Mom,

I've thanked you publicly before, and I'll do it again just to make sure that you and everyone else knows just how much you mean to me. There are so many things that I am thankful for in this life, but you are, by far, one of the biggest blessings I could have possibly received.

Being my mom (or anyone's mom, for that matter) cannot possibly be an easy task. As I age, I grow more and more aware of just how much you sacrifice so that I might have the best life I can possibly live. I haven't the slightest clue what it means to be a mother, but I know that if/when I become one, I have one of the very best role models to take after. While going through serious struggles of your own, you were able to help nurture and raise me and my siblings into (at least semi-decent) young adults. Your strength is something I always have admired deeply, and I hope that one day I'll exhibit the same amount of strength while raising my own children or building a strong career (or both).

While we've gone toe-to-toe quite a few times, and I didn't always appreciate your scolding or life advice at one time, I could not have possibly accomplished what I have done so far in my life without your encouragement. Thank you for pushing me to do things that were outside of my comfort zone, for teaching me how to make strong connections with other people, and giving me the tools to help me be as successful as I can possibly be, always. Because of you, I have had so many opportunities to be a part of something bigger than myself -- so many different groups and things that became so important to me and became a part of my permanent identity. Thank you for encouraging me to be uniquely me, and allowing me to grow in an environment where I was expected to be kind always. I feel that I am a much better person because of your influence, and I wouldn't trade your life advice for anything in this world.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for teaching me the value of family, and for teaching me that the most important part of life are the relationships that I continue to build with the people around me, in the most positive way possible. Thank you for being patient with me while I try to figure life out, and for always being there to be a safety net when life doesn't go as planned. The bottom line is that I am incredibly thankful to have you as my mother, and I hope you're never able to forget how much I truly appreciate you. I am so incredibly lucky that I was put on this Earth as your child -- because I have one of the best moms to ever exist.

"Isle of view" (I love you) -- always and all ways.