Just Interviewed by Alan Cohen on his Hay House Internet Radio Show

Inspirational speaker and author Alan Cohen had me as his guest on his Internet radio show on the Hay House Wisdom Community website as a weight loss expert ( ironic for me, since my job now is to put weight ON someone, at which I've been very successful: Michael's up from 110 to about 130 now - yay - and I'm up about 15 pounds - damn!).

It was good to be back in the saddle as in inspirational speaker - especially as this is an unexpected season of my life where I get to walk my talk. Makes you think about what you believe. And I stick to my firm belief that you have to focus on health - not weight - or your inner rebel will show up immediately and stay for dinner.

The interview will be available at HayHouseRadio website at for two weeks, starting May 7th (and then you need to have an ID/password to access archived interviews) - but I'll publish it on my website soon, as this blog won't accept the link.

So if anyone out there is visiting this blog for the first time, I want to give you the fabulous piece I read on air that's about self-acceptance. The author was unknown, so I cleaned it up and rewrote it. (Note to authors: ALWAYS put your name on your work!)

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE ROSE

Author Unknown

Rewritten by Patricia Alexander

When we plant a rose seed in the earth,

we notice that it is small

…but we do not criticize it as rootless and stemless.

Rather, we treat it as a seed,

giving it water and nourishment.

When it first shoots up out of the earth,

we don’t condemn it as immature and underdeveloped;

nor do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear.

Rather, we stand in wonder at the process taking place and give the plant the care it needs

at each stage of its development.

The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed

to the time it dies.

At all times, it contains its whole potential within it.

As a result, it is constantly in the process of evolving.

Yet, at each stage…at each moment…

…it is perfectly all right as it is.

I believe that it is only from this point of self-love and acceptance that you can become the healthiest version of yourself you can be. We are all roses at our own stages of life, thorns and petals all part of the deal!