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Thursday, July 05, 2007

Will she bring the A-Game? And keep reading...there are RT giveaways finally ;o)

Will she bring her A-Game today?

That's the buzz in the tennis world this morning about Venus Williams--she finally showed up at Wimbledon yesterday (mentally) after sleepwalking through her first three rounds. Will she bring her A-game to her quarterfinal match today, or will the blank-eyed shadow of her former greatness limp back out on court?

We'll talking about arguably one of the best players in the world who rarely plays events anymore and hasn't won a title in years. Why? Because she's lost her confidence, many say. She's shown her weakness and her opponents see a way to beat her now, where before they saw someone who was untouchable.

Which, big picture, begs the question, how much does Venus really believe she belongs on top? She's a three-time Wimbledon champion, and this is the tournament where she brings on the heat every year, even as she pulls out of the rest of the slams or gets sent home too early in other tournaments. So, why did it take her four matches to find the mojo this year? Does she really believe? Many are picking her to win now that she sent Sharapova home in a 2/3 rout, but if you'd asked most of the commentators who their pick was before yesterday's match, the V-bomb wouldn't have made the top of their lists.

My point? Even world-class atheletes fight doubt--and the more they achieve, the bigger the doubt and the longer the line of folks ready to take the former champions' place the first time she listens to the demons instead of her talent.

Those of you who want to publish but just aren't quite there yet, know that the published authors struggle with the same angst about their abilities as you. I say this in my workshops--every book, every challenge to our talent, every blank page we can't fill with words has the potential to terrify a published author, the same as it does you. And any author who tells you otherwise is doing a bit more damage control than truthsaying.

It's a scary place, in your head, just you and you, as you fight your way out of the nasty self-talk that attacks all of us. It's scary for everyone, even the Venuses of the world.

I'm watching her match with Kuznetsova while I type this...it's looking pretty solid but shows potential for being trouble for the last American woman in Brittan's party. Will Venus let herself win the match in her head long enough to pull it off on the court? Will you let yourself win, whatever court your current crisis of confidence is playing out on?

What do I do, you ask, on days like today, when it's easier to watch tennis on TV (or go play it at my club) than it is to fill the page with lovely words I'll one day have revised enough to be able to share with you???

Well, I write in my blog ;o) Because I know this is a place where friends come to share the angst and encourage each other and pick up their confidence and get on with their own dreams. And I pet my cats--four lovely besties put on this earth just to cuddle and purr and beg for food and love me because I'm there to give them the tuna that starts their day.

Oh, and I FINALLY get around to giving away the lovely goodies I bring back from conferences for my blog faithful. Check out the pics below--and the additional ones I'll be leaving in posts over the next week--and leave comments. I'll be sending one or two things out each week until it's all gone, which will take a while (can you tell I drove to this conference and had lots of room for stuff on the drive back???).

A few of you are already on the list of folks to glare at because they got cool stuff you might not ;o) :

1) Shannon Upright, who never received her Froggy from last March...don't know where he went, but Shannon, you'll get one of the cute dinasaurs in the first pic...I'm soooooo sorry your lovely friend hopped away :o(

2) The first two ladies who guessed right about the fairytale symbolism in the first excerpt from my '08 Mother's Day '08 novella, Baby Steps, in the June 19th post--I haven't forgotten about you, RobnL and Cas2jas (Cheryl). Something fun from Romantic times for you, too!

Send me your snail mailing addresses, ladies.

Everyone else, let me know what you think of the pics, or my ramblings, or the other excerpts I've posted on the blog (which you can track back from the links at the bottom of this post and other "excerpt" posts) or whatever. Basically leave a comment and support your sisters and brothers out here, and who knows, there may be RT goodies in your mailbox soon, LOL!!!

And be secure in your talents and your right to live your dreams, my friends. You belong on the court, the same as Venus does--who's up a break at 4-1 in the first now, BTW. She hasn't been to the quarterfinal of a major since '05 (the last time she won Wimbledon, as a matter of fact), but she's banging on the door again now.

Challenge the doubt in your world today and win!!! Bring your A-Game. That's my plan, anyway. As soon as I turn the TV tennis off ;o)

So, let me know what you think of the pics! And come back later in the week/next week for more glimpses of the bounty!!!

