I was in my mid thirties. I had four kids. I was in school, finishing my degree. I had a part-time job doing what would become my full-time career.

I was doing dishes with Mom. (I miss doing dishes. Shoulder to shoulder, one person busy, hands in hot water; the other inspecting the dishes and drying. What a wonderful place to to converse with someone you love.)

I was complaining; telling Mom a story, perhaps some mishap at school with one of the kids. Maybe it was a challenge at school or at work. I told her how handled the situation.

Mom stopped her work and turned so she could look me in the eye. “You explain yourself too much.”

Taken aback, I silently inspected another dish. Mom continued.

“You owe no one an explanation for who you are or what you do with your life.  Live it.  It is yours and only yours.  You will make mistakes, have regrets, and need to apologize.  Everyone does.  None of that takes away from the amazing person that is you.”

I forgot who or what got under my skin that week. I forgot what incident troubled me. After that, I graduated from college, got divorced, moved my kids and career to a big city, got laid off, got another job, met Loved-One, watched my kids succeed and stumble and succeed again, had grandkids, earned another degree, changed careers, moved to a house in the country, kept going.

I’ve apologized, had regrets, succeeded and failed. I never forgot Mom’s words of wisdom.

What a gift.

Do you have an nuggets of advice that have never left you? Who dispensed it?