Priceless lessons from my Mom...

Part 2 of 2 posts... maybe one day we will add a 3rd.

Like I said in the last post I don't think I appreciated my mother nearly enough until I too became a mom. This Sunday I was missing her b/c she is in Las Vegas visiting my sister (and the week before I was ill so I didn't see them either that day). We normally see each other every week. She is so busy working 60 hrs on average a week as a high school teacher and caring for my disabled father who had a stroke in 06 but she always makes time for us. She loves watching my critters and if we can't get down to El Paso she comes up to Cruces. It is a really special relationship.

So anyhow these are just some of the lessons she passed down to me and my siblings that really shaped who I am today. These are the lessons I want most to pass down to my children!!!

1. Life is too short not to eat good food. If you have to go diet you might as well go with out. Along the same lines laughter is as important as food. You can't live a good day with out it.
2. Don't waste your time worried what everyone else thinks. Have fun and just be yourself, and you will always be good enough.If you love life with gratitude for all your blessings and spend your time giving you will always attract good people.
3. Don't waste time being petty over things that don't matter. If your life is not at risk than most of the time it doesn't matter. You don't regret walking away but you will regret a useless battle that you wasted time on.
4. Love EVERYONE! It doesn't matter one's religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc. b/c good people are good people. Don't judge before you can get to know someone. You might miss out on a really great person!
5. Don't be mean and don't hurt people for fun. You have feelings and so do other people. It is better to bite your tongue than have false satisfaction from sticking it to others. Treat others how you want to be treated. With that ignore stupid people who are mean-spirited. Life is too short to worry about them.
6. Be a strong woman. Know your who you are and know your worth. Don't settle on a guy to have a guy. Don't take crap at work. Get your education. If you are going to be married don't settle for anything less than a loving respectful marriage. With that said raising your children is the best time you will ever have in your life. Don't fear to pull back on career to do it.
7. Don't live on credit. Spend what you have and stop when you don't have it. But don't be a miser! Travel the world as much as you can. Splurge on a 5 star meal or a 5 star hotel if you can. Be responsible with money and plan for the future; but remember to live!
8. Love God and be faithful even when times are tough. There is no challenge that you cannot overcome if you have faith. With that count your blessings always, you will realize life is never really that bad even when things are falling apart.
9. And of course the most valuable lesson a Puerto Rican mom can give her kids is this: life is always better at the beach!