Dear mom: I just wanted to send you a quick note. We don’t often get time to reflect and really connect on what our relationship has meant to me. I would like to share just a few, of my many, many thoughts and feelings. From the very beginning of our relationship, I felt a sense of safety. I was protected by some supernatural force — that presence of maternal love, celestial sheltering. You gave my siblings and me values, but gosh you were a hard taskmaster!
My first sense of responsibility was for my little dog Tuffy. She was an exuberant creature always darting hither and yon — often distracted, but always loyal. I remember your dismay when I lost her and couldn’t remember where she was. You forced me to go back, in the twilight hours — alone if I remember, (the times and our village being totally innocent of malice or evil) and find her. Which I did.
The next irrepressible memory was the time I collected flowers, along my way home from school, in an attempt to give you a gift. The owner of the residence took umbrage and called me a thief. I remember you dialing his number and me crying an apology into the phone. From this I learned the gift of honesty.
I suppose you remember the garden project. You were constructing that stream flowing into a pond. It was never quite finished, unfortunately, but I recall my job — dirt man! I was to find the rocks in the soil and remove them so the loam could be spread on the grass — thereby ensuring growth. Here I learned the value of hard work.
But truly the greatest lesson of all was dignity — dignity of the self and of the society at large. Cast your mind back to my rock and roll band with Hume. He was a really talented man, but it would be fair to say that my expertise lay in other areas. By this time in my life, however, school had become a burden, and village life enclosed and insular. Like a bird with clipped wings, I desired freedom – but to where and to what, I had no idea. Our group decided to quit school. I recall telling you. You said nothing for a good five minutes and then you expressed yourself in a most terrifying way. Wanting to forgo your wrath, I thus slayed in school and got an education: responsibility, honesty, hard work, and dignity: great ideals for life. Thanks mom. From the great bard, William Shakespeare: Plenty and peace breed cowards; hardness ever of hardiness is mother. (1)
A closing thought: Our mother recently left this earthly plane. There is never enough time to say the things you mean to say. I guess the lesson here is to appreciate the moment and aspire for excellence in your daily actions and thoughts. Remember to say I love to everyone that you truly love and, perhaps, wish to love. This is one of the quintessential lessons of life. I love you, mom. Thank you for your help and guidance along my path of life.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about some experiences that we all have with our mothers.
To be noted: From Oscar Wilde (2) — Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your reflective walk, please consider what your mother has meant to you in your life.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Live your life in a state of wonder and imagination.ry
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