12 Valuable Life Lessons That Mom Taught Me
My mother was the smartest person I've ever
known, not because she had a fancy job or a high level of education,
but because of her experience and wisdom. When I was a little kid she
used to share her thoughts, ideas and life lessons with me. I can
honestly say I would not have been the person I am today without her.
In an effort to save her words and pass
them on to my children, I have written down her snippets of advice and
thoughts on life. A few years after my project was done she passed away
in her sleep. Today, I want to share some of her inspiring words with
you, I hope they will help you as much as they have helped me.
1. Breathe in the future, breathe out the past
No matter where you are or what you’re
going through, remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Never
expect, assume, or demand anything - just do your best, control what
you can, and let go of what you can't.
2. Others should accept you for who you are
Speak your truth even if your voice shakes and you know it won't be
well-received. You are something beautiful and unique, so if you hold
that back, the whole world becomes a little less amazing. Walk your path
confidently and proudly - don’t expect anyone else to understand your
journey.
3. You are not who you used to be, and
that’s okay
People go through many ups and downs in life, and it changes them. You
are no different. Your perspective has changed, your likes and dislikes
have changed, your political views may have changed, and that is all
normal. When people accuse you of changing, just reply by saying: “Of
course I’ve changed. That’s what life is all about. I’m still the same
person, just stronger and wiser.”
4. Everything that happens helps you grow
Whatever happens, hold on to hope. Learn
from everything and don’t be afraid to make the same mistake twice,
three times, or as many times as necessary.
5. Life should be simple
Focus on one thing at a time. You don’t have to do everything, and you
don’t need to do something every second of your life. Breathe, be
present, and do your best - it's the most anyone, including yourself,
could ever hope for.
6. Educate yourself to be happy, not to be rich
There is a big difference between knowing the price of things, and
knowing the value of things. In the end, you will come to realize that
the best days are the days when you don’t need anything special to make
you smile.
7. Always be positive
Your misery or unhappiness is determined
not by your circumstances, but by your attitude. Smile at those who want
to hurt you - show them that they can’t take away your happiness from
you. Your willpower is stronger than you know.
8. Pay close attention to those you care about
When people say “I’m okay,” you need to look them in the eyes, hug them
tight, and reply, “I know you’re not”. Don’t be too upset if some people
only seem to remember you when they need you, only be upset if they are
not there when you need them.
9. Learn how to let go of people
Some people are bad for you, some people
need to do things on their own, and some people might need you to teach
them a hard lesson. It's not easy to say goodbye when you don’t want to
but you know you need to, it's for the benefit of both sides
10. Sometimes getting results means stripping yourself of people that
slow you down
As much as you may love them, some people can make it a lot harder for
you to reach your goals. Almost everyone will encounter such a person
during their life. As you find out who you are and what you want, you
realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you
do. Keep the wonderful memories you had with them, but move on to
achieve your happiness.
11. “I can’t believe I did that”, is much better than, “I wish I did
that.”
Don’t live your life trying to impress others. Live it so you'll impress
yourself. If you know you will regret not doing something, just do it.
It's that simple.
12. If you can't find your happy ending, maybe it’s time to look for a
new beginning.
We all fail from time to time, it's just a part of life. Don’t be
stubborn and just accept it. The strongest people out there are the same
people who have fought the toughest battles, lost, and moved on to a
new beginning.