Mother’s Day is always a time to reflect. When asked about the most inspiring thing their mother had ever told them, a group of professional men and woman shared a wide range of answers.
“Avoid starting battles,” a life coach said, and commented on how the sage advice had preserved family peace through the decades, and helped her get ahead in her career. “Everyone’s the same – you’re not special,” responded a psychiatrist. While the thought might at first appear disillusioning, the man shared how the concept spurred him on to achieve personal and professional success through hard work, rather than feeling entitled to things he hadn’t earned.
A minister’s mother had assured her daughter, “This, too, shall pass,” helping the woman navigate challenging events in her life with the knowledge that obstacles would eventually give way to grace. “Follow your heart” was a frequently quoted phrase, and “Life is not a race, it’s a dance,” was the heart-felt “Mom wisdom” that gave a spiritual teacher’s heart wings.
While nearly everyone interviewed had fond memories of how their mothers’ love and encouragement was the foundation of who they became in their life, a dermatologist’s mother perhaps summed it up the best.
“If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else,” her mom reminded her frequently throughout her childhood.
With those wise words indelibly etched on her heart, the woman practiced what mom preached through college, marriage, medical school, setting up a successful practice, and raising two exceptional kids. Even now, having passed the half-century mark, the vibrant, youthful and energetic woman is balancing her work and family life with caring for her own body, mind and spirit.
She prepares wholesome, balanced meals for her family, and doesn’t allow sugar or trans fats into the house. Multiple times during the week she stretches her body and mind in yoga classes. When the weather doesn’t allow a 15+-mile bike ride, she dances up a sweat in zumba class and works out on the weight machines.
Even her patients get the benefit of her mother’s “care for yourself” advice – besides treating their skin, she nourishes their spirit with her handouts on how to meditate and release stress. She realizes that the most valuable medical advice she can share is how to create a positive balance in life – just like her mom always told her.
Learn the tools for creating a healthy balance in your own life by detoxifying your body, quieting your mind and nourishing your spirit at the Optimum Health Institute. We can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual goals for optimal health in 2013. Find out more about the missions in San Diego and Austin, TX at www.optimumhealth.org . Call us at (800) 993-4325 to make your reservation.
