MOM

The greatest lessons I've learned from my mother is selflessness.

My mother selflessly gives her energy, time and focus to helping others, even after others have not treated her in that same way and may have taken so much from her without even realizing. Others like me. Learning this lesson is at the top of my list of lessons of reflection for integration.

Not fully knowing or understanding how to give back or integrate the lesson fully, I reflect on my Mother's words. How did she keep going through the hurdles, getting back up after every hit from the world.

"Just keep moving forward," are the words I hear ring so true for me today. Now, for me, I heard "stuff down how you feel about it and pretend it didn't happen", "or change yourself and do better".

That is not what was meant at all. It simply meant, "just keep moving forward." One step at a time, one foot in front of the other, especially after feeling like I had taken two steps back. There is no rush to win a "non existent" race. There is just moving forward, with the lessons disguised as blessings. Move forward focused on THIS moment. Just this MOMent.

"Forgive, but don't forget." I thought meant, forgive others but never trust them again, when it fact, it simply meant, forgive yourself and others for the pain you've caused each other, and don't forget the lesson.

I am grateful for everything that has happened in my life, for I learned so much and although it is easy for me to forgive others, it takes more moving forward for me to fully forgive myself. Taking time and moving forward doesn't mean rush. Be in THIS MoMent moving forward.

I have learned that if I stuff down my feelings to keep moving forward, to win some race that doesn't exist, I am dragging with me unnecessary baggage that has no place in the present moment other than the knowledge gained from it.

It makes it easier to let go of the baggage when I remember that it's not just OKAY to move forward, but VITAL for growth. Forgiveness doesn't excuse the actions or pain those actions caused, it just means acceptance and growth, taking those lessons as blessings to create new patterns instead of repeating them. Acceptance and Appreciation helps with forgiveness.

Keep moving forward with one foot in front of the other, with forgiveness in your heart, and the lessons to aid you in your progress.

"Call me when you get home." An action that I was unable to align with fully until I really began to focus on relationships and understanding what truly matters to me, as a human, as a spiritual being, as Me.

I was so busy just moving forward, with lots of extra luggage, that I pretended wasn't there, trying to forget the people I had hurt or been hurt by, that I could not be present long enough to call my mother when I got home.

When the call or text would come in from her wondering if I was safe, I would make up an excuse that I believed to be true, "just got here," I would send back. Now I can not lie even if I tried. Honesty has been the greatest lesson in appreciation and forgiveness, but that's a whole different story. When I am up in the clouds with past or future thinking, being present to remember to "call when I am home," is impossible.

When I add the 3 lessons I have learned from my Mom, I understand that selflessness is to keep moving forward, to forgive but not forget, and to call when I get home. Selflessness is Love.

I have learned to keep moving forward without the feeling of running from regret.

I have learned that forgiving myself and others is key to letting go of the baggage of shame and blame, to take heart the lessons to remember when walking my life path instead of trying to win a race that I was only competing with myself.

I have learned that "call me when you get home," is not something people just say, it is a heart felt connection that I will honor for the rest of my days. To keep moving forward with a light heart full of blessings meant to share with others along the path, and to call my Mother when I get home.

To be selfless is not to forget about myself, it is to focus on choosing Love-the highest, grandest path for All, giving only what I wish to receive. Being selfless, Being Love means always giving a little more.

Thank you Mom for your Selfless Love. Your love guides me to be Love too. I'll call you when I get home.