🏁 Axios Finish Line: Mom wisdom

Plus: Fun advice | Sunday, May 08, 2022

Open in app View in browser     Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·May 08, 2022 May 08, 2022 💐 Welcome back for a Mother's Day extra edition of Finish Line. Mother's Day is joyful for many, but hard for many. So please be considerate with your greetings. And maybe use today as an excuse to thank someone who made a difference in your life — related to you or not. Smart Brevity™ count: 710 words ... 2½ mins.     1 big thing: Lessons from your mothers Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios   Hundreds of you answered our call for Mother's Day lessons, with thoughtful and witty tips from your moms. Below you'll find a selection that stood out to us. Why it matters: Our moms are troves of wisdom — and we can all learn from each other. 1. Be kind — and selfless. "My mother taught me that it is never too late to change your opinion and always to be thoughtful about the world around me." —Amy P., Eaton Rapids, Mich. "No matter what, put others first — the most memorable example was at the end of her life when the doctors shared their recommendation to stop cancer treatment, she spent the next 30 minutes thanking them and telling them how much she appreciated them." —Larry E., Richmond, Va. "Don't judge others. Never consider yourself better than anyone else, and don't assume you know what they've been through — you don't." —Mary Ann T., Santa Monica, Calif. "Respect everyone's independence and intelligence — even children." —Mitchell T., Winston-Salem, N.C. "My mother always insisted the back and neck were her favorite parts of the chicken. She always wanted others to have the best, whether it was chicken or anything else." —Linda H., Moncks Corner, S.C. "Always, always, a thank-you note!" —Jen M., Boston "Never take the last cookie." —Deedee L., Missoula, Mont. 2. Be yourself. "'The clothes don't make the boy; it's the boy that makes the clothes,' when I was embarrassed that I had to wear hand-me-downs." —Dan J., Eureka Springs, Ark. "I don't care what you grow up to be as long as you are the best you can be." —Sandra H., Ocala, Fla. "Never be ashamed of being weird — all the coolest kids are." —Vincent C., Hoboken, N.J. 3. Be humble. "Listen more, talk less. My mom taught me at an early age the value to be gained from listening to others (however urgent or right one feels about the thoughts they want to communicate)." —Brent G., Houston "Others do not need to know when a good deed is done for others. Just do it." —Neil J., Shreveport, La. "If you learn something, it's not a wasted day." —Pam R., Little Rock "If you're going to forgive someone eventually, do it now." —Merry D., Norman, Okla. 4. Take responsibility. "If you can't get out of it, get into it (when you have to do something, take the opportunity to be enthusiastic about it rather than complaining)." —Kelly W., Washington, D.C. "Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres." —Bianca O.W., NM. (Translation: "Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are.") "You can't have a good day if you don't make your bed!" —Tina S., Oshkosh, Wisc. "Resilience. To overcome the vicissitudes of life in rural Kenya, get a college education in Oklahoma, U.S. and found a business back in Nakuru, Kenya." —Stephen M., Nakuru, Kenya "Help keep your community clean by picking up a piece of garbage whenever and wherever you find it." —Jeff G., Morristown, N.J. Share this story.     A message from Axios A better way to communicate     A difficult truth: You could have the smartest people, strongest strategy, endless capital — but your team is set up to fail without clear communication. That's why we built Axios HQ, a powerful tool that untangles uncertainty and streamlines communications. See how we use it at Axios     💐 Life is short — have some fun Many of you sent kernels of wisdom that made us smile. Here's some fun advice from moms around the country. "Don't get mad when Jimmy V. shoots a BB gun through your window." —Jim G. from Three Lakes, Wisc. (Context from Axios CEO Jim VandeHei: This guy still thinks I shot a hole in his window when we were kids; I am certain it was my brother!) "Calories on holidays don't count." —Kevin B., Fort Collins, Colo. "Butter your toast all the way to the edge." —Steve D., La Grande, Ore. "My mom always said: 'I don't buy green bananas' — which meant live each day like it could be your last." —James E., Evergreen, Colo. "It just gets worse, dear." —Len J., Burnaby, Canada Happy Mother's Day from Axios!   Thanks for reading. Please invite your friends to sign up here. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. 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