BROADCASTS.com

March 1st was my mom\u2019s birthday. She passed away 16 years ago. And, I miss her. Today I wanted to honor her by talking about some of the lessons I got from her while growing up. Pretty simply, they are:

1. Be Kind - it doesn\u2019t take much to just be a good human. Don\u2019t say anything that\u2019ll make waves just for the sake of making waves. On the other hand, don\u2019t hold things in, either. My mom did hold things in and taught me how to do that. Sometimes the lessons we learn are modeled in what not to do.  Don\u2019t hold things in. And certainly, say what needs to be said. Do so in a way that lifts others. Be kind.
2. Think About Others - this was a lesson in empathy. What might the other person be thinking or feeling? And when you can understand that, what might they want or need? How can you show up to fill that need? The caution here is that you needn\u2019t give of yourself until there\u2019s nothing left. Show up in service to others. Take time for yourself, too. You can\u2019t give what you don\u2019t have. So refuel and give of yourself.
3. Leave The Place Better Than You Found It - Now I think my mom meant to keep it tidy, and what I can say is that sometimes a place IS better because YOU were there! Show up, show up in full presence. If there\u2019s a way you can lift and support another person because you\u2019re attending to the space you\u2019re in, that\u2019s awesome. I\u2019ve extrapolated this to mean my workspace, too. At the end of the day, is it in better shape than the way I came to it? Make that happen!
4. Use Your Intuition - My mom knew things. There wasn\u2019t any reason she knew things, she just did. Some of that was the era she was raised - I mean, she lived through WWII. And in the way that we\u2019re living though a pandemic and learning to read a person\u2019s mask-covered face through their eyes, my mom had all kinds of political and social rules to live through. So by the time she had kids, she knew things. She knew how to listen to what was being said or presented and she knew how to pay attention to the gaps, as well. It\u2019s a skill I\u2019m proud to have learned. It serves me well. 
5. Keep Learning - If you stop learning, you\u2019ve stopped growing and really, you\u2019ve stopped living. Keep growing. Keep learning. Remember, \u201cyou can\u2019t give what you don\u2019t have\u201d is as much about refueling your body as it is about growing your knowledge and wisdom. You can only give from the level you\u2019re at, so find a coach or mentor and step into your personal growth!

Six great lessons from a wonderful woman I\u2019m proud to have called \u201cmom.\u201d