The Mother’s Day Mantra

“Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.” –Bert Williams

For me that is, “Would you believe it?”

It is the preface of recounting something remarkable, good and something true: The things that to others might seem coincidental but to her are fulfilling little miracles. The stories are short, but the impact lasts long.

I love that phrase and have embraced the concept as part of my learned genetics, my inheritance. My mantra. I always look for ways I can use it in my own life. I intentionally open myself to surpassing the every day what-ifs in hopes it will drive me to call my mom and begin an anecdote with “would you believe it”.

Did you ever imagine your life would be as effective as it is right now? Did you ever dream you’d come this far? That you would have the support and the opportunities you have been given?

Your mom did. Moms are our greatest life, business and health coaches. Moms push us when we settle in quick sand rather than pursue success. The only thing moms desire of us is to never doubt our capabilities and never pass up the possibilities.

There is one day dedicated to celebrating moms. But for all those other days the greatest gift we can give our mothers is to never stop trying. Envision life as an intense workout. To quote Jillian Michaels, mother to millions in the health and fitness industry and to her own children, “Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going.” Take a break if you have to, but keep going.

Bleed. Sweat. Cry. Keep going.

Because you won’t believe what’s on the other side of your finish line.

We all have mothers that have helped us get where we are and maybe you are one of them too. Strangers, authors, family, co-workers, doctors, TV personalities, bosses, neighbors, featured stories in the local newspaper; These are the people that we encounter that challenge us to walk through the mud and come out with a miraculous “would you believe it” story.

Think of the children’s book, “I love you to the moon”. Often that gravitational defying, all-encompassing love can be masked in persistent and redundant motivational lectures. That love may aggravate us, but that love will get us to the moon, if only we have the audacity to shoot for the starts.

So, what “would you believe it” story will excite a mom this Mother’s Day?

Small, Kind Gestures Go a Long Way

You know those little favors someone will randomly surprise you with –that helps make your day a little bit brighter? Those little acts of appreciation and kindness are, unfortunately, under-used. Little details are often overlooked: not necessarily on purpose but because in this constant world of busy-ness. These little things help others understand how much you care. It’s things like that, when they aren’t done we don’t necessarily miss, but when they are done it seems so simple, yet greatly appreciated.

Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science Of Contentment, Calm and Confidence, tells The Huffington Post,

“The way to "hardwire happiness" into the brain, then, is to take in the good -- being present to life's tiny, joyful moments. Lingering on the positive improves the encoding of passing mental states into lasting neural traits. That’s the key here: we’re trying to get the good stuff into us. And that means turning our passing positive experiences into lasting emotional memories.”

Below is a list of things to consider trying to incorporate into your personal/business habits. Not only to let another person know how much you care or appreciate them, but to feel good yourself as well. Spreading kindness should and can be a never-ending cycle.

      1. Send thank you cards. Hand written.

      2. Reach out to mentors when something they have taught you, helps you overcome an obstacle.

      3. Compliment others: strangers, clients, co-workers, friends and family.

      4. Practice manners. Always. Because of how busy we all are in our own lives, please, thank-you

          and holding the door open have become a rarity.

      5. With a smile say, ‘Hello’ to a passing stranger.

      6. Shake a hand. Give a hug. Say, ‘I love you’.

      7.  Teach someone, something.

      8.  Let someone out ahead in traffic.

      9. When in-line at the store, let someone with lesser items ahead of you.

    10. Offer your seat for someone that needs it more than you.