6 lessons my mother taught me that nobody else could have

I remember this incident quite vividly. I was burning with rage when my mother asked me to complete my homework instead of giving me the permission to go out and play. Being in my rebellious teenage years, I tore off all the thousand rupee notes I found in her purse. No doubt, I was given an hour-long lecture about the importance of money and education but I never realised my mistake. Now when I look back, I realise how my mother taught me an important lesson that day, like nobody else could have.

My mother has always been a guide and friend to me throughout my life. Though it is impossible to keep a count of all the lessons she has taught me till now, here are some that helped me to become a better person…

<p>My mother always warned me that I will meet naysayers, haters and other people who will point a finger at me for no good reasons. She taught me the valuable lesson to trust myself and chase my dreams. “Never let anyone bog you down or question your ability to accomplish anything in life,” she had told me numerous times. Today, I work hard to achieve my goals and consider myself “unstoppable”. And the credit goes to my mother.<br></p>

<p>No matter how helpful and caring your friends or partner might be, you must be independent enough to survive on your own. Whether it was fixing a punctured tyre, filing income tax returns, managing bank accounts or every little household chores, my mother knew everything to perfection. In turn, I grew up becoming an independent, modern woman just by learning and drawing inspiration from her. <br></p>

<p>I was always taught to respect people and be polite with everyone. But my mother also taught me to follow the rule of give and take when it came to respect. You need not to be respectful to that person who treats you like a doormat. Today, if somebody dares to misbehave with me, I know how to give it back.<br></p>

<p>If we are fortunate enough to have a job and afford a decent lifestyle, we must not forget those less fortunate people in our society who struggle to make ends meet. I still cherish the memories when we used visit slum areas and distribute stationery to underprivileged kids. The smile on the faces of those children used to be priceless. And my birthday used to be always a special affair. Why? Because we used to spend time at an old age home and seek blessings from the elderlies there. I not only learnt to be good human being from her, but also learnt to practise gratitude in life. <br></p>

<p>Well, this is something every mother teaches her kid—the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching. We, as a society, are yet to reach a stage where there are no longer any cases of molestation, harassment and rape. When I was merely 5 years old, my mom started telling me that I own my body. Whether it’s just a hug, kiss or holding someone’s hand, I have the right to say no. I did not understand the meaning of these lines at that tender age, but her teachings definitely inspired me to speak up (in fact, shout and report to police) fearlessly when anybody dared to even touch me without my consent. <br></p>

<p>There is no point in mourning about the past and worrying too much about the future. What matters is your present. Make the most out of the opportunities you have in your hand, and be hopeful for a beautiful future. We begin to complicate our lives the moment we start anticipating about unforeseen things. This beautiful belief taught me the art of living a happy life.<br></p>