Growing up, it always seemed that mom knew the answer to everything. Her love and wisdom was shared through classic one-liners that every child or teenager hears at some point. These pieces of advice stick with us long into adulthood and they get truer as we get older. Here are seven quotes that you might have heard from your mom “way back when” that we can appreciate today.

 

  1. Go play outside! It’s a beautiful day!

Being outside is good for our health. It promotes creativity, boosts vitamin D and the immune system, and provides a place to exercise and socialize. (At safe distances, of course!)

  1. Are you going out dressed like that?

The way you present yourself is important. It goes hand-in-hand with a similar expression, “first impressions are everything”. If we take the time to check our clothes before heading out the door, we should also take a second to check our attitude. A positive outlook and cheerful expression can make a huge difference.

  1. Because I said so, that’s why!

A rule is a rule and sometimes we just have to accept that. There are situations in life we cannot change. It can be an opportunity to trust and move on.

  1. If the other kids jumped off the bridge, would you?

If all we ever did was imitate other people, we would never have discovered who we are. Every person was created unique and unrepeatable. Just be yourself!

    1. Call me when you get there so I know you’re ok!

This is great advice at any time but especially during a health crisis. We need to stay connected with other people and notify someone if we are going out and when we expect to come home. It’s a small detail that could save someone’s life.

 

  1. You don’t always get what you want!

We should take this to heart as an invitation to be more grateful for what we do have.

  1. When I was your age, I had to walk ten miles through the snow, uphill, by myself, to go to school

No matter how bad things get it is important to keep perspective. Times have been harder. Food has been more difficult to find. Healthcare has been less capable and less available. We are blessed to live today with so many resources. That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect, but it might be better than ever before.