My mom (Susan Duffy) makes everyone around her better & yet most people whose lives she changes don’t even realize it.

So what’s her secret? I honestly wish I knew her special recipe but I’ll do my best to share what I know. It’s amazing, honestly.

Some examples of ways she’s made people around her better:

•She recently got some of her family & friends into better nutrition habits because she cares about their health & wellness.
•She inspires you to follow your dream’s by believing in you.
•She supports your passions with subtle actions. For example, she recently bought me a book on personal development.
•Every day she’ll go out of her way to compliment someone. She makes people feel good about who they are & leaves them with a smile.
•She loves music, a trait thats rubbed off on me. As kids she had us watch the, “Sound of Music” & I’ve forever had “Do-Re-Mi” stuck in my head 🙂 Her passion for Andrea Bocelli gets us excited about his story & our heritage.
•She radiates joy & positivity. Her upbeat – full of life attitude is contagious & lifts others.

I could go on & on with examples but I’d like to distill the magic of my mom into a handful of ideas that I draw inspiration from:

1) She inspires others to become interested in what she’s interested in through her excitement.
2) She genuinely cares about what you have to say, & as she’s listening you feel like a good person, a person of worth.
3) She encourages you to grow, to do something beyond your normal, without making you feel like you’re not already great.
4) She’s accepting of who you are, not critical. She’s kind. You don’t hear her badmouthing people, only feeling compassionate for their difficulties.
5) Shes always looking to help people without needing to be repaid nor given credit.

Im not saying my mom is perfect. No one is. But these are traits in her I admire & constantly strive to imitate. I dont know if I’ll ever reach those heights but I’m grateful for her example. Thank you, mom.

Picture: Newport CA. Crystal Cove Beach. May 2015