1. Be Kind - it doesn’t take much to just be a good human. Don’t say anything that’ll make waves just for the sake of making waves. On the other hand, don’t hold things in, either. My mom did hold things in and taught me how to do that. Sometimes the lessons we learn are modeled in what not to do.  Don’t hold things in. And certainly, say what needs to be said. Do so in a way that lifts others. Be kind.
2. Think About Others - this was a lesson in empathy. What might the other person be thinking or feeling? And when you can understand that, what might they want or need? How can you show up to fill that need? The caution here is that you needn’t give of yourself until there’s nothing left. Show up in service to others. Take time for yourself, too. You can’t give what you don’t have. So refuel and give of yourself.
3. Leave The Place Better Than You Found It - Now I think my mom meant to keep it tidy, and what I can say is that sometimes a place IS better because YOU were there! Show up, show up in full presence. If there’s a way you can lift and support another person because you’re attending to the space you’re in, that’s awesome. I’ve extrapolated this to mean my workspace, too. At the end of the day, is it in better shape than the way I came to it? Make that happen!
4. Use Your Intuition - My mom knew things. There wasn’t any reason she knew things, she just did. Some of that was the era she was raised - I mean, she lived through WWII. And in the way that we’re living though a pandemic and learning to read a person’s mask-covered face through their eyes, my mom had all kinds of political and social rules to live through. So by the time she had kids, she knew things. She knew how to listen to what was being said or presented and she knew how to pay attention to the gaps, as well. It’s a skill I’m proud to have learned. It serves me well. 
5. Keep Learning - If you stop learning, you’ve stopped growing and really, you’ve stopped living. Keep growing. Keep learning. Remember, “you can’t give what you don’t have” is as much about refueling your body as it is about growing your knowledge and wisdom. You can only give from the level you’re at, so find a coach or mentor and step into your personal growth!

Six great lessons from a wonderful woman I’m proud to have called “mom.”