The envelope was torn and worn..I had forgotten what was inside…

For as long as I can remember, but especially after I gave birth to my son, my mother worried about my weight.

When I was younger, I thought she was judging me. But as I aged, I realized it was really just her wanting me to live my healthiest life. When I was getting ready to turn 40, I remember her telling me she really wanted me to get serious about dropping the excess pounds. She said once I reached 40, it would be much harder. I did not believe her.

A few months after my 40th birthday, she mailed me a large manila envelope that was filled with pages and pages of hand written “healthy” meals. This is a meal plan she had followed for a very long time, so she thought that maybe it would help me as well.

I remember receiving that envelope in the mail, opening it, smiling, and then sticking it in a box. I never used it.

That was 10 years ago.

But last night, while I was organizing a few boxes, I found the envelope again, along with the meal plans.

And course it made me sad to see those papers- her neat handwriting and the attention to detail she gave in writing everything out for me just overwhelmed me! In the best way.

Finding that meal plan was a reminder of how much my mother loved me. She loved me so much that she was willing to step out to help me live a healthier life. Even if her comments made me upset, even if at times, I felt judged by her. I always knew it came from a place of love. Of care.

If there is someone in your life who gives you direction that makes you upset, take a moment to think about where that direction is actually coming from. Are they really judging you? Or are they coming to you from a place of love?

Let’s Get Sentered: in receiving direction without getting upset or offended.

#GoodDaughter