This year, I am thankful for my mother.⁣⁣

🍁 This year, I am thankful for my mother.⁣⁣
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This photo was taken 4 years ago. I have not seen her in almost that long, and if you follow my posts you know that our relationship has always been rocky at best. There are so many times I have quit on us. When I took space and said it’s just too much for me. I can’t take this anymore.⁣⁣
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♥️ I am so grateful I got another chance. I am so grateful to have gone through the leadership program I am finishing up now.⁣⁣
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I heard people talk about how they repaired relationships with family members. They said, “When you change, they change.”⁣⁣
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✨ I thought, “Nah. Not for me. Not with my mother.⁣⁣
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But I was wrong. We weren’t the exception. Thank God. I dug deep and got re-centered on my vision for my life & family. I took a small step and promised to call my mother every weeknight for 15 minutes.

🍷 It didn’t matter what we talked about. She could talk about anything she wants. What mattered is that I showed up and showed love by committing to our time and by listening to her.⁣⁣
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And in a month of doing this, our relationship has completely changed. Because I was willing to change. I stopped craving the love I wanted and started give the love I desired instead. ⁣⁣

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🍁 In the middle of some heart-wrenching feedback last month, one person told me to BE the example of love I wished to see in my family. ⁣⁣

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I received that advice and did just that. I realized I did not have one more minute to waste playing victim OR to live in the past. My mother is 74 and not healthy and we are not promised tomorrow. ⁣⁣
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♥️ I didn’t know my relationship with my mother was the source of EVERYTHING becoming better in my life.⁣⁣
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I didn’t know that by giving unconditional love, it would increase my belief in myself that I am loveable.⁣⁣
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✨ That this would elevate my self-worth so much that it changed how I show up in EVERY area of my life. Thank God I got another chance to make this right. I am so, so grateful.⁣⁣

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I won’t see her today for Thanksgiving. But I will be home for Christmas this year, & I’m happy to say that this is the most excited I have been in a really, (maybe ever) to spend time with my family. #sograteful 🍁✨♥️