To the woman that gave me life,

I will never forget the day you said to me, “You’re my daughter, yes, but you are my best friend too. I want you to be happy.” It was around that time that I realized you have always been my best friend; even if I didn’t always realize it. I look back on my life now and realize there was a reason your arms were the first I turned to when the boy broke my heart, there was a reason you are the person I call when anything happens in my life, there is a reason my heart dropped so hard the day I watched you drive away from me my first year of college. There is a reason, mom, that I am so much like you.

I remember the day someone said to me, “You are so much like your mother.” The only response I could think of was, “Thank you,” because to me that is the biggest compliment. To be compared to a fierce and intelligent woman? Yeah, I’ll take it.

I am increasingly reminded how lucky I am to have been raised by a woman like you. The rules you gave me while I was younger kept me grounded in later life. You taught me respect that I see so many people without these days. You taught me to walk through life with grace and courage. You showed me that it is never worth the fight but if it comes down to it, my mama is in my corner. You raised me to laugh. As I get older I realize how important that is. To laugh when it’s hard, to laugh when I may not want to. You raised me to find joy.

You are the reason I am not afraid to follow my dreams. You encouraged me every step of the way and stood by me as I fought off the demons and the doubters that tried to stop me. You have been my rock throughout my life and the person to light the match and let me shine. There will never be enough words to thank you for all that you have done.

You aren’t thanked nearly enough for the things you do. For the casual phone calls asking what I had for lunch to remind me not to get too busy and forget to eat; for the money you slipped me when you knew I was tight; for letting me shine and giving me the world. For all these different ways you constantly remind me that you love me. You are my fighter, my protector and my hero.

You are superwoman, plain and simple. If not for everything you do on a day-to-day basis then because you were able to deal with the teenage version of me. You make me want to achieve me dreams. It is because of you that I know I can.

You inspire me. You inspire me to fight harder and do better. My goals in life are only accessible with you by my side, my best friend and my mother. One day I will look back on my life and say, “We did it, mom.” We did it. Everything you did for me was not for nothing, it was for a life greater than I ever imagined. For happiness I didn’t know was possible, that’s all because of you. We did it, mom. We did it.

Sincerely,

Your grateful daughter.

PS, Because of you I will not fall, I love you.