Lady and the Tribe
by Brenda Billings Ridgley
GENRE: Non-fiction, Self-help
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BLURB:
Wives,
mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that
is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants,
weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences,
interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize
ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are
has become what we do.
In the process, our
friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and
depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim
who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere?
The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see
ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are
our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the
branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our
Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings
attached.
Lady and the Tribe is a
blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a
journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those
of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and
deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.
We can become whole
again through the power of connection.
When three or more
gather, we are Tribe.
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Excerpt:
The Tribe
Traditionally, a Tribe is a social division in society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties. Some Tribes have a common culture and dialect, and typically they have a recognized leader. A customary Tribe is a face-to-face community, relatively bound by kinship relations, reciprocal exchange, and strong ties to place.
The term Tribe should be utilized only with great respect and consideration of its origins. It is with the term’s heritage in mind that I aspire to create that culture with my closest friends. This social division, group, or pack are linked by common social patterns, interests, and sometimes, goals. As the group connects together over time, they establish the Tribe’s personality, lingo, patterns, and rituals.
Your Tribal space feels like home when you arrive. It is safe,
encouraging and makes you feel relevant because you are truly seen. Your Tribe
cares about your opinions and what you have to say. They are proud of your
talents and strengths and are not threatened by your success. Your Tribe will
promote rather than ignore or diminish your wins. Although these close friends
can be a great influence for you to be better and do better, there is no
contest; you do not feel competitive with one another. The experience of
finding your Tribe can be life changing. It becomes a mirror reaffirming who
you are and where you belong.
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Interview with Brenda Billings Ridgley, author of Lady and the Tribe
What is your writing environment?
When I decided to write a book, I
purchased a laptop so I could get away from my “business” home office and write
in a completely different space. I chose
to write in my parlor where when I’m in the habit, I have used for meditating. The room has many family heirlooms that I
feel keep me grounded and connect to them.
What is your writing process?
Once I received the inspiration to
write Lady and the Tribe, I put together a rough outline… really just a list of
topics I wanted to cover. From there, I
just picked a topic off the list and started writing. I felt as if the words were gifted to me, and
I was just the messenger. Not once did I
feel “blocked”. Writing the book was a
joyous, creative process.
What authors have caught your interest lately and why?
I have recently read many books on
friendship to include Shasta Nelson, Lori Harder, Alan Loy McGinnis and Dr.
Paul Dobransky. Currently I am reading
The Goddess in Every Woman by Jean Shinoda Bolen
What was your inspiration for this particular novel?
A business coach asked me what
legacy I would like to leave, and that simple question inspired me to share my recent
journey back to wholeness. The roles I held over the past 20 years… wife,
mother, entrepreneur, had consumed my attentions away from the connections and
personal interests that brought joy and meaning to my life. I had a busy life with many superficial friends
but beyond family, my deeper connections had been neglected. Lady and the Tribe tells my story and the friendship
stories of other women and shares how to fill our soul by investing in deep
meaningful friendships.
What is your favorite scene in your new release?
One of my favorite chapters is about
the impact of social media on our relationships. It shares data on the benefits and pitfalls of
social media and how it may impact our wellness. Beyond that I love the many friendship
stories. In the social media chapter I tell
the friendship story of my first childhood best friend Petra and how I long to
find her somewhere out there on the world wide web.
What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?
I have a couple of ideas running
through my mind right now. The first
involves a journal/scrapbook to accompany Lady and the Tribe offering
activities, checklists, and friendship bonding ideas. I hope to have that released in 2022. I also want to write about women in the
workforce and returning to our natural collaborative nature instead of the competitive
environment we have adapted to.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I spend time just “being” with my family,
and I am sure to schedule in plenty of girlfriend time too! I love to hike, travel and enjoy nature. I love to entertain and enjoy good food, wine,
and conversation.
What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?
I am currently a contestant in the
2022 Mrs. Colorado America pageant.
Top 3 things on your bucket list?
- Help
women across the globe build 1000 new Lady Tribes in 2022 creating a
movement of connection.
- Travel
abroad for extended stays so that I can “live” in interesting, beautiful places
and truly experience the culture.
- Chase
my adult children around the world to witness their performances, activities,
contributions, and many special occasions.
BRENDA RIDGLEY
is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect,
find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women
coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book
clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and
trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her
own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart,
Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids,
Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry.
She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other
14’ers.
To connect with
Brenda, visit her website at: http://www.BrendaRidgley.com
Invite Brenda
to speak at your next event: mailto:brenda@brendaridgley.com.
Buy Link: AMAZON
Subscribe:
YouTube: @BrendaRidgley
Podcast: @TheConnectionConnoisseur - https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/the-connection-connoisseur,3341/
Blog: https://www.brendaridgley.com/blog
Follow:
Instagram:
@BrendaRidgley -- https://www.instagram.com/brendaridgley/
Facebook:
@BrendaRidgleyConnections - https://www.facebook.com/brendaridgleyconnections
Twitter: @BrendaRidgley
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GIVEAWAY:
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring Lady and the Tribe! I am available for questions!
ReplyDeleteYou are so very welcome!
DeleteThis sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry! It is about the woman, her journey through career, marriage, and children, and how it often leads us to “let ourselves go” to include our preferences, hobbies, interests and friendships. We are left with a full life yet feeling a bit empty.
DeleteThis book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteBrenda thank you! The book identifies the issue of dis-connection and helps readers create a game plan to rediscover themselves through nurturing friendships.
DeleteThe book sounds very interesting. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pippirose! Please connect with me once you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts! ❤️
ReplyDelete