Cue all quotes; today commemorates the movement for women's rights. Appropriately so, we are also celebrating the strongest woman I know, my mother on her birthday. She has persevered through her own turbulent childhood, my father's alcoholism, her disability, and a painful divorce that left her alone to provide for three young children, but without a college education or a career. Yet, she made it happen.
I recently saw the below article circulating on the internet and realized my mom taught me so many of these lessons by her example alone.
Every day, I hope I'm teaching these values to my own daughters, so they may always know their inherent worth, value and strength.
Rules for my daughters:
1. Make your bed every day; even if it's right before you get in it.
2. Find your tribe and love them hard. True friends are hard to find.
3. Travel light through life. Keep only what you need.
4. Put butter on your biscuit, and twice as much when you miss me.
5. It's okay to cry when you're hurt. It's also okay to smash things; but wash your face, clean up your mess, and get up off the floor when you're done. You don't belong down there.
6. If you're going to curse, be clever. If you're going to curse in public, know your audience.
7. Seek out the people and places that resonate with your soul.
8. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
9. Five second rule. It's just dirt. There are worse things in a fast food cheeseburger.
10. Happiness is not a permanent state. Wholeness is. Don't confuse these.
11. If you're staying more than one night, unpack your bag.
12. Never walk through an alley.
13. Be less sugar, more spice, and as nice as you're able to without compromising yourself.
14. Can't is a cop-out.
15. Hold your heroes to a high standard.
16. If you can't smile with your eyes, don't smile. Hug like you mean it, full arm, full circle, put some strength in it. Insincerity is nothing to aspire to.
17. Never lie to yourself.
18. Your body, your rules.
19. If you have an opinion, you better know why.
20. Practice your passions.
21. Ask for what you want. The worst thing they can say is no.
22. Wish on stars, then get to work to make them happen.
23. Don't skimp on good sheets.
24. Fall in love often; with ideas, art, music, literature, food, and far-off places.
25. Fall hard and forever in love with yourself.
26. Say "please, thank you and pardon me," whenever the situation warrants it.
27. Reserve "I'm sorry" for when you truly are.
28. Naps are for grown-ups too.
29. Question everything except your own initiation.
30. You have enough. You are enough.
31. You are amazing! Walk away from anyone who tells you you're not.
32. No matter where you are, you can always come home.
33. Be happy, say your prayers, and remember your roots.
34. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
35. Love every furry creature and treat them kindly.
36. No one will ever love you more than I do.
I would like to add, "you decide your rules." I feel fortunate to know many truly inspiring women, many who accomplished so much by breaking the rules. Thank you. Now let's celebrate our day by doing what we do every day, being our amazing, kick-ass selves.
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