The Two-sided Gift

Photograph by RR Franklin

The Saluyero 1; Sayulita, Nayarit

‎"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life...that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In recognition of the truth and true beauty of this:

No man can sincerely love another without loving himself.

No man can sincerely teach another without learning himself.

No man can sincerely share faith with another without growing in faith himself.

No man can sincerely give hope to another and not gain more hope himself. 

In essence - as I have written before - you cannot truly give without allowing yourself to receive. Always give sincerely of yourself and you will do so with a receptive spirit by default; a truly spectacular part of human nature. 

Put the wind in another's sail, and yours will be filled as well. 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

Open Your Arms and Welcome Life

How often do you not act, and later you wish you would have?The next time you are faced with a situation where you'd really like to open yourself up, but then find yourself fighting internally against your pride or shyness - remind yourself you will never be in that exact position again. It really is now or never - with everything, everyday, every moment. Give all of you all the time. No regrets. This doesn’t give you permission to act out foolishly; this gives you permission to offer the best of yourself all of the time. 

–Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by R.R. Franklin

Taken in Sayulita, Nayarit

Open Your Arms and Welcome Life

At the foot of the Cross~

Pride is the number one cause of death to love and friendship. Lay down your pride at the foot of the cross, so you can lay down your life and your "self" before a loved one. It is only then that you fully live; it is then that your life sparks the spirit within another. 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

Photographer unknown: altered by R. Franklin

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Sometimes it is, but don’t let that distract you from tending your own. Your shade is merely dependent on what you’re harvesting. Keep focused on your own harvest instead of investing time in thinking the shade of green you’re walking on isn’t as grandiose as your neighbors. This world needs different shades of green; stay focused on the greater purpose instead of on what you perceive as imperfect or bland. Have faith that one day you will see the perfection of the design that you are now too close to fully measure. –Ronda Rae Franklin

Photographer: R.R. Franklin

Above Skagit County