The Benjamin Franklin Project.

I came a crossed this Facebook page while I was searching for another. I am kind of intrigued with this project and since my one word for the year is FREEDOM, I decided this might be fun... So I am going to give it a try. I plan on using my blog as my Journal.

"Good morning and happy Sunday! Today we begin our first week of the Benjamin Franklin Project. Our virtue of the week is temperance, "Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

Franklin said we should, "Eat to live, and not live to eat." He also said, "To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals" and "He that lives carnally, won't live eternally." 

The point of this week is not to diet, though that is not against the rules. It is to put food and drink in their proper places in our lives. Food is fuel for our body and nutrients for our health. It should not take on the role of comforter, friend, consolation, reward, or god. Those roles belong to our friends, family, and religion. 

It is also not against the rules to have alcohol. Wine with dinner or a drink with friends is fine. The same rules apply to it though as to food. Alcohol should be kept in its proper place and not used to deal with emotions. It should be consumed in moderation and not to excess. Like food, it is fuel. 

Our Recommendations (not rules):

This week eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Do not eat mindlessly. Do not use food and drink for anything but nourishment. 

Record your failures. Franklin kept a journal to record when he failed at a virtue. As time goes on this will allow us to monitor our progress. If you overeat, munch mindlessly, or over imbibe, record it. This will also serve to keep you honest though no one needs to know the number unless you choose to share it. 

Do not beat yourself up for the failures. Record them and move on. Franklin had plenty of marks in his journal. The point is to improve not to be perfect.

Let the other 12 virtues operate on autopilot. This is not license to abandon them. They are just not our focus this week. 

Good luck and on Saturday we will allow those who wish to share their achievements do so.