Mother’s Day is just around the corner (May 14) and so I wanted to take some time to step away from talking about fashion and talk about my mom. Moms and daughters always have a special relationship, and I’m lucky enough to have a very good one with my mother. 

I talk to her almost every day, and not because I feel like I have to, but because I want to. Put simply, she’s my best friend. Here are 5 things I’ve learned from my mother so far in life: 

That everything happens for a reason – Sometimes this is a hard one to swallow. It’s definitely a lot easier said than done, but more often than not, it’s true. Every class I didn’t like, every job I didn’t get, and every “thing” that didn’t work out for me at the time I wanted it, ended up turning out in my favor down the road. It’s really hard to believe this mantra when you’re “in it” but I’m getting better every day at trying to see things in a positive way. That rejected application from USC when I was graduating college? I ended up meeting my husband in undergrad, and years later, here I am. Oh, and I did go to USC eventually, to get a Master’s Degree. That terrible boss I had when I thought I wanted to do public relations? I have thicker skin for it, plus a much greater appreciation for my current boss.

My favorite picture to date of me and my mom. I didn’t want to go to school without her, so she laminated a copy of this photo and gave it to me on my first day so I wouldn’t miss her.

To drink more water – My mom is constantly telling me to drink water. She’s right, I totally need to. I’m constantly running around and sometimes I get so busy that I forget to stay hydrated, leading to massive migraines. It happens more than I’d like to admit. Drinking water is so simple to do, but it’s more than that. It’s actually part of the greater notion that even when I’m busy, I need to make sure that I take the time to take care of myself.

That sometimes, it’s okay to not do anything all day – I have a tendency to pack my days and overcommit. It’s in my personality and I’ve always been that way. I actually don’t know how to stay still, which I credit to my father. When I’m sick, I get really antsy, particularly if it’s been awhile since I’ve worked out. If I’ve had a lazy day, I’ll get annoyed with myself for letting hours go by and not doing “anything.” Usually, these days happen after a really stressful work week, or if I’ve been sick and powering through something, etc. Ironically, these lazy days validate Advice A. everything happens for a reason, AKA maybe you needed to just chill and Advice B. Drink water, AKA slow down and take care of yourself.

For Christmas I gave my mom tickets to see the Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas. Here we are right before the show started!

That you can, actually live more than one life – My mom has done so many things over the course of my childhood and adulthood. She worked night shifts as a medical technologist when I was younger. She then became a full-time mom in middle school and high school. After that she decided to go into HR. Even more recently, she did something crazy awesome. She became a personal trainer at the young age of 59. My mom is my constant reminder that no matter what path I choose to take in life, I can always find a fork in the road and decide to go left when I originally planned on going right.

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent – This one is pretty simple, and mom took it from Eleanor Roosevelt. Basically, don’t let people make you feel like crap. At the end of the day, you control how you react people. If someone says something that makes you feel bad, you can decide to let it ruin your day, or you can brush it off and keep going. This applies to everything in life: work, family, relationships, and friendships. 

Obviously, my mom has taught me a lot more than these 5 things. However, these are the big ones that I always remember, that help me lead my life. BRB, I need to go drink some water.

Not sure what you get your mom this Mother’s Day? Here’s a few ideas.

GIFTS FOR MOM