One afternoon I was laying in bed, writing an article. My mother stopped by my room and said to me with her ever present smile “When are you going to write one about me?” I giggled as she walked away. Of course, I wanted to write one about her. But how could I pick a short article to write about my kind, beautiful, smart, and loving Mother? So I decided to pick the things she taught me.

To Laugh.

My mother was never afraid to laugh at herself, and she taught me to do the same. A good laugh can get you through some really tough days. It’s in the moments you’re laughing that you’re making good memories.

You are smart.

I’ve never been a 4.0 student, and in some classes I’ve barley passed with a C. None of those things ever mattered to my mother. Every time I’ve ever said “I’m stupid” or “I suck at school.” My mother looks and me and says “Don’t say those things about yourself. You are smart. Don’t let one test get you down.”

Always be polite to others.

“It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to stop and speak to someone when you see them at the grocery store.” A lesson from my mother that has been drilled in my head, time and time again. In my mother’s mind, being polite to others is the most important thing you can be in this world.

Love all people.

My mother doesn’t meet a stranger. Anyone in my hometown could tell you that. It’s not that my mother has cool things that make her so well known; it’s her love for every person she meets. She always told me when I was younger, “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what you look like, if you are kind I will be you friend.”

Believe in Yourself.

Don’t let the things people say, or the stuff you say about yourself hold you back from anything. “You can do it. You’ve got to believe in yourself.” My mother would say.

So Mom, I just want you to know this one thing: I hope one day I am as great of a women as you.