Day 81: 10 Things Your Mom Said That Were Actually Right

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Categories: 90 days, self improvement

Mom might not have known everything, but there were several areas where her advice was spot on.

It’s natural for young people to go through a period of doubting what their parents say and to lack the perspective to see the truth in the things they told us. But as we mature and grow older, we can look back on what our mothers (and other elders) told us and appreciate how right they were.

1. If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?
I can still hear myself protesting “But mom, that’s just stupid.” The truth is, I did a lot of stupid things in my teens and early twenties because it’s what everyone else was doing – or worse, what I thought everyone else was doing. Learning to do things because they are the right choice for me has been a key to leading a calm, contented life.

2. If you’re that bored, clean your room.
Hopefully your room isn’t as messy as it was during your younger days, but there is a lot of wisdom in getting up and tidying or organizing when you’re feeling bored or blah. Not only will your home or office be neater, but giving your hands some busy work do to can help your mind get “unstuck” and provide you with inspiration for loftier things than cleaning.

3. Beds are not made for jumping on.
Not only are bed frames not generally strong enough to withstand being used as trampolines, using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex can exacerbate insomnia. Make sure to reinforce the idea that bed=sleep by never watching television, working or doing other activities in bed.

4. Play outside!
Most of us don’t get enough sunshine and fresh air. Spending time outdoors helps our bodies produce vitamin C and keep depression at bay. It’s hard to be your best unless you’re getting ample exercise and fresh air so the next time it’s nice outside, go play outside for a bit (or at least take a walk around the block during your lunch break).

5. How do you know you don’t like it if you don’t try it?
Our preconceived notions can prevent us from trying things that could add richness and joy to our lives. Don’t dismiss things out of hand. Be willing to give things a try before discounting them. Stretch outside your comfort zone every once in a while and see where the adventure takes you.

6. Don’t slouch, sit up straight.
Good posture isn’t only more attractive, but it’s easier on your back, neck and shoulders. Sitting up straight is also more conducive to breathing properly, which can help relieve stress. Be mindful of your posture and work on exercising your core muscles to give strength to your abdomen so that it can support you properly.

7. It doesn’t matter who started it, you end it
Often we waste too much time assigning blame and wanting the person who was in the wrong to straighten up and make amends. Unfortunately, that’s not always going to happen and it’s up to you to find a way to resolve situations for the sake of your continued peace and happiness, instead of waiting for the other party to take responsibility.

8. Fish is brain food
Many varieties of fish are rich in an omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, that is necessary for proper brain development and function. Be sure to choose varieties that are known to be low in mercury and are from sustainable sources. If you can’t, or choose not to, eat fish, ground flax seed and flax oil is also a rich source of omega-3s.

9. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Honesty is important but it’s not always necessary to share your opinion. When you treat others with kindness and compassion, you’re not only saving their feelings but you are also helping to move your life towards a more positive point of view. There will be times when you have no choice but to say something that has the potential to hurt feelings; but always be aware of your own motivations and save the harsh truth for when it will truly benefit the recipient.

10. I love you.
Your mother is right; you are a person worthy of love and respect. Never lose sight of the fact that no matter who you are or what you have or haven’t done; you are lovable and full of potential. Love yourself unconditionally and treat yourself with the kindness that you deserve.

 

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Tracy O’Connor blogs about ghostwriting and blogs about living a better life. Follow her on Twitter

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  • http://keithsuckling.wordpress.com Keith Suckling

    My Mum (& Dad) said all of these things to me at some point. And I have already heard myself say them to my little one.

    I will probably add one to this based on some of Dan Pink’s “Adventures of Johnny Bunko” stuff though…
    “Make excellent mistakes”

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  • Sylvie Lachapelle

    Some many more could be added, and I too is finding my way to my “parents” teaching as I try to raise my own civilization. And yes, mom & dad are always right :)

  • http://hanofharmony.com The Vizier

    Hi Tracy,

    Moms may not always be right. But given our disaster prone choices as kids, their advice would keeps us out of more trouble than we could handle. Sadly, many of us had to learn the hard way. Here are some of the thoughts I had as I read though your list of things that a Mom would say.

    1. If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?

    Ah I remember this one. Blindly following the crowd would only be a recipe for disaster. It was not an easy lesson for me but I had to learn to think for myself instead of accepting what others said as the gospel truth. But this lesson has paid off richly for me because there will always be many opinions and advice I would receive. Only by knowing my own goals and priorities would I make the right choices.

    5. How do you know you don’t like it if you don’t try it?

    This is true. It is easy to make assumptions about things that are alien to us. But these assumptions are usually inaccurate because we cannot know we like or dislike something unless we experience it for ourselves. We have to be willing to step out of our comfort zones in order to grow. And one of the ways of doing so is by trying new things.

    Thank you for sharing this article!

