Today is my mom’s birthday.  My friend’s mother passed away this past Sunday and another friend’s father passed away this past Saturday.  My mother is a breast cancer survivor and knowing we came close to losing her a few years ago makes every birthday more special.

Being overweight is an issue both she and I have dealt with all of our lives.  Here are some of the best lessons in life she ever taught me with regards to my health:

• All things in moderation.  There were always treats in the house growing up, but we didn’t just eat and eat them whenever we wanted.  
• Love yourself as you are.  Growing up I was a chubby girl and then teenager and I never once heard my mom tell me I was fat, nor did I hear her ever suggest I needed to go on a diet. 
• Keep trying.  If I did feel a little overweight and wanted to lose some weight my mom would encourage me as best she could; even if it was the 3rd time in a year I complained about my weight but did nothing about it.  She never suggested I’d failed so many times at weight loss that I should quit trying. 
• Dress for your figure.  My mom taught me to dress modestly and in a way that flattered my figure, no matter how curvy it was.