What I Learned About Surviving and Thriving as a Child of Holocaust Survivors

Today I had the honour of interviewing John Franken, an 87-year old Atomic Bomb Survivor and ex-Japanese Prisoner of War, for my radio show How to Thrive after 35 Talk Radio airing January 6, 2010. Notice he has the same last name as me? That’s because he is my dad. Despite the horrors he survived during the war, my dad manages to be one of the most joyful people you could ever meet. While my dad was busy surviving as a prison of war in Nagasaki, Japan, my mother was on the other side of the world busy surviving the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. My mother was one of the most courageous and inspiring women you could ever meet as well. The same fighting spirit that enabled her to survive the war came shining through again later in life as she fought her 21 year battle with cancer that finally came to an end in January 2004.

In interviewing my dad today, it reminded me of the pain, loss and suffering that both my parents endured. It reminded me not only of what a miracle it is that they both survived, but that the universe brought them together and that I am even here on this planet. It reminded me of all they taught me about surviving and thriving as a child of holocaust survivors.

As we bring in the New Year, it truly is a time to reflect on the miracles in our own lives in how blessed we truly are. If you have a roof over your head, if you live in a country where there is peace, if you have a fridge filled with food, a means of income, a clean bill of health and have love in your life, then you are already rich beyond words compared with many others in the world who can only dream of what we have.

We are a society who always wants “more”, yet we often fail to celebrate and appreciate what we already have. When I think of what my parents had to overcome, it makes me appreciate what I have very deeply. It helps me keep my own “whining” into perspective so that I snap out of it and get back on a positive track VERY quickly. They were both tremendous role models for me as I was growing up of what it means to both survive and thrive. Their strength and thriving attitudes gave me the strength and courage I needed when I was battling my cancer, going through divorce, job loss and all the other adversities I have faced. They were my inspiration, especially my mother as she understood first-hand what it meant to be a cancer patient going through treatment and never knowing if and when it would ever poke up it's ugly head again.

We "whine" when the price of gas goes up a few cents as if it is the end of the world or when we have to shovel snow off our driveway. This is not hardship, my friends. I truly believe that we have so much that we don’t even know what true suffering means. It is easy to lose perspective. It is easy to fall into the “whining” trap.

As you start your New Year, I invite you to take stock of all the amazing things you have in your life RIGHT NOW! I invite you to celebrate the good things and keep your “whining” to a minimum. If those around you start incessantly “whining” and you feel yourself spiraling downward with them, then either help them snap out of it, or disengage from them. Instead, surround yourself with people who are as uplifting as you are striving to be as well. Be a role model for others and maybe just maybe you will help uplift someone who may not have otherwise been able to do so.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy and uplifting 2010!

Listen to the interview with my dad on How to Thrive after 35 Talk Radio airing January 6, 2010. Go to http://www.roslynfranken.com/howtothriveafter35talkradio.htm

My personal perspective on the Law of Attraction and my Health

A couple of days ago I had surgery on my right breast to remove what is called a Fibroadenoma. The experiences leading up to the surgery have caused me to question some beliefs I have around the Law of Attraction that I want to share with you. I invite you to read my story as follows.

It all started over a year ago when I went for a routine mammogram. They found something suspicious so I was immediately sent for an ultrasound and biopsy. Needless to say that with my previous cancer history, having survived Hodgkin's Disease 14 years ago, I was quite shaken up over the prospect of having to go down that path for a second time. I was told that I simply had a "complicated" cyst and it was "probably" nothing to worry about.

I did not tell any of my friends that I was going through this. I just didn't want to make a big deal of it and didn't want to attract any attention to it. My thinking was that if I talked about it, then by the virtue of the Law of Attraction, I would somehow attract a negative outcome. And so, I suffered quietly to myself, shedding the occasional tears of fear, and then picking myself up promptly and moving on, because that is just what I do. After all, I couldn't possibly allow myself to feel fear or any worry around it because the universe might catch me and by the Law of Attraction I would somehow automatically attract a negative outcome. And so, I just pushed my fear away and went about my normal life as best possible.

However, my doctor suggested that we check it again in six months time to make sure nothing had changed. So six months later I went for another mammogram and they saw that it had grown in size. I went for yet another ultrasound and biopsy surgery. Knowing that it had grown in size quite a bit was now raising up those feelings of fear again. Amazing how close at hand they can be. I told my doctor to please just take the sucker out. I did not want this thing in my body any longer especially if it can grow in size that quickly and who knew how else it could change?

As previously, I did not want my friends to know because I didn't want them to worry about me and then be calling to check in on me which would mean I'd have to explain things and be dwelling on it when I just didn't want to have to think about it. If I allowed myself to think about it then once again the Law of Attraction might get me, right?

