05/09/2024
A year ago, I lost my mother suddenly 💔
I’ve been going through photos of our adventures across the world together.
This photo is everything! Brief story, right before we boarded the gondola in Venice there was a street performer holding a monkey and he let my sister hold the monkey, but he would not allow me to hold it because I was too little. I was not happy lol.
THEN… I saw this picture and it brought me to happy tears because it reminded me how that smile on my face was pure LOVE and gratefulness towards my mom, who probably told the gondolier that I was sad about the monkey and would he let me drive the gondola?! 😹
This brings me back to the look on my face then, and what that means to me now. She taught me how to steer the boat, lead with my heart, believe in myself because I mattered, and not be afraid to fail.
This is all so heavy to process after her death because, I now realize how much she was struggling with and hiding mental illness and that unfortunately based on a sh*tty upbringing, she didn’t even believe in herself 💔 She was truly my #1 cheerleader and the only one in my life at that young and fragile age who believed in and encouraged me.
I will never forget what she did for me, to give me life and wings so I can take flight and soar however high I choose! She is with 100% certainty the sole reason I BELIEVED I could start my own business 10 years ago.
While I am proud of my business and the community culture and love I have created, it doesn’t come close to how proud I am of WHO I AM because of the heart she instilled in me to be a loving, caring human who possesses all the faults and brilliance that comes with it.
I see you mom and I LOVE YOU❣️ I honor you on the daily as a reminder of all your sacrifices. I will never forget.