    Irving the Vizier

  • http://www.balancedworklife.com/blog Bryce Christiansen

    One I got all the time was, “Turn off the light, when you leave a room.” Although my physics professor shared how little energy leaving a light on produces, saving money is just a minor lesson learned.

    The bigger lesson was choosing to waste less, cleaning up after yourself, being responsible.

  • http://www.ascendingdream.com Ascending Dream

    Great article, I loved it! It’s funny how much of what mothers say pass right through our ears as children…

  • http://thedropoutkid.com jonathanfigaro

    “If you’re that bored, clean your room”
    Gotta love that line…haha..All excellent suggestions..great work.

  • http://www.downtownprintwear.com Dan Leavitt

    “It could always be worse”. Of course at the time I thought that was impossible, but it has been a great business lesson for me. No matter how frustrating the day is going, how annoyed I am, or how many things go wrong, I just tell myself “It could always be worse.”

    It’s true.

  • http://www.fredtracy.com Fred Tracy

    Haha I like this, especially #10. Good work Tracy. :)

  • http://www.selfoptimizing.com Debbie B.

    I realized that I was finally an adult when I could admit that, yes, my mother was right!

  • http://www.personal-development-is-fun.com Meghashyam Chirravoori

    beautiful. Just beautiful, the way you have actually taken sentences that moms all over the world have said to their children…and turned them into the bare and simple things we just must do but forget to do…

    I am very very thankful for the energy this post has filled me with…right at the start of my day. :)

    Thank you. Thank you.

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  • http://www.zetmedia.de Juergen Zywietz

    When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. (Mark Twain) ;-)

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  • Archana

    Tracy,

    A beautiful listing of every mom’s words to her kid. As I read it, I associated your words and my mum’s picture in my mind..
    The words from parents rather elders arent just meant for healthy and disciplined life of a kid, but the form the basics of an individual’s personality on the whole.
    For instance, play outside she says.. what do you infer from this? It is an attempt to prevent damage inside the house?? see the other side of it.. She means to say- explore the opportunities outside! Quite meaningful isnt it?

    Perceptions :)

    Good writing. I liked it.

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  • http://www.vmdoh.com Brian Altenhofel

    Sitting up straight has been shown to actually be bad for your back. Leaning back slightly is better. But yeah, slouching forward is really bad.

  • http://www.patymsnutritionworld.blogspot.com/ Paty M

    aaah i love this and the whole blog!Keep it up :)

  • http://www.panmett.com collins

    Hi Tracy,thanks for this Article.It reminds me that mom was right in most of her nagging.

    Thanks!

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  • http://momsthatarenice kiara almeida

    my mom is the m]nicest in the whole wide word

  • http://www.hermeshandbagsaaa.com/ Ask

    A friend is a kind of help. Rain the life on the road, friends can block wind chill for you, for you share sorrow, remove the pain and difficulties, friends will always friendship.
    He is you climb up the escalator when you were injured, is a medicine, is you when a bowl of water of hunger, is when you across the river is the boat; He is money can’t buy orders not to come of, only the truly can track, and the most valuable for the real thing.
    A friend is a kind of acacia, a friend is each other, each other about miss, mutual concerns, each other on. Missing is like a flow of endless river, like a gentle frivolous, like a cloud of a fragrant flowers, like a piece of lingering sound made by the wind.
    Sometimes he also is a kind of light memories, light tea, light resonance……
    Have the friendship, little a lot of worry, gloomy leaves, won’t fall on the earth, and float on the surface, to distant drift, friendship is the river is, is a kind of pure and fresh air, behind out in front……

  • Triangle

    Great post – as a mother I find myself saying these things to my children in the hope that sometime , when they need it most, words of wisdom will be remembered.

    Also it is vitamin D not C that your body manufactures with the aid of sunshine.

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  • Mirandalomeli

    A friend should never be mean are talk bad about others even knowing they get on your nerves for example this girl named Layza Valle she was talking bad about a girl named Liliana she didn’t even understand her because Liliana use have a boyfriend   when they broke up Liliana turned mean and a little bossy.Then five weeks later Layza,Seanna,Jimmy,Jalanda,and Mayela started to talk bad about her.A few days later Liliana had a nice bestfriend named Amrizza she was always with her even knowing Liliana sometimes hurted Amrizza’s feelings and thanks to Amrizza now Liliana is a nice person with everyone and now does five mean girls stopped talking bad about her and now people make fun of Seanna because she use to be a bully and now lots of people make fun of her name now people say ”Hahahaha your name came out of the sea thats why nobody knew that the name seanna exist.” ”Leave me alone.”Thi is what happened so never be mean to others CAUSE THAT ´SOMETIMES YOU COULD GET THAT PERSON ON THEIR NERVES AND WHAT EVER YOU DO IT COMES BACK TO YOU SO BE A NICE PERSON THANKYOU.