So what does all this mean? I know that according to the Law of Attrraction (and if you aren't familiar with this term, then I invite you to watch the movie or read the book called, "The Secret")we attract EVERYTHING that happens to us in our lives from the people who show up on our path to the situations we find ourselves in and the events that seemingly just happen to us, such as our illnesses, diseases or other health issues. I believe this to be true and live by it, but yet to think that we attract our own illness, I still have some battles with. This means that we then blame ourselves for everything that happens and live in fear and worry for every thought or feeling we have that may not be 100% positive or happy in a given moment. I believe that the universe is not only working by the Law of Attraction. There are other Laws and Forces at work simultaneously. By not sharing what I was going through and living in my private fear and inner conflict over allowing myself to even have these feelings let alone share them, I believe that the fear and inner conflict itself of sharing with others could do as much damage to my health as the health condition itself.

I believe that we need to live in a way that allows us to minimize fear and other forms of negative stress as much as possible. From what I've seen, the Law of Attraction has in many cases caused people much stress when things don't happen the way they think they "should". I believe in positive thinking , but I also believe that it is not only okay, but also necessary to acknowledge and honour your true feelings about a difficult situation and that it is perfectly okay to allow yourself to feel those feelings, own them and also share them and communicate them so that you can gain comfort from the love and support of others who care about you. This way you can work through the feelings, accept them and then allow yourself to rise above them through the ultimate release of them. This is much healthier than denying your true feelings and pretending that everything is perfectly fine when you know in your deepest truth that it is not okay. Living in denial of your truest feelings does not serve anyone, especially yourself.

So, yes, the Law of Attraction is always at work, but it doesn't mean that you should live in fear, shame or self-blame when things happen in ways that you do not wish for or expect.

I am glad that I did choose to share with others about my surgery two days ago. I got calls and emails from all over wishing me love and sending me positive energy and prayers. I thank you all for your love and support and hope that this Blog Post will have some meaning for anyone reading this who is perhaps facing health issues or a difficult time.

5 Ways to Boost Your Own Immune System

With clouds of the H1N1 flu hovering over our heads this season, now is the time more than ever to start paying special attention to building your immune system. By minding your immune system as best you can, you will increase your chances of staying clear of not just the H1N1, but any other nasty flu bugs or colds that may otherwise grab hold of you.

As a cancer survivor myself, my immune system is what I consider to be my personal gold. I cherish it carefully and maintain it as best I can to keep ugly winter flu bugs and colds far away. Here are my 5 top healthy eating and lifestyle tips for keeping my immune system strong. I encourage you to follow these as best you can so you too can enjoy your holiday season to the fullest.

READ HERE for complete article.

Breaking Through Your Weight Loss Plateau

When I embarked on my weight loss journey, I was determined to do it in a healthy, realistic and sensible way for lasting results. I made small changes and watched the weight come off ever so slowly. It came off so slowly it was almost painful at times....

What was even more painful than the slow results was when I hit my first weight loss plateau.

Read about what happened next and how I broke through my weight loss plateau and how you can too!

Read FULL article here

“It’s time to get TEED off!”

Join Roslyn for a book signing and golf at The 100 Man Run Birdies for Boobies Golf Tournement at Pine View Golf & Country Club, Ottawa Canada.

To register visit http://golf.100manrun.com/

A limited number of 4somes remain!

To Learn more visit http://www.roslynfranken.com/

BIRTHDAY BASH - CANADA DAY (JULY 1st) to INDEPENDENCE DAY (JULY 4th) CONTEST

ENTER TO WIN!!!

Overtired and overwhelmed by your busy lifestyle, endless To-Do lists and problems to solve? Is food one of the first things you turn to for instant comfort and emotional relief? Is your health, weight or positive outlook suffering, as a result?

If any of this rings true for you and you want to make a change, but don't know how, or where to start...then get the help you need to get the results you want with my one-on-one TELEPHONE counselling programs. I'll give you the practical guidance and personal support you need to take that first step and the next and the next.

HOW TO ENTER

The first 25 people to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation between July 1st and July 4th will be eligible to win a FREE Scholarship to my 30-Day Starter Counselling Program.

To enter, simply go to http://www.roslynfranken.com/assessmentrequest.htm and complete the form.

How to Look and Feel your BEST this summer!

Summer is here. Its time to shed the extra layers of clothing you conveniently hid behind all winter long. How would you like to shed your unwanted winter pounds along with those layers of clothing? How would you like to feel a greater sense of peace and balance this summer? Let's look at how you can achieve these goals. Don't miss this month's article for some Healthy Hints on how to Look and Feel your BEST this summer!

For the full article visit,

http://www.roslynfranken.com/lookandfeelyourbestthissummer.htm