my mom on celebrating life

In honor of Mother's Day, I would like to talk about the beautiful lady I get to call "mom." Her name is Julie Kate Webster, but many simply call her JK. She is fun and determined, sweet and a bit headstrong. But most who her know her know this: she has the happy gene.

What is the happy gene? You may be wondering.

It sounds silly, but the happy gene is what keeps my mom positively moving through her day with a smile on her face. She always seems to see the bright side, keep her chin up, and proceed on knowing life is good.

I will admit she does have quite a temper when her teenagers get snappy or something upsets her. However, she is extremely quick to forgive and move on, reminding herself and others that tomorrow is a new day in which new choices can be made.

This is a gift that has blessed our family for years. Whether it's the chalkboard sign in our kitchen that reads her new inspirational quote or the daily morning reminder that this day brings so many possibilities, my mom likes to create good energy.

Some may wonder her secret, but she will tell you it is in her DNA. "I got lucky," she'll say, "I got the happy gene." However, something she said in the car today made me think her outlook on life majorly contributes to the positivity as well.

"You have to remember to celebrate every chance you get."

It being Mother's Day, the statement made sense. At the moment, my entire family (the two doggies too!) were piled in my Jeep, top and doors off, strolling through my grandmother's neighborhood after wishing my grandmother, Bennie, a happy mother's day.

The morning was gorgeous, one of those mornings that you hope everyone in Memphis has time to spend outside. My family made sure to enjoy it by celebrating the mothers in our lives. We visited (at a distance) my great-grandmother, grandmother, and close family friend, wishing them all a wonderful day.

It was magical. Not only were we celebrating the day by getting outside and cruising around Memphis with some fun music, we were giving others a chance to celebrate as well. The whole experience left me smiling.

"Remember to celebrate every chance you get."

Following that statement in the Jeep, my mom went on to talk about not letting events and life moments pass by without a celebration. I think this is very important for people to hear during this time because so many events have been cancelled. It may seem too easy to play it off and not make it a big deal, but I (and my mother) encourage the opposite.

Graduations. Birthdays. End of the year parties. Trips. All of these things are still worth the celebration. Yes, a virtual celebration is not the same, but a zoom call with twenty familiar and loved faces is better than nothing.

Buy a cake. Blow out the candles. Organize a car parade for a friend. Call your aunt when she turns fifty. Order your favorite takeout. Find the little things that could make life a celebration because this is the time when we need it most.

And beyond the holidays and missed events, find celebration in the everyday. That is the biggest lesson I got out of my mom saying that simple phrase. She did not say to celebrate just on birthdays or anniversaries or graduations. She said, "every chance you get."

So when the sun is shining, celebrate with a walk. When the rain is falling, celebrate with a book and tea. When the meal is cooked, celebrate with family around a table. When the night has fallen, celebrate with an episode on Netflix.

And when the day is new, celebrate with a smile because there are truly just so many possibilities.

That is the kind of outlook I aspire to have in life. It is the outlook I believe helps my mom see the good and find the happy.

Maybe you do not have the happy gene, but perhaps you can have an outlook on life in which you celebrate even the smallest everyday moments. It will not only benefit you, but also spread good energy to those you love in your life.

And with that I say, Happy Mother's Day. Celebrate by hugging a mother in your life.

-Chloé