Abundance Check Exercise, just do it routinely every month for a while and see what happens!

Have fun with the ritual!

(Need some checks to print out? Here’s one I created several years ago – Abundance Checks or you can use one of your own checks from your checkbook, too.)

. . . . . . . .

The dates for the New Moon for the remainder of 2011 are as follows. Times listed are “Greenwich Mean Time” and you can calculate your own time zone here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

Mark your calendar and remember to follow this process within 24 hours after each New Moon…

  • New Moon for July, 2011 (July has TWO new moons this year which is a very rare occurance)
    • July 1, 08:54
    • July 30, 18:40
  • New Moon for August, 2011
    • August 29, 03:04
  • New Moon for September, 2011
    • September 27, 11:09
  • New Moon for October, 2011
    • October 26, 19:56
  • New Moon for November, 2011
    • November 25, 06:10
  • New Moon for December, 2011
    • December 24, 18:06
Filed Under: Personal Development, Spirituality ·
Annie’s 10 rules for being a badass trailblazer
Jul 27, 2011

Annie’s 10 rules for being a badass trailblazer

By ·

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and reading lately and have determined some things that I think best describes how I try to live my life. So, I thought I’d share them with you.

Annie’s 10 Rules for Being a Badass Trailblazer

  1. Live life with integrity at all times, no matter what
  2. Always face the truth – self-awareness is paramount to self-improvement
  3. Gain and maintain a strong sense of self-confidence
  4. “To thine own self be true”
  5. Realize that life is too short to fuck around
  6. Always give the best you’ve got and strive for excellence
  7. Mean what you say, and say what you mean
  8. Speak up for yourself and others
  9. Always take the high road
  10. Know your shit – be well-informed and well-educated

And really, there are many more than 10 but these are the core, these are my base values. I know that if I always stick to these 10 things, I am not compromising what I believe in, who I am and where I’m going in life.

What about you?

Until next time . . . keep blazin’!

Filed Under: Mindset, Trailblazing ·
Life, in color
Jul 26, 2011

Life, in color

By ·

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in kind of a funky mood. Part bitchy, part melancholy, part angry, part sad. And as I was sitting here tonight, I realized that I’m feeling this way because I’ve gotten myself in a rut. Not only that but, instead of being a conscious creator in my own life, I’ve been allowing things to just happen.

Never a good idea.

So, I was thinking about all the things that have changed drastically in my life over the past several years. Partially prompted by the untimely passing of Amy Winehouse over the weekend. And as always, when something of this magnitude happens, I begin thinking about my sister.

My sister was a lot like Amy – young, pretty, happy-go-lucky on the outside, loving, charismatic . . . and . . . an addict. I know all too well the sinking feeling of that dreaded phone call. I know all to well how the rug just gets totally yanked out from under you when someone close to you passes away so unexpectedly.

Even if you did see the trainwreck coming a mile away.

And I still miss my sister. Every.Damn.Day.

But losing her taught me the biggest lesson of my life.

That life isn’t all black and white. And not only are there shades of gray in there somewhere, there are also a million colors. It’s up to me to choose those colors. It’s up to me to use each day to the fullest. To be my own authentic badass self. To live with integrity. To be fueled by something greater than myself. To dare something worthy.

Every moment of every day is mine to create. And I can either hide or I can get out my crayons and draw a masterpiece.

I can choose to live my life in full color.

Until next time . . . keep blazin’!

Filed Under: Life, Mindset ·
Stop SOPA