Parents, both mother and father have played vital roles in who we are today and what we'll teach our little ones tomorrow, these are some of my best lessons from my mom that'll stay with me to my dying day...
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| BE BEAUTIFUL |
If there was one thing that my mother always emphasized, it was, be beautiful, stand out, take care of yourself, look after your skin, well I've always had troublesome skin so she had reason haha. A day would never go by without my mom telling me I'm beautiful and that has stayed with me. One might look at it as flattery from a parent but it was so important in building my confidence levels. In a society today where beauty is measured or even defined by designer wear, make up or hair, confidence in my image was rooted at an early age.
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| EQUIP YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE |
She has always and continues to be steadfast in this teaching and caution. I've never been one for reading or studying intensely and this frustrated my mom as she would always say, equip yourself, study as much as you can, read a book, whatever investment you make in your books and studies is guaranteed to come to fruition tomorrow. She would always use my older siblings as examples and awaken me to how learned they are and how they would read books out of interests sake. There is wealth and power in reading, I'm glad I heeded this teaching and continue to do so. It has opened so many doors, it has introduced me to my independence and continues to groom me everyday.
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| DISCOVER YOUR PASSION |
My mom always encouraged to find a hobby or to discover a passion. I have found my passion in cooking and being creative with my meals. I'm not a chef or desire to be one but this hobby or passion of mine is somewhat so therapeutic. I often express my emotions on my plate and as such I'm constantly working at being a happy and positive person, it exudes and the world sees it too. A passion is something that effortlessly excites you, it's not tiresome nor does it come across as demanding or labor intensive. It's liberating and it fulfills.
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| FINANCIAL MUSCLE |
She has always encouraged having a financial muscle and with that comes budgeting and self discipline. As much as the world refuses to accept today that the world evolves around money, there is the sad truth that it actually does. She has always taught that there is nothing sexier than an independent woman and even said, "instead of anticipating to be a front seat passenger in a boyfriend's car, work on being a driver in your own", "instead of working on being a tenant or roommate, work at being a home owner", "instead of waiting on an allowance, work on having your own bank balance". She went on to teach, and even when these things are acquired, never allow your life to evolve around them and never ever look down on others and while the world evolves around money, your life and happiness should not.
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| FAITH IN THE LORD & HIS WORKS |
My mom taught me the importance of having a faith and religion to live by. She taught me the importance of Heavenly Father and living by His precepts. She never forced me to follow but simply led me by example and by such I envied what I saw in her. She taught me to always give thanks to Him as eagerly as I did when in need of something. Having a faith and belief led me to a certain lifestyle, a lifestyle which taught me laws were there to protect and not restrict, that thanksgiving gave one more fulfillment, that service increased love for others, that purity is in fact Godliness, that virtue was precious and sacred and that self worth is the best kind of worthiness.
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| OPEN, HONEST COMMUNICATION |
It is this lesson that I will forever strive to instill in my children. My mom is my friend, before working at being a strict mom, my mom first worked at being a loving friend. She would always say, it doesn't matter what happens, it doesn't matter how it happens, you should never be afraid to come to me. At first I thought, maybe she is only saying that so I can tell her then she'll be harsh on me but I was wrong. I always tell friends that she is my "mobile journal" and confidant. From an early age she taught me, "it doesn't help you get exposed to things like dating, hide it from me, come home with a belly or blue eye when you had said you went to friends." She taught me and assured me through her actions that it's okay to confide in her, rather her than friend or stranger. It felt so good and liberating not keeping secrets or having to lie about my whereabouts, bringing a boy home so he could meet mother and see that I had been brought up well, having mother sit us down and caution and groom us. Communication between mother and child should not be judgmental, it should not be harsh, I would go to her afraid and leave with great comfort. She would be brutally honest then leave me to make my own decision in the end. I still say and some might not agree, I would rather have my daughter smoke/drink in my presence with my knowledge than do it behind my back and go to extremes. The best lessons are learned from home and can only be done when done openly and honestly...
My mom is my rock, she is my pillar and well of wisdom, she is a brave woman that stands her ground, she is a woman of courage and vigor but also as graceful as a dove, she has been challenged many a times but refuses to be defined by those challenges, blessed are those who come to meet her...