Look at the cute dinasours and the kittie and duckie and oversized pens and vampire teeth and notepads and can coozies and stuff... These authors picked the cutest things for RT fans... I was lucky to snag any of it, they were going so fast.



We'll do books and bags and stuff like that later, but for now, here are some more of the goddies I couldn't keep my hands off of. The picture's a little smaller than I like, but amidst all the fluffy stuff and drinkbottle and stationary, there are two decks of Elora's Cave playing cards, my friends...each card with a hunk of burning love on the backside for your opponents to enjoy while you steal their pot ;o)



Next time we'll do the tote bags everyone was drooling over, then we'll get around to the books...eventually...because I'm a tease...but you love me anyway, right???

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45 Comments:

  • At 7:48 AM, Blogger Cheryl said…

    Look at all that neat stuff! Thanks for teasing us with the pics, Anna. Thanks for sharing all your goodies. I love coming here and being appreciated and accepted and uplifted by your positive thinking.

    Cheryl

     
  • At 8:41 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Great stuff. It's nice that you share.

     
  • At 10:36 AM, Blogger CrystalGB said…

    Really cute stuff. :)

     
  • At 12:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Wow! All the amazing gifts you brought back from the conference and that you are willing to share some of them with us is so great.

    Self-doubt can be such a handicap if we allow it to be. I guess we don't think of celebrites suffering from this as many others do, but then moments of insecurity are not limited to a specific gender or nationality. We all have our moments of self-doubt and vulnerability..how we handle it is the determining factor.

    Shari C

     
  • At 1:46 PM, Blogger Lisa Garner said…

    You got some really great swag!

     
  • At 2:08 PM, Blogger robynl said…

    wow, what neat goodies!!! Such unique items also. I would be in Heaven if I could be there once and see all the goodies and snag some for myself.

     
  • At 2:13 PM, Blogger Maureen said…

    Everthing looks great. I think it must be hard to be the best and maintain it.

     
  • At 2:30 PM, Blogger tetewa said…

    Would love some of this stuff!

     
  • At 3:56 PM, Blogger Cherie J said…

    Wow! You brought back some cool stuff! Great pics! You have such a positive attitude. I enjoy reading your blog.

     
  • At 4:58 PM, Blogger flip said…

    I am the worst with self doubt..overly critical. I blame it on my Virgo moon. Yet I never quit trying.

     
  • At 5:21 PM, Blogger Unknown said…

    Cool stuff. I have the ec cards, I won them in a contest. They are great! One of these days I hope I can go to one of the conferences.

     
  • At 5:33 PM, Blogger ThatBrunette said…

    Was it a case of Venus having doubt or just a bad few matches? I love the phrase "even monkeys fall from the trees" because it allows for a few bad days. Can athletes allow doubt while they are playing?

    I'm filled with doubt everyday as a mother. It isn't a contest but it is the most persistent doubt in my life.

     
  • At 3:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I don't follow tennis, so I can't comment on that, but it sounds like you had a wonderful time at the conference and picked up some really great goodies! It's so nice of you to share :)

     
  • At 8:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi Anna, I don't watch much tennis
    on TV, I do like to watch the ice skaters and always try to catch
    the olympic winter games. I also like to watch the gymnasts and
    try to watch the summer olympics.
    I would really like to have some
    of those goodies in the pics you
    have too. LOL.
    Earlene

     
  • At 8:55 PM, Blogger Kathleen said…

    Lots of great items!!!
    It looks like you had a wonderful time!

     
  • At 9:37 PM, Blogger sandyy456 said…

    Very nice swag!

     
  • At 10:34 PM, Blogger Storm Safety Blog said…

    Interesting points about self-confidence. I just changed jobs and part of my new job involves sales. I've never done sales before, I'm not having much luck now, and my boss has made it clear, if I don't start getting results, I'm out. Every "not at this time, thanks" is another nail in my coffin. I went into the job believing that I could do it. Now I'm thinking that I made the biggest mistake of my life (even though my old job was really irritating -- and I can't go back, my position's been filled). Maybe a little more self-confidence could turn my luck around. I'll keep your message in mind when I hit the phones again on Monday.

     
  • At 12:02 AM, Blogger catslady said…

    Great topic. There is a fine line sometimes between selfconfidence and overconfidence as there is with a normal selfesteem and not enough. It wasn't something that was paid much attention to in years past and there are a lot of us out there with low selfesteem but sometimes I think people go overboard in the other direction now. I guess getting it just right is no easy matter.

