Receiving Birthday Love from Above: My 40th

Today 40 years ago I was placed into the arms of my Mom for the very first time. That moment is one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive – the gift of her nurturing love, guidance, and presence in my life for 38 years along with countless lessons that she taught me along the way. I wanted to share just a handful of those lessons with you today to mark this milestone day.

Lesson #1: Be Present. When my Mom and I talked on the phone (which was all the time) she would stop what she was doing and would give me her full attention. In a time of constant digital distractions and social media scrolling to be fully present and actively listening during a conversation can be a rarity. The lesson and example she was setting for me was to be fully present in the current moment. Be engaged and focused on the person you are talking to. We all want to be seen, heard, valued, and feel worthy of someone’s time – this is a gift you can give to others when you are with them.

Lesson #2: Be Grateful. I’ve mentioned this in previous posts but when I was having a bad day and called my Mom for advice she would tell me to make a gratitude list. Sometimes I could only write down a few things, other times my list was incredibly long. I’d post the list on my vanity as a reminder to focus on gratitude instead of my bad day or whatever was bothering me. Focusing on the good in your life is powerful and it will bring your thought back to what truly matters most.

Lesson #3: Be Kind. Midwesterners are known for their friendliness so it’s been a reality check living in an area that has a reputation for the Seattle Freeze (difficulty creating new friendships when you move to the area). I don’t let that hold me back from saying a chipper Good Morning! Hello! How are you?! to those I see while walking the dog or passing in the grocery store aisles. My Mom did this as well and she always opened our home to family & friends, fellow church members, and neighbors to host events that brought people together. We need connection and kindness in our lives.

Lesson #4: Make Every Day Fun! My Mom taught me that any day of the week can be made fun with a few special touches. It could be as simple as trying a new recipe on a week night, breaking out of routine and splurging on watching a movie in the middle of the week, wrapping up the weekend with homemade pizza night, or busting out a game after dinner. Sometimes it’s the small things that can make life feel just a little bit more fun. Feel free to play a game of Yahtzee! in my Mom’s honor 😉

Lesson #5: Be spiritually minded. To be spiritual means “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.” Another way to think about it is shifting from material sense to spiritual sense. Material sense would say my Mom passed away and I can’t see her anymore. Spiritual sense would say life is eternal and her reflection is constant and unchanged. Her love is still present and it is still living – it is within me and those who loved and deeply cared for her.

I am living the lessons she taught me and to be placed in her care for this experience is a priceless gift. Today and every day I am a grateful heart.