If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s to pay attention to the unspoken lessons from your parents. These are the ones that you don’t normally recognize at the time, but learn to appreciate as you get older. If your mom is anything like mine, she is probably the strongest woman on the planet. She is the absolute best example of who you hope to be as a mother, and she is the most selfless person you know.

These kind of moms are the ones that you will learn the most from. She has probably raised you to think for yourself and to make your own mistakes, but it breaks her heart when you are struggling. She is extremely protective of you, just as you are of her; and she would give her last penny if that meant you would be a little bit happier that day.

This is the kind of mother-daughter relationship that most people could only wish for. Fortunately, this is the kind of relationship I’ve lived with my entire life. Lucky right? So here are 20 of the most important unspoken lessons my mom has taught me over the years:

1. Be generous. When you see a homeless person on the street, hand them whatever cash you have in your wallet. They need it more then you do.
2. Try new things. If someone asks you to try their food, always say yes. You might actually love it.
3. Be a role model. Always teach younger children how to think, not what to think.
4. Be understanding. Not everyone has the blessing to understand sadness.
5. Don’t take no for an answer. Never allow anyone to tell you that you can’t do something. The only person that gets to decide what you can and can’t accomplish is yourself.
6. Never give up. With that said; if you want something, don’t ever stop until you get it, no matter how hard it might be.
7. Take time to heal. It's okay to have days when you just don’t want to get out of bed; some days will be easier than others.
8. It's okay to be selfish. You will get overwhelmed trying to do everything for everyone else. In order to stay healthy, you have to make time for you.
9. Question everything. Understand why and how things work, and you will become a much more knowledgeable person.
10. Surround yourself with good people. Don’t waste your energy on someone who doesn’t make you a better person, they will just drag you down with them.
11. Knowledge is your greatest weapon. Be smart in your actions and you will be more successful than you could ever imagine.
12. Notice when you’re happy. Recognizing the moments that you are genuinely happy will help you to appreciate the smaller pleasures in life.
13. Be an advocate. Take a stand for what you believe in and educate yourself with it. If you don’t believe in anything, you will fall for everything.
14. Take time to really talk to people. Having a genuine conversation with someone as often as possible will help you see things from multiple perspectives.
15. Take pride in watching others succeed. Always give credit where credit is due. This will make your accomplishments feel much more rewarding.
16. Be selfless. Never let success get to your head. You wouldn’t be successful without the people you have chosen to surround yourself with.
17. Tell the truth, even when it's hard. If an elderly person asks you how you’re doing, always tell them the truth. Chances are that they have advice you could benefit from.
18. Never judge. Judging people is the lowest form of power someone has. Nobody has walked through life the same way you have, and nobody deserves to be defined by the way they have chosen to live.
19. Give as often as possible. Executing a random act of kindness will benefit you more than it benefits them.
20. Love yourself. Sometimes people wont like you no matter what you do, and that’s perfectly okay.