How You Finish Is What They Will Remember

This month encompasses a lot of “last” for me. It is the last week of school. The last time I will see many of my seniors. The last time I might see some of my colleagues that are moving on to new jobs next year. The last few weeks of work before I wrap up another school year and spend some well deserved time on summer break with friends and family.

As an educator, the end of May is always a bittersweet time of year. I always have a hard time telling my seniors goodbye and sending them out into the world. I am also oh so close to summer break, and am daydreaming about everything that summer entails... The long leisurely mornings drinking coffee on my deck watching my daughter draw rainbows with sidewalk chalk, the weekend trips I get to take with my family, and the late nights spent with girlfriends when I don’t have to worry about getting up early for work the next morning. Ahh! It is so close but it feels so far away.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I get close to the “end” of another school year, or another chapter in my life closing, I get tired. Almost without fail, I catch some sort of bug this time of year when my body is sensing how close to rest and relaxation I am, and this year is no exception. It can be easy to get lazy. To let my guard down and want to just get it over with already. These are the times that I have to buckle down and force myself to push through. May is without a doubt the month that I end up giving myself the most pep talks. “You can do this Staci. I know it is only Monday but get your booty out of bed and get in the shower. You have work to do!”

Maybe your pep talks sound different than mine. You might need to tell yourself that you can make it through your last final exam, that you have what it takes to finish out the last few days of high school, or college, or teaching your students this school year. But whatever that pep talk is that you need to give yourself, keep talking. Because here’s the thing: how you finish is what they will remember. You have come too far to give up now or to not finish even stronger than you started. The finish line is closer than you think. So whatever chapter is about to come to a close in your life, you can do it! Push through whatever obstacles are in your way and run your sweet self through that finish line with speed, strength, and grace. You will feel so much better when summer arrives when you finish strong. You’ve got this Shine Girl!

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The Truest Friend We Have

As I sit on the weekend of another Mother’s Day, (I have been a “mom” for almost 30 years now!) I am thinking about my kids, Victoria and Steele…I am hoping and praying that I have been THE MOM that THEY needed, that has instilled in them values and high expectations for a great life, and that they have known unconditional LOVE from me and their Dad. I am watching the sun rise in Vail this morning and wondering how MY Mom is doing…does she know how much I love her and how proud I am to be her oldest daughter? I also hope that she gets my card and gift today! LOL!

Does my Daughter in Law, Danielle, know that SHE is the best woman for my son and I am so grateful for her? She is going to be an amazing Mom one day!

And of course, when you get married, you get a second Mom! Helen, my mother in law, has been a source of strength and inspiration and humor to her entire family! She will be 90 this summer and I hope that she knows how much we all love her.

Does YOUR Mom know how YOU feel about her? Do you have that kind of relationship where the first person you want to share an awesome day, or that not so awesome stuff with, is your Mom? Do you make decisions sometimes thinking if your Mom would approve? Moms seem to know just what to say; there is something to be said for their “life experience”.

Moms can take many forms as I have found in my life…just think about it! They don’t have to give you birth, but there was a special gift of a “mom” sometime in your life when you needed her, a woman that “filled the gap.”

When you went to camp for the first time and your counselor was an awesome young woman who was fun and creative and you could talk to her when your Mom was being too strict (we have all been there!)…she was there for you.  Or what about when you went away to college and your Mom was hundreds of miles away---did you have an Aunt nearby that made dinner for you once a week or did your laundry, or an upperclassman in school that you learned some great life lessons from, that helped thru that awful class or your first break up? Just think of all the special women that you have been blessed with knowing and sharing life with---and all of those women that WILL be coming into your life soon!

I moved away from home when I got married at 22. It was hard leaving my entire family but I was looking forward to this new chapter as we drove that UHaul down to Dallas. I have talked to my mom since about the feelings of watching her first kid leave…she still holds those mixed feelings 35 years later.  A mother’s heart is always with you. We joined a church very soon after arriving where we met amazing people, some younger and many older than myself that became fast and long-time friends. These women have been solid for me, they have been there to share the birth of my kids, they have been there for me through some hard times and much more joy! I want to thank them for that time in my life; some of them have not been “physical” Moms, but the relationship that I have with them is a very strong one, even today, and they have those mom characteristics that I want to emulate in my life.  

What are some of those traits? 1. A positive attitude 2. They are creative 3. They are inspiring 4. They have a sense of loyalty 5. They are patient! 6. They take responsibility 7. They have determination 8. They’re trustworthy 9. They have great communication skills (verbal and non-verbal!) And lastly, 10. They are honest, most of the time!! (white lies sometimes are necessary to make us feel better!) share by  Claudya Martinez, 2015, Mom.me

And then there are those women, moms and friends (and my sisters) that I am “doing life” with today. They have been placed in my life NOW for such a time as I am walking through to be my Tribe---they are walking beside me, sharing experiences of their adult children and grandchildren-- we are lifting each other up, we are praying for bright and happy futures, and sometimes we are frustrated at times with obvious choices that are not made! I couldn’t be more thankful for all the special moms that I have in my life today!

I hope you recognize who those moms are in your life. Take a moment and realize how blessed you are; Maybe share your love and thanks with them and know that sometimes a kind loving word is all that is needed to brighten a small corner in that special lady’s life. If you are around your Mom this week, go have coffee or lunch with her. Take the time! Soon, you will wonder where it went!

I will leave you with a quote that speaks to me about my Mom, being a mom and all the wonderful women in my life---

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and suddenly fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsel to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”  ~Washington Irving, Writer