Earlier this week was also International Women's day and although there are a lot of women I look up to in both the past and present, my mom will forever be my 'Shero'.
Here are some of the things my mom taught me... a long with the basics like walking and talking!!
Don't fear aging. Mom always said she was grateful for every birthday she saw. She knew that there were many she wouldn't see and many people wouldn't have had the chance to see as many as she did.
My mom taught me to drive and gave me independence. My siblings and I had no choice in the matter; as soon as we hit 17, we had our provisional licences and began to go out in the car with mom. She needed us to have independence and as long as we could drive a car and hold a valid passport, there wasn't many places we couldn't go.
Laugh often. There is nothing more I miss about my mom than her laugh. My mom taught me that laughter is the best medicine; she would often feel much better after a catch-up and a good giggle with friends than any medication.
I was taught from a very young age not to live beyond my means.
My mom encouraged me to get myself a credit card to build up a credit history; she constantly checked that I was using it minimally and had the funds to pay it off in full when the bill came through.
I know now that the money I get paid each month has to last me until the next payday. Yes, I allow myself treats every month but if I want or need something that I cannot yet afford, I am to save until I can.
Send thanks. My mother taught me from as soon as I could talk/write to thank people. Every birthday I was to send a letter or a text message to the people who sent me cards and gifts.
Laugh often. There is nothing more I miss about my mom than her laugh. My mom taught me that laughter is the best medicine; she would often feel much better after a catch-up and a good giggle with friends than any medication.
I was taught from a very young age not to live beyond my means.
My mom encouraged me to get myself a credit card to build up a credit history; she constantly checked that I was using it minimally and had the funds to pay it off in full when the bill came through.
I know now that the money I get paid each month has to last me until the next payday. Yes, I allow myself treats every month but if I want or need something that I cannot yet afford, I am to save until I can.
Send thanks. My mother taught me from as soon as I could talk/write to thank people. Every birthday I was to send a letter or a text message to the people who sent me cards and gifts.
Never judge a book by its cover and treat everybody as equal. I feel that a lot of people will do well to learn this.
Your glass should always be half full. My mom was the most optimistic person I knew. Even through her darkest cancer ridden days, she was positive and believed that she could fight the battles this awful illness threw at her. She believed that giving in and thinking negative things had a huge impact on the outcome of very situation. Mom faced so many hardships with a smile on her face and determination in her heart.
She passed this skill on to me and although I'm nowhere near as talented as she was, I still possess enough skill to get my issues sorted and promptly.
"Will it still matter in 7 days time?" I was one of those children that didn't deal with mistakes and upset very well. My mother used to ask me when I was inconsolable whether it would still matter in a weeks time. Nine times out of ten, it wouldn't. This taught me to take a step back and assess how insignificant my upset was in the grand scheme of things.
Take photos of yourself and let others take them of you. Something I have avoided doing for the past umpteen years is allow there to be photographic evidence that I exist. Since my mom died, I have learnt that there can never be too many photos of somebody. I treasure each and every one of these photos now that shes gone and I wish there were so many more. There are so many moments I wish now that I could have photographic memories of. There are only a few handfuls of photos of my mom and I together and most of these are baby photos.
"Will it still matter in 7 days time?" I was one of those children that didn't deal with mistakes and upset very well. My mother used to ask me when I was inconsolable whether it would still matter in a weeks time. Nine times out of ten, it wouldn't. This taught me to take a step back and assess how insignificant my upset was in the grand scheme of things.
Take photos of yourself and let others take them of you. Something I have avoided doing for the past umpteen years is allow there to be photographic evidence that I exist. Since my mom died, I have learnt that there can never be too many photos of somebody. I treasure each and every one of these photos now that shes gone and I wish there were so many more. There are so many moments I wish now that I could have photographic memories of. There are only a few handfuls of photos of my mom and I together and most of these are baby photos.
"Your mother is your best friend"; Its something a lot of people say, but until your mother is gone, you'll probably never understand how true this is. My mom was the second half of me and for a long time I felt that without her my life was not worth pursuing.
She was my biggest cheerleader, she dried my tears, she worked her bum off to provide me and my siblings with a happy healthy life and gave me a love only a mother can give.
I'm so lucky to have had the best mother any child could wish for; sure, she got it wrong sometimes but she did an amazing job at shaping me and my siblings into the independent, strong and happy, healthy people we are today.
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