I believe that being a mum is like being a silent hero, their impact on the world is paramount but they rarely get mentioned or acknowledged. My Mum is not perfect, but in my eyes she’s pretty close to it.

Every time I think about my Mum, I can’t help but feel deep gratitude because I wouldn’t have been here without her.

I can’t thank her enough for all that she has done for me and our family. So I dedicate this article to my mother as my way of showing my great appreciation and admiration for her.

My Mum is a simple mum just like anyone. She is a petite woman (5’ tall), but built in her is so much character and strength.

I feel so privileged to be her daughter and to have learnt so many amazing things from her over the years.

In this article, I’m going to share with you my top 10 lessons my mother has taught me about life:

1. Never take anything or anyone for granted.

In my mother’s eyes, life is not perfect, but it is beautiful. For someone who has gone through and survived the Vietnam War, every day is precious. She told me that she used to go to bed at night not knowing if there was going to be a tomorrow.

She taught me to never take anything or anyone for granted because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

She taught me to live each and every day to its fullest.

2.  If you want something, create it.

After the Vietnam War, most people had to start building their lives back with empty hands, including my mother. One thing that she was great at was that she always knew what she wanted and she was determined to create that in her life. My mother taught me that if I wanted something in my life, I have to create that in my life.

3.  What matters is how closely we connect in our heart.

I came to Australia to study at the age of 14 and have been away from my family ever since.

Conversations around the dinner table, birthday celebrations and family getaways were the things I didn’t get to experience with my family.

Every time I was on a call with my mum, she always reminded me that it doesn’t matter how far apart we live, what matters is how closely we connect in our hearts.

4. Be responsible for your own happiness.

One of the best lessons my Mum taught me is to be responsible for my own happiness.

She said when I rely on others to make me happy, I give my power away to them. When I take full responsibility, I reclaim my own power. She taught me that it doesn’t matter what has happened in the past, I still have the power to create my future the way that I want it.

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5. Love your uniqueness.

Even when I was a little girl, mum always acknowledged me for being unique and different. She taught me to love and accept myself for being exactly who I was, to embrace my strengths and weaknesses, to be OK with being ‘bossy’, strong and determined, to be OK with not fitting into a mould and conforming.

6. Always listen to your heart and trust your intuition.

One of my mother’s strengths is her ability to get in touch and connect with her higher-self and intuition.

Many times my mum has walked out of business deals because of her gut instinct and it has helped her build a very successful career. I learnt to listen to my inner voice.

7. Never let your fears dwarf your dreams.

A key lesson I learnt from growing up with a mum who is a successful entrepreneur, is to dream big and never let my fears get in the way. She told me that fear will always be there no matter what, so will hope and faith. It is not about living without fear, but taking action anyway, despite the fear.

8.  It’s okay to cry and ask for help.

My mum is an amazing, independent and strong woman that has created great success from empty hands.

But she is far from perfect, she has had moments of ‘meltdown’ and she never felt the need to hide any of that.

She is very open about her feelings and willing to ask for help when she needs it. She taught me that it takes courage to be vulnerable and vulnerability is strength.

9.  Have an open heart and always be compassionate.

When I asked others what they love most about my mum, they often compliment about how kind and compassionate she is towards others.

Amongst all the traits and characters that I admire about my mum, this is probably top of the list. Mum taught me to have compassion and always treat others with an open heart, to always put myself in their position and have a feel for what they are going through.

10.   Find your strength from within.

Never give up, always find your strength from within, you’ve got it. Every time I face challenges and feel like I’ve hit a wall, I always remember what my mum told me – strength is already within me. All I have to do is to dig deep, believe more and never give up.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I can’t wait to celebrate my mother, for all that she is and everything that she will be. Happy Mother’s Day Mum, I love you.

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