I found this piece when I was cleaning out papers from my work desk as I ended the temporary position I had over the last several months. I recall coming to work on the Monday morning after Mother’s Day and writing this piece, yet, I slipped it into a drawer and forgot about it – until now. I was reminded that what I
wrote then holds true today. I reread this piece as a reminder of the way I want to be not only with my child but with everyone. I share this piece with you in hopes that it may help guide you into ways that you want to be, even when events in life seem to be stacked against you. It is our choice in how we think, act, respond. We have the power. If we don’t believe this, then we freely and willingly give our power away.
Here is the piece I share with you today:
In the morning of Mother’s Day I didn’t feel like driving to breakfast as I had suggested to my daughter the day before. Instead, I wanted to make my daughter and neighbor one of their favorite breakfasts – palec(h)inke. Palechinke are Croatian pancakes that are similar to crepes that are rolled with jam, Nutella, or other sweetened filling.
I imagined other people’s voices asking why I would do such a thing on Mother’s Day, the day for mothers. The day that most mothers and families think that it is a day that mother’s don’t need to lift a finger. The day is about the mother and she should be treated as a queen for the day. It’s a day that I, as other mothers
, should not do a thing. And yes, there is that word ‘should.’ I don’t follow the should of’s, would of’s and could of’s.
I chose to make breakfast for two of the most dearest people in my life because I woke up in a state of gratitude. I was deeply grateful to be given the opportunity to be a mother. Grateful for my kind and generous neighbor who as become a dependable and trusted friend. I was thankful for having ingredients to make breakfast, a working stove to cook breakfast, and a home in which to make breakfast. I appreciated having the health and ability to make breakfast. I became even more excited at the thought of seeing the light in their eyes and smiles break out on their faces, when they receive warm palecinke.
My day continued to be one wonderful, positive experience after another. One positive moment linked to another and before I realized it, the day was coming to an end.
Reflecting on the day I asked myself what made this day so different than other days as to be etched into my memory for happiness and gratitude. The answer was that my daughter and I were conscious of the specialness of the day. We consciously acted in ways that would make the day special – her for me, and me for her. We were kind, respectful, responsible, patient, loving, generous, gratefully giving and receiving in positivity.
Then, I asked myself why can’t everyday be like this one? The answer that came to me was that every day could be like this one, but it would take conscientious thought. In other words, it would take work. I want
to believe that what we did yesterday was an easy thing to do. I would be dishonest if I said that it was easy. Yesterday took work – on both our parts. Hard work. And yet, the rewards were immeasurable.
Yesterday was magical and was a deep learning experience for me. Upon reflection, I realized that yesterday took work for us because we don’t make such an effort. We usually let our emotions, moods and other things get in our way, take over our thoughts and actions.
And yet, if we just put in a little effort we can change into the people we were yesterday every day of the year.
Imagine what our life would be like if we just made this small effort everyday. With each passing day this way of being would become easier until one day, it would become it would be so ingrained in us that it would be the most natural way to be. It would be more than habit such that we would not longer be able to imagine being any other way.
And so, last night before falling asleep, I vowed that I will treat everyday, all day long as if it were Mother-Child’s Day. I will treat everyone with love, respect, honor, kindness, and gratitude because every person is a child and many are mothers. It doesn’t matter who the person is because I liked how I felt and acted yesterday. I want to be like that everyday until it no longer feels like work but is simply part of who I am.