My Mom's Eulogy |

My Mom’s Eulogy

My Mom taught me some of the most important things I’ve ever learned in my life..

How to be strong
How to be responsible
How to be independent
And, most importantly, how to take care of others

When I got to college, for instance, I wasn’t homesick or scared like some of my peers… having been well prepared to “make it on my own” by my Mother (and the reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show that we watched together.)

I became an RA, following in my sister Julia’s footsteps as I so often did, and also in my Mother’s, who I believe would have been an RA had she gone to college. (And a tough one at that.) And from the first day on the job I could feel that I was made for it. Being in charge felt easy. Helping other students who were having a hard time adapting was a piece of cake. And People would often ask me, “how did you get so strong?” I didn’t have to think about the answer. I’d just say, “my mom taught me.”

She taught me how to be a good person, how to do the right thing. She told me flat out that she would support me no matter what I chose in life. “As long as you’re happy,” was what she’d always say. It was an incredible comfort to know that I could be anything and never lose her love.

So, perhaps without even realizing it, my mom made me courageous. She didn’t always understand my career pursuits, in fact they mostly terrified her. I won’t lie, she tried to talk me out of most of them… but because I knew she’d always be there no matter what I chose, I often chose the risk over the sure thing. And I told her not to worry. This both drove her crazy with worry and delighted her all at once. And it was that mixture of worry and delight that spurred me on. Because I knew she cared enough to worry, and believed in me enough to be excited. And what more can you really ask of a mother?

She gave me the freedom to live my life in any way that I chose. She continues to give me that freedom, because she is alive within me. Her spirit is alive in everyone who knew and loved her.

So let it move you. Let it allow you to chose the risky path over the sure thing. Let the courage my mom gave me live on through all of your choices. Let her push you to live your life to the fullest, and to do things that will shock and delight the people you love. Get that tattoo you’ve always wanted. Sell all of your expensive possessions and use the money for the vacation you’ve always dreamt of but are afraid you’ll never get to go on.

Please… Quit your job and do something that you actually care about.

Fight for your happiness and fulfillment like your life depends on it… because it does.

As evidenced by today, life can be cruelly cut short sometimes… but it doesn’t have to be in vain.

My mom’s legacy is clear to me, and her spirit is alive and well in my heart. Let it live in yours for as many days as you remain on this earth. And make every day count.