On this very special day, most of us find a way to extend good wishes to our Mothers, Grandmothers, Wives, as well as Friends and Siblings who are Mothers too.  None of us would be here without our Moms so in honour of this day I am doing a special tribute to my Mom and all the things she has taught me so far.

It all started many years ago in the same small town where I grew up.  My father met my mother, they dated, they got married, things happened and 8 months later I was born (yes I decided to arrive early).  A couple years later my sister was born and our family was complete.

Fast forward to now and I am happy to outline some of the great lessons I learned from my Mom. Only 5 are listed here but there are so many more.

1. Always be Kind – My Mom has always shown me that being kind and showing compassion is the best way to receive kindness in return.
2. Be Generous – not just with money but also with our other valuable assets which include our time and effort.  My Mom taught me that helping others whenever you can is a great way to build long lasting and meaningful relationships.
3. Smile – Even though there may be times that we don’t feel it, it is important to smile and focus on the positives that are all around us.  Besides smiles are infectious and they spread.
4. Set your goals and you will achieve them – My Mom showed me that you can achieve success by working hard towards your goals and believing in yourself.  She rose to some impressive positions throughout her career by having that confidence. And she beat cancer with that same perseverance.
5. Tell people how you feel – Saying “I Love You” to those you care about is not only important to them but it so basic in our human needs that it makes us feel good to say it. 

My Mom has always been there to help and she continues to be amazing today.  I watched my Mom be a favorite to my cousins and my friends and I was lucky enough to call her my Mom.  She gave me freedom when I needed to learn and grow, and supported me so I could learn from my mistakes. She taught me to drive and even let my friends come along so we could “cruise” around town.  She has been and continues to be a great Grandmother to my children and all her grandchildren. And she most definitely has been the rock that held our family together when we needed it most.  I don’t always follow these teachings as well as I should but I know I can always count on my Mom.

We all love you so much Mom, we appreciate everything you do and we need you to keep doing it for many more years to come.  Happy Mother’s Day! I Love You.

And Happy Mother’s Day to all the other Mothers and Grandmothers out there that I know or that I have yet to meet.