5 Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me

Almost everything I know, I’ve learned from my mother. How to sew, how to read, how to rock an ironic t-shirt… For every stage of my life, she’s been by my side, willing to share her experience and advice – whether I want it or not. This week, as we reflect on the roles our mothers have played in our lives in for (British) Mother’s Day, I want to share with you five life lessons my mother has taught me.

5 // Take risks

My mother has never been afraid to take risks. Through marriage, being a parent, moving to a new country for my father’s job, and finding work in her second language, she has always been courageous in the choices she makes and the way she lives her life. From her, I have learned to say yes to the opportunities life offers me, even if I find them intimidating or think they are beyond me.

4 // Live creatively

My mother is wildly creative. She sewed her own wedding dress, made herself a cuckoo clock, and has written and published several picture books. From her, I not only learned how to paint, knit, and sew my own clothes, but also what it means to live a creative life. I learned that a handmade gift is always better than the store-bought option. I learned to live loudly, to think outside the box, and to color outside the lines. Those lessons have shown me that life is not only about what you are given, but what you can make of it.

3 // Love what you do

Three years ago, my mother started a new job in a new city, which added several hours to her daily commute. Despite that hurdle, I have never seen someone who is as passionate for her job as she is. I have seen her job breathe new life into her, and that has taught me how important it is to find work that inspires and invigorates you. I hope to one day find a job that brings me as much satisfaction as my mother’s work does for her.

2 // Never give up

When I was little, our family had a little wooden toy called the ‘duikelaartje’ (tumbler). Every time you pushed it down, no matter how many times you tried, it would spring back up again. My mother has that kind of resilient spirit. Life has not always been easy for our family, but my mother has never given up in getting back on her feet, brushing herself off, and trying again. From her I have learned not to count the times I fall, but the times I get up afterwards. I know from her example that strength and resilience will get me through even the darkest times.

1 // Love generously

My mother is one of the most selfless people I know. She loves with an open heart and giving hands, and, in turn, has taught me what it means to love other people. From her I’ve learned that love sometimes means sacrifice or compromise, and that caring for someone else is not about what you receive, but what you can give to them. Just as important, she has taught me to love myself generously, and not to sell myself short. It is because of her that I have been able to find the balance between self-love, and a selfless love for other people.

These life lessons have made me into the woman I am today. They have taught me how to be a kinder, wiser, more thoughtful person. They have shown me that being a woman is about grit, love, and resilience. Today, I want to take a step back, recognize that, and say thank you.