Honoring Mother’s Day through Wisdom and Inspiration

You can’t put a price tag on the sacrifices a mother makes for her children. I learned at an early age that life is full of challenges, and it is how you deal with those challenges that define your life. In celebrating Mother’s Day, have you thought deeply about how much of an impact your mother has made in your personal development? Being the youngest of five children, I viewed my mother as a “superhero” as she was juggling the tasks of cooking every day for a family of seven, on top of handling her duties as the principal of a school.

Reflecting on Mother’s Day

 My mother and my mother-in-law made me the woman I am today. I’m pleased to take on double duty in honoring my maternal influences; two strong women who emphasize uniquely important values. Being a mother of two incredible children has been a fulfilling experience. My hopes for them are high, as I tell them, life is precious and having been blessed with all these wonderful gifts, means you have a responsibility to make the most of it; for yourselves and for the world!

 My mother is 91 years old and my mother-in-law is 85 years old. Both of these women were incredible influences in my life and unique and perfect in their own free will. My children are now young, successful adults following in their grandmothers' footsteps.

 Gaining Inspiration from my Mother

 My mother always taught me the importance of staying anchored inside and in handling my responsibilities with dedication and commitment. Even at 91 years old, she continues to inspire others by taking excellent care of herself.

Maintaining her health is one of her top priorities because she simply doesn’t want to burden anyone else. She craves independence and refuses to use a walker; still reminding me of her “superhero” status! She is diligent about daily exercise, meditation, reading and writing. She seems very secure at all times in the universe and is grateful for everything.

 She taught me that age is just a number for others to worry about. She is not afraid of dying. She is very present in the moment, observant and she has friends that are much younger than herself. The knowledge she passed down to me allowed me to have the strength, resilience and courage to walk the right path, however difficult and lonely it may be.

 Here are some other ways my mother inspired me throughout life:

 ·      She loves to dress up every day, even when she’s staying home

·       She is mentally sharp

·       Her Type A personality

·      She loves to travel and feels at home wherever she is. This inspired me to travel the world, and there are still many places to visit on my bucket list!

·       Her family is her number one priority

 The most distinguishing aspect of my mother is her will to overcome anything. She is very strong at heart and has defeated illnesses that few would have survived. She left doctors dumbfounded after she fully recovered from a long coma. Deeply anchored in her spiritual practice and sense of duty, she is a pillar of strength to all around her. My mother would always tell me, “Leaders eat last.” This was always true in my mother’s case as she would feed the whole family before eating her own meal. I’m proud and humbled to hand down my mother’s inspiration to my two children. 

 Gaining Inspiration from my Mother-in-Law

 My mother-in-law, at 85 years old, is simple in her needs. She is very social but she hates to travel. Family is also the number one priority for my mother-in-law, and she never ever gives up on her children. Similar to my “superhero” mother, my mother-in-law never wants to burden anyone. She only wants to give. Kindness and honesty are nestled within the lessons my mother-in-law passed on to me.

 Here are some additional ways my mother-in-law inspired me as an adult:

 ·      She is nurturing

·       She is brave

·       She is savvy in world politics

·       She holds her ground in any discussion

·       She is honest, giving and very kindhearted

However, if you’re a competitive person, don’t let all of these wonderful traits fool you! My mother-in-law can, and will beat anyone at a game of cards! She is another true leader and carries wisdom and inspiration that I’m privileged and honored to hand down to my children.

 Passing along the Wisdom and Inspiration

 Being a mother is one of the most rewarding experiences in the world for me and certainly the most fulfilling role ever. Having children made me realize that my kids only come through me, however, they belong to the greater whole. I learned that my job as a mother is to hold a loving space for them to grow and thrive as they arrive into their own perfection. As a mother of two, I have done my very best to pass along the wisdom that was handed to me early in life. Following in the footsteps of my mother and mother-in-law, my children are also unique and perfect in their own free will. It’s such a joy to watch them blossom into professional adults and marvel at how amazing they are. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a privilege it is to be a mother of two.