Merry Christmas, Mom

Merry Christmas! Since today is a celebration of birth, I thought it only fitting to dedicate the gratitude blog to my own mother. Without her I wouldn't BE... Whether your own mom is living or passed we all have women in our lives that have stepped into that role and given us life.

Some have delightful memories and I hope you are one. Others may not and I want to share with you that every mother has reached down to her belly and felt the first flutter of life. Even if she couldn't give you the love and learning you deserved, she imagined that she would be able to. All mothers have held their babies close and breathed in their essence, if only in their mind.

I think all of us, not only as a mother, but a father too, start out with good intention. So, on this day of Christ's birth, let us also remember our own and stop and give gratitude to the mom that gave you life.

I am grateful for my mom:

I am grateful for my mom, who taught me how to be unafraid. She held my hand after a nightmare and whispered how to walk into my own scary dream and let them know I was in control.

I am grateful for a mom who encouraged me to do it anyway. She was always reminding me that the time I took to worry and fret was more agonizing than just diving in and getting it over with.

I am grateful to my mom who taught me to laugh at myself. This taught me how to deflect hostility and turn it into laughter.

I am grateful for a mom who took me camping without a man. I can build a fire, set up a tent and appreciate the great outdoors. I enjoyed many camping trips with the girl scout troop I lead, and hopefully passed that baton to them as well.

I am grateful for a mom who could fix her own car, repair a plumbing leak, put up drywall, and knew her way around the tool shed. She is an inspiration to be independent and strong and ask for instruction.

I am grateful for a mom who taught me to be my own artist. Creativity is a gift and comes in many forms. I watched her as an actress in community theater. I followed her paintbrush strokes bringing life to still objects. I listened to her stories made up on the spot just for my entertainment.

I am grateful for a mom who was her own voice She was a skilled protester and stood up to big oil and organized many rallies in our state capital.

I am grateful that my mom showed me the importance of looking people in the eye, standing up straight and offering a firm handshake.

I am grateful to a mom who was never afraid to dance. This was especially embarrassing during my teenage years when it could be down the aisle at Lucky's, our neighborhood grocery store. It wasn't until later when I relished doing the same to my own two daughters that I appreciated the spontaneity of living large.

I am grateful for a mom who sang out loud. Even with a voice that didn't carry a tune. Even when she didn't know the words and would make up her own. I'm remembering the song by Eric Clapton with the lyrics, "I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy". My mom got the biggest kick out of singing that around her conservative friends...

I am grateful to a mom who wasn't afraid to kiss in public. Not kissing me, I'm not even much of a hugger, thank you very much, so my mom kissing on me, well, would just be gross. However, having a nice long kiss with someone you love and feeling like you're the only two people in the world no matter who is nearby, now that's hot. Thanks mom, for giving me the green light on PDA.

I am grateful for a mom that was educated enough to be a free thinker. She went through her own journey to enlightenment and held my hand along the way. I was in group therapy with adults at the age of 11 with none other than the writers and creators of transactional analysis. Remember the book that swept the country in the 70's, "I'm ok, You're ok"? No wonder I thought kids my own age were so immature.

I am grateful to my mom who was my first sales mentor. She succeeded as a Tupperware dealer who soon became a manager with her free, plastic delivering station wagon. She rang many a doorbell announcing, "Avon calling". She was a dynamo in multi level marketing with Shaklee, Amway, Entourage, Nikken and others.

Remember that today there are soldiers who are missing their mothers. There are mothers overseas who are missing their children. Please write to one today and let them know why you are grateful. An anonymous soldier can be found at www.anysoldier.com

Merry Christmas to all~

Coach Be