Dear Q,

The key to patience is clearing your head of  what else you could, should, or would rather be doing.  No matter what is consuming your moment in time, commit your mind and your self to it.

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

The other day, someone accused me of being an atheist. And, I say accused not because I feel that being an Atheist is undesirable, but because the comment felt like an accusation.

My curious nature, and reluctance to accept an unfitting label (or any label, for that matter), encouraged me to research the word further. After exploring its etymology and definitions, I discovered that the literal meaning of the word atheist is godless. It seems like a fair assessment.

Still, I am reluctant to accept it without fully exploring the term god.

After reviewing the definitions of god, not only did I lose all faith in my source, I discovered that the overriding themes were an omnipotent supreme being, or one who is worshiped. Undoubtedly, by definition, I am an atheist.

But if I am an atheist, how do I define what I believe? Surely, being godless does not mean I am void of any belief system. I believe in something, but it’s not a being, and it’s not omnipotent, and I don’t worship it; so, can it not be a god?

Despite what dictionary.com says, I believe that there are as many definitions of god as there are people. Maybe god is simply whatever we want it to be.

To me, God is not a supreme being; god is being, supremely.

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