    Love the gifties and especially the kitty lol.

     
  • At 12:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Well, Venus won and she really is the best in tennis. Enjoyed the visit

     
  • At 3:30 PM, Blogger Minna said…

    Aww, those are so cute!

     
  • At 1:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    we do love you Anna and your positive attitude. Thanks for the win on June 19th blog. E-mail on the way.

    robynl

     
  • At 7:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi, always up for prizes. LOL. Especially books, gift certifs and for some reason the author pens are great - they always write so smoothly.

    Have a wonderful week everyone.

     
  • At 2:58 PM, Blogger Unknown said…

    What a great post. I think it is human nature to feel self doubt from time to time. I know I do. I guess the trick is to not let it stop you from doing what is important and meaningful in your life. I always loved this quote:

    Eleanor Rosevelt -
    - You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.... You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

    So, here's to doing the things we thought we could not!

    Congrats to the winners so far! The pictures are fabulous! You got some really adorable things, Anna!

    Hugs, Zara

     
  • At 4:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hello to all,

    Judging from the smile on Venus' face, that "A-Game" arrived just in
    time to give her the needed impetus
    to bring about a win at Wimbledon!!!

    Congratulations to all your winners,
    you really have some cute items for
    them!

    Pat Cochran

     
  • At 11:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    It looks like a really good score! Thanks Anna!!

    Linda

     
  • At 5:59 PM, Blogger Unknown said…

    Anna,
    I really love the suede purse this month. Wow!!! Hope I win it.

    Eileen

     
  • At 8:37 AM, Blogger Tam G. said…

    Your a great tease, you have us all drooling. I love all your little teasers.

     
  • At 8:44 AM, Blogger Tam G. said…

    I just looked at the purse for the contest, I love it.

     
  • At 9:55 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A TEASE! LOL!! LOOKS LIKE YOU BROUGHT HOME THE GOODS, ANNA, YEAH FOR US. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
    JACK M

     
  • At 2:07 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi Anna and all!! The purse is absolutely awesome and so are the other goodies!!

    Susan F

     
  • At 6:19 PM, Blogger ruth said…

    Your excerpt has me enthralled. Love the adorable and precious prizes. Rather unique.

     
  • At 6:21 PM, Blogger pearl said…

    Your post was so true to life and I enjoyed it greatly. Sweet choice of prizes which are special.

     
  • At 1:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    wow all the stuff is so neat. there so cute.
    Cherie K

     
  • At 12:23 PM, Blogger joelle said…

    Cute and interesting collection of goodies. Love your posts which give me positive vibes. thanks so much.

     
  • At 12:30 PM, Blogger annie said…

    What a sweet array of treats. Always something special in store. Just love your attitude and wonderful blogs.

     
  • At 2:32 PM, Blogger Linda H said…

    Hi Anna,

    Great post and those goodies you snag look really nice. Thanks for sharing with us about it :-) Yes we still love you even if you tease us LoL.

    Hugssss
    LindaH

     
  • At 5:47 PM, Blogger Christine said…

    What great goodies... Fun Stuff!

     
  • At 8:18 PM, Blogger Laurel said…

    fun stuff!

     
  • At 11:29 PM, Blogger PeachySwamiMommy said…

    Such fun reading the website! Great stuff!

     
  • At 1:35 AM, Blogger Jennifer (mom of four) said…

    I found you through Kailani and thought I would drop by! I had fun reading and will come back and visit.

     
  • At 9:13 AM, Blogger AnnaLiza said…

    who doesn't love giveaways??
    haha.

    found 'ya through kailani @ islandlife review.
    thnx!

     
  • At 10:09 AM, Blogger Carey said…

    Great stuff. Found you through Kailani. I enjoyed reading through your blog. Stop by mine when you get a chance.

     
  • At 11:22 AM, Blogger Qtpies7 said…

    What lovely goodies! I love conferences when you walk away with so many goodies!
    I love the State Fair, too, but that doesn't give such wonderful goodies as you recieved!

     
  • At 8:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Wahoo look at all the goodies! I am happy to have found your site! Love and hugs, Crystal A.

     
  • At 10:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Very cute stuff ~ it looks (and sounds) like you had so much fun at the conference :)

     

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