What inspires you?

When I was growing up I was enthralled with my mother. It sounds funny but I was. I found myself watching her every move. I loved to watch her get ready; wearing her white eye shadow and spraying her Liz Claiborne perfume (yes, it was awhile ago). I also loved to go through her purses and paperwork and closets and drawers and her makeup. I watched her at work and at home, with her friends and with our family. I would watch her facial expressions and listen carefully to her words.

Yesterday we were driving to a birthday party and I glanced up in the rear view mirror and saw Stella looking at me. I said, “Bunny, what are you looking at?” and she replied, “You momma.” I instantly had this flood of emotions wash over me.

I will be that person that Stella watches and listens to. I immediately decided I needed to step up my game.

I try to take care of our environment, eat right, live passionately and be kind. However, Stella will be watching me all the time; when I am being kind and also when I am gossiping. She will see the real me. Just like me and my mother, we know each other so well and I guess, at times, that can be scary. When someone knows you so well, they can criticize you and it penetrates your heart. Stella will know the whole me; the good, bad and yes, the ugly. My heart is exposed in the most raw way.

I have watched my mother for 33 years (almost 34 ahhhhh!) and know the woman that she is. I have big shoes to fill because my mother is an amazing person.

Now it is me who is the mother.

It is true what they say; your children inspire you. I was inspired yesterday to be a better person.

To be the person I want my children to be.

What inspires you?