Dear Q,

I will be the first to tell you that we give more power to money than it deserves.  Money is not worth anything; it is just paper or coin.  What it symbolizes is powerful, and in our increasingly cashless culture, money maintains it’s power even if doesn’t exist in a physical sense.  The meaning we attribute to money is arbitrary, yet it rules the world.  And, we let it.

As much as the concepts of money, ownership, and capitalism conflict with what I know to be true, to live in this world, I have to understand them.

We live in a culture that is ruled by credit.  Never spend more than you have in an effort to impress people you don’t know, or don’t like.  Remember your lesson on ego, and before you make a purchase, ask yourself why you desire it.  Is it kind? Is it necessary?  Is it true?  If you have doubts, then don’t spend – even if it’s only for a coffee.

Whether you have money or not, don’t let it rule your life; the more you focus on it, the more it will consume you and define your life.  Remember, you may need money to live, but you never need it to be.

Love always,

Mom

Dear Q,

The truest and most honest gifts are ones for which you expect nothing in return – not even a thank you.

Love,

Mom

Dear Q,

Never lend more than you can afford to lose.

Love always,

Mom

Dear Q,

I believe that as your mother, it is my job to prepare you for this world, and this world is crazy! In order to thrive in it while maintaining some semblance of sanity, everything has to be in balance: mind, body, spirit, emotions. As soon as anything is off, you will lose perspective of your being.

Physical health without mental, emotional, or spiritual health is pointless. Remember, your body is a reflection of your being, but it is not who your are; it is only temporary. Learn as much as you can. Seek answers. Cry when you need to cry. Laugh a lot. Do as much as you want to, but always be.

It is also important to balance your personal life with your professional life. This world will tempt you to emphasize your professional life, make more money, and consume more. Resist temptation. At the end of your life, you will never, ever wish you had worked more hours. Don’t neglect your personal life, for that is what will fill your heart and let you be.

Love always,

Mom

Dear Q,

My mother always said “don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” Once I figured out what it meant, I appreciated the wisdom. Spitefulness, in any case, is the work of your ego. It always needs to be right, to be better, or look better, or do better; it’s usually at the expense of relationships, but it’s always at the expense of your spiritual well-being.

Keep your ego in check. It is really easy to buy into this “buy me” world that we humans have created. This consumer-driven world can cater to your ego if you let it. In my experience, a let it be attitude is much easier to live by than a look at me attitude. As the world is telling you to consume and you find yourself wanting to (and you will), ask yourself why.

Why do you want the big screen TV, the fancy car, or the big house? What part of you really wants it? It’s your ego; it’s the part of you that gets stroked whenever someone looks longingly at it. Your ego will relish the thought that you might appear better or richer or more worthy. Resist it. The more you feed your ego, the more it grows.

It is really easy to let your ego get the better of you – to let it make your decisions and dictate your interactions and relationships. Trust me, it is not worth it. Don’t let yourself get in your own way.

Love,

Mom