Dear Mom,

First off, I'd really like to thank you for reading and avidly sharing my articles every week. Even when they are lists, and they aren't that great, you do it anyway. Also thank you for the new gloves, socks, coat and hand warmers because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go anywhere without them this weekend. But more importantly, I'd like to take the time to thank you.

I've always been thankful for you (even if it doesn't always seem like it). But since I've gotten to college and have met a hundred new people, done a hundred new things and learned a hundred new ideas, I can truly say that I don't think I've ever been more thankful for you than right now. You taught me things that have allowed me to be successful in more ways than one, you gave me the skills to be able to live and think on my own (for the most part), and you supported me enough to give me the confidence that I could in fact do what I set out to. But those aren’t the only reasons I’m thankful for you and love you more than life itself; in fact, if I wanted to list all of the reasons, I think I would need an infinite amount of articles. But here, in this one, I’d just like to point out a few reasons why I’m super happy you’re my mom and why I am so grateful to have you.

Thank you for saying no to me -- even if I didn’t like it. I’ve faced rejection in my first few months of college, and I know those are only the first of many to come. But from an early age, you were never the one to always say yes. And because of that, I’d like to think that I’ve learned how to handle no. As the years and the rejections have gone by, they have started to sting a little less -- or maybe they sting just the same and I’m just better at handling it.

Your nos and your encouragement have helped me to shed a few tears, eat a few scoops of ice cream and then pick myself right back up and move on to the next one. After every rejection, you’ve always had the words that make me feel better. Thank you for always saying them, because now I say them to myself when something doesn’t go right or the way I want it to. Thank you for giving me the courage to face things that won’t make me happy, and thank you for teaching me how to overcome it.

Thank you for teaching me that it’s OK to fail. You know it and I know it -- grades matter to me. And though I’ve never been one to get so caught up in it, sometimes it gets to me. Even though I’ve never been one to pout when I lose, sometimes it gets to me. But with your words and your example you’ve taught me that sometimes it’s better to fail at something than succeed. With your help, I’ve learned that sometimes when you fail, you learn more than if you actually reached your goal. And sure I learned that along the way with other things such as sports or school or clubs or different activities, but I wouldn’t have truly appreciated it if it weren’t for you being there to tell me that it’s OK to fail and that, sometimes, you should.

Thank you for teaching me how to laugh at myself (even though I get mad when you make fun of me) and have fun. I just came in from rolling around in the snow, throwing snowballs and trying to build a snowman with people I didn’t even know. I learned from you that the best way to have the time of your life, anytime and anywhere, is to just go for it. Some of my best experiences have come from you forcing me to stick with things or put myself out there. I would have never wanted to or had half as much fun playing in the snow this past hour if it weren’t for you taking me outside from an early age and putting me on a sled -- with the help of Uncle Ray (actually, it was mostly Uncle Ray). You taught me that the best things in life happen when you live in the moment and just enjoy.

I’ll forever cherish the small memories that I make because you’ve always told me to enjoy even the smallest things. Thank you for always giving me the opportunity to have the fun, even when some people didn’t think you were right for letting me do certain things, those things made me the happiest.

Thank you for all the times you’ve done things for me when really, you didn’t have to. Thank you for sending me Baked by Melissa, even though I shouldn’t eat them, because you know I love it. Thank you for spending hours in the hot summer sun, sitting on countless amusement park benches holding my things, while I rode ride after ride. Thank you for dropping off food for Spanish class with less than a day’s notice. Thank you for always leaving little notes everywhere that make my day. I may not say anything, but they always make me smile.

Thank you for leaving me little presents every time you bring me back to school. It’s so not needed but even more appreciated. Thank you for driving me around from place to place when I was younger (so basically until junior year), never complaining and always willing. Thank you for going above and beyond when I come home; from the signs, to the food, to just letting me sit on the couch and take up space. I’m so grateful that I don’t think I can even find the words to express it. Those little things, those little acts of kindness, are the things that I’ll look back on.

Thank you for your strength and your bravery. I don’t think that there is one person on this planet who will ever be able to match the amount of fight, courage and bravery you have. I may not always acknowledge it out loud, but every day I admire it. When I need any ounce of bravery or strength or perseverance I look to you. Even at the lowest points, even through the tears, you still manage to make others smile, put others before yourself and care and do things for me. You’ve taught me that crying is good, but being strong is great. You taught me that you need to cry, but to cry forever does nobody any good. Instead, you keep going. You keep fighting, you keep trying. Your spirit and your fight continues to amaze me each and every day. Thank you for that spirit. Thank you for teaching me to keep going even when it feels like the world is crashing down. Thank you for always being there for me to keep fighting, and thank you for fighting right there with me. I’d be nowhere without you, your spirit, and your fight.

Thank you for your support. I have done some seriously weird, strange, questionable things. I have done things that I know you don’t like but you say okay because you know it’d be fun for me. I have gone places that scare you. I have stayed out way too late and kept you up. But, you never once yelled. I have done things that have made you angry, but you’ve never held them against me. I have done things that make other people angry, but you never get mad with them. You support me. You support me in everything I do. Even if you think it’s a bad idea, you support me because I know that you only want the best for me. And I thank you so much for that. Because without knowing that someone will always have my back, will always be there even if it goes wrong, gives me so much confidence to do so many things. I would have never taken half the chances I’ve taken if it weren’t for you, your love and your support.

And lastly, thank you for being you. For being the person who puts others way before herself even when she shouldn’t. For being the person to always do things for others even if they don’t ask. For being the person to always pick me up when I fall. For being the person to teach me what I did wrong and point out my flaws, but also for being the first person to get excited with me when something good happens. I know I may not show it, but something that makes me the happiest is when you’re the happiest. It brings a smile to my face knowing that the person who does so much for everyone around her and to make sure that everyone else is happy, is happy too. Thank you for being the person I can laugh with, cry with, gossip with, complain with, shop with, eat with, see movies with, and create memories with. Not everyone gets that, and I know that. I feel so blessed to have gotten that with you.

Thank you for always being there, even when I push you away. You’re always waiting for me to come right back. Thank you for being the one person that I will always need, no matter how old I get and no matter how far I go. Thank you for being the person that loves me so unconditionally because there is nothing like it and I know I won’t find it anywhere else. Mom, thank you for your kind heart, your spirit, your strength, your fight, your bravery, your humor, your personable nature. All of those traits have taught me so much about the kind of person I hope to be one day. Thank you for teaching me everything I know, and thank you for your wisdom and advice. Thank you for everything. There will never be enough words to describe how lucky I am and how absolutely amazing you are at being my mom. There isn’t anything that could measure up to how much I love you, so I guess I’ll settle for saying: I love you as much as the sky never ends.

Love always,
Kriya