Forward Movement http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:11:44 GMT http://bandzoogle.com Friends, Family & Smiles http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1477136 I am thankful for time I am able to spend with friends and family.  Thankful for each smile that comes my way and for the ability to reciprocate. ]]> Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:11:44 GMT 5A3817BFF961C37A43BB5D1BFE9BCCC1 Not Nice to be Judgemental http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1368252 Posted October 3, 2011 by Delphine Fieberg A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and b...eautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?" The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way: "Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness. They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia. They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires. Mermaids do not exist. But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish? They would have no sex life and could not bear children. Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad. And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side? Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale. At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends. We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies. We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated. Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! " (The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)
A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and b...eautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)]]> Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:57:47 GMT C477B8D524E021524F7AB0F5C4958064 Perseverance http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1267765 With each day comes a new beginning; another opportunity to do things right!  Continuing my transformation, I've ordered and loaded a mobile storage unit.  It will be picked up tomorrow.  With it goes much of the scatter, leaving a more focused environment.  The items in the storage unit will be brought out when they can once again serve a useful purpose.  Remember, those things that will never again be useful for me or my immediate family have been donated or discarded.  The tangible, as expected, has been easier to change and turn into what I'd like it to be.  My emotional and physical being is a mighty challenge.  Eating healthy and exercising ...all goes well one day then self-sabatage the next two.  As I tell my students, "Failure is not an option!"
The tangible, as expected, has been easier to change and turn into what I'd like it to be.  My emotional and physical being is a mighty challenge.  Eating healthy and exercising ...all goes well one day then self-sabatage the next two.  As I tell my students, "Failure is not an option!"
]]> Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:25:49 GMT 560D830559015486C2EC17842ECF3535 The Art of Living http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1166928 &ldquo;All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.&rdquo;- Henry Ellis ]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:31:38 GMT 2F0E3C0FE1B23D484213BD35E7E0F873 Groundwork http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1162700 I opened my eyes this morning to see the sitting area in the corner at the foot of my bed.&nbsp; Yes, this is usually where my eyes wander each morning when awakening, but what I saw this morning is not normally what I see.&nbsp; With long term house guests in my home, I'd moved many &quot;things&quot; into my bedroom that wouldn't normally be there, and I could no longer sit in the sitting area.&nbsp; I could bearly fit to walk past it, but thanks to <a target="_new" href="http://trustgroundwork.com/">Jill Marie of Groundworks, I saw calmness and a domain for relaxing contemplation.&nbsp; Lack of physical clutter really does&nbsp;unencumber&nbsp;you on many levels.&nbsp; Thank you Jill. From the kitchen I can see my mudroom/laundry area.&nbsp; I would usually have the doors closed that reveal the washer and dryer but kept the doors open last night.&nbsp; I'm sure I'll close them again, but for now I just want to marvel at the neatness and extra space on the shelves.&nbsp; Jill would ask me questions like, &quot;In what part of the house do you usually use this item?&quot;&nbsp; Then, she'd actually find a space for it in that area.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jill is thorough, full of energy, and a complete joy to be around.&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition to organization, she is a certified Yoga instructor available for private Yoga or meditation classes.&nbsp; You can get more information at&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://trustgroundwork.com/">http://trustgroundwork.com/. &quot;Be the change you want to see in the world.&quot; --Gandi Jill Marie of Groundworks, I saw calmness and a domain for relaxing contemplation.  Lack of physical clutter really does unencumber you on many levels.  Thank you Jill.

From the kitchen I can see my mudroom/laundry area.  I would usually have the doors closed that reveal the washer and dryer but kept the doors open last night.  I'm sure I'll close them again, but for now I just want to marvel at the neatness and extra space on the shelves.  Jill would ask me questions like, "In what part of the house do you usually use this item?"  Then, she'd actually find a space for it in that area. 
             

Jill is thorough, full of energy, and a complete joy to be around.   In addition to organization, she is a certified Yoga instructor available for private Yoga or meditation classes.  You can get more information at http://trustgroundwork.com/.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." --Gandi

]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:40:00 GMT 16BB6D87D7654D9FF52790DFCE0D2C58 Food and Exercise http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1147051 Watching what I eat has been a very literal experience for me lately.&nbsp; I see what I'm putting into my mouth, and it is not always a healthy choice but usually an enjoyable one; at least until I'm finished or almost finished.&nbsp; Then I begin to think about how much fat or sugar I've consumed and feel tinges of regret.&nbsp; Exercise hasn't been going so well either.&nbsp; In fact I haven't been going at all.&nbsp; I did walk on the beach and walk from my hotel to the Cheesecake Factory while in Virginia Beach this weekend.&nbsp; Tomorrow I begin a fast.&nbsp; I had already planned to do this and guess I really need it for multiple reasons.&nbsp; I will not be defeated!&nbsp;
Exercise hasn't been going so well either.  In fact I haven't been going at all.  I did walk on the beach and walk from my hotel to the Cheesecake Factory while in Virginia Beach this weekend. 

Tomorrow I begin a fast.  I had already planned to do this and guess I really need it for multiple reasons.  I will not be defeated! ]]> Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:18:53 GMT 1B0748AC703BC5E5142E47387835D6F7 The Haircut http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1120999 The first and easiest change is a new hairdo.&nbsp; So, I got my hair cut.&nbsp; Here's the new cut. &nbsp;and Same cut, but one is curled a little more.&nbsp; Yes, I took the photos myself with camera on my phone.&nbsp; Sorry if the quality is not that good.  and
Same cut, but one is curled a little more.  Yes, I took the photos myself with camera on my phone.  Sorry if the quality is not that good.]]> Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:00:10 GMT 91A53D34367AE60C387FDED3BDCF1FBC My Beginning Transition (physical) http://patriciafranklin.com/blog.cfm?feature=2109137&postid=1115816 Transition&nbsp;&ndash;noun 1. movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change The types of transitions are&nbsp;multitudinous.&nbsp; The reality is, we are always going through some kind of transition.&nbsp; Some are&nbsp;conscious endeavors, while others&nbsp;happen by accident.&nbsp; Some are planned with&nbsp;precision, while others&nbsp;are stumbled upon without any idea of how we got there.&nbsp; Some happen slowly over a long period of time, while others are triggered by something that makes an instant change in us.&nbsp;&nbsp; Transitions can be emotional, mental, spiritual and/or physical. Here I will keep a record of my transition(s).&nbsp; Starting with a physical transition.&nbsp; This is my way of maintaining accountability.&nbsp; At the beginning...&nbsp; The types of transitions are multitudinous.  The reality is, we are always going through some kind of transition.  Some are conscious endeavors, while others happen by accident.  Some are planned with precision, while others are stumbled upon without any idea of how we got there.  Some happen slowly over a long period of time, while others are triggered by something that makes an instant change in us.   Transitions can be emotional, mental, spiritual and/or physical.

Here I will keep a record of my transition(s).  Starting with a physical transition.  This is my way of maintaining accountability. 
At the beginning...  ]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:17:09 GMT 53E0CB68C71AD4E4126FD84D7F7D2A4D