UXL Blog

With my mom on the train

This past summer was my mom’s 85^th birthday. It was a special day—full of sunshine, smiles, and delicious food—but the most amazing thing of all is that a whopping 100 people showed up, only a handful of whom were family members. That’s pretty incredible for anyone, let alone an 85 year old, but it makes perfect sense for my mom. She’s an amazing person and I’ve learned many valuable life lessons from her. As I sat back and enjoyed the birthday party, I thought about the qualities my mom has that encouraged 100 friends to get together to celebrate in her honor:

1. She is an optimist

I know plenty of people my mom’s age who like to complain or gripe about their ailments. Not my mom. She’d rather talk about the sunny weather or family or the latest party she attended. That kind of optimism also leads her to try new things (new foods, new experiences, etc.). She believes that the outcome will be good, no matter the situation.

2. She is a problem solver

After my Dad passed away my Mom did not want to stay in Florida for Thanksgiving and my other siblings (all in PA) had traditions established.  So, since then she has made the trip to MN to share this holiday with us. This year, however, our son and his wife wanted us all to come out to Montana to spend Thanksgiving there. When I told my mom the news, she didn’t skip a beat…”Great, when do we leave,” is usually the response I can count on.  This year we are going to Oregon to spend the holiday with our youngest son–another adventure she did not flinch at.

3. She’s active

Even though she’s not as young as she used to be, my mom still keeps active and energized. She often hosts dinner parties (something even young people can find exhausting!) and loves to go out and socialize with friends. She’s great at keeping in touch with people and enjoys going out and about with her many acquaintances.

4. She cares about others

My mom still volunteers in her community. She finds it important to lend a helping hand to others. And she’s not afraid to reach out and ask if someone needs something. That kind of generosity has led her to be well-respected and loved in her community.

We can all learn a lot from the optimistic, big-hearted way my mom leads her life. Do you want 100 friends to show up at your 85^th birthday party? If so, start making positive changes in your life today. If you need some guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me today.

With my mom and sister

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, LICENSED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM

Tags: 85th birthday, be adventurous, care about others, career coach Margaret Smith, glass half full, lessons from my mom, Minneapolis career coach, optimism, try new things