The Letter You Wish You Had Received from Your Mother

My darling child,

I offer you these words, to which you can always return, in moments of joy as well as in moments of doubt, to reassure yourself that in this life, no matter how tumultuous it may seem, whether I am here or not, there will always be — and this is a great Truth — the Love of God to guide you, and my love as well, which depends neither on life nor death. I love you so much.

But love alone is not enough... Sooner or later, this world will surprise you with painful moments, and I may no longer be there to wipe your tears. When those moments come, never forget the following life lessons:

Place God at the Center of Your Life – God is the one true Life on Earth. Everything on Earth is a manifestation of the Almighty, and all creatures glorify Him, including you. We are more or less aware of His presence, like Wi-Fi: the more connected we are, the better we navigate life. So, connect yourself and receive Grace. Be open to everything that brings you closer to the Almighty. The wisest way to be close to Him is to follow His Commandments, convinced that He is Merciful, overflowing with Love, and Kind. He doesn't need your opinion or prayers to protect you. Everything He does is for your ultimate good. If He denies you something, it is for your good, and if He grants you something else, it is also for your good. Prioritize meditation, prayer, walks in nature, acts of charity, to earn His favor. May He cover you with His Love, Kindness, Protection, and Wisdom. And when He tests you, arm yourself with patience and persevere in what makes your soul vibrate, without ever violating divine principles.

Be Yourself – Take the time to know yourself, then fully embrace who you are without having to explain yourself to anyone. In the end, you will only have to answer to God, who already Loves you. Choose yourself. Reflect on what drives you, what irritates you, but be convinced that you are "enough" as you are—physically, mentally, and morally. No one has the power to make you feel otherwise. God created you in His Image. The proof that this image is Beauty and Love is that when you receive compliments or kind treatment, you are receptive to it because it is true. If someone tries to make you believe otherwise, you may sink into depression by accepting what you are accused of. It is against nature to accept what is intrinsically false.

Loving yourself in a healthy way doesn't mean allowing yourself to do whatever you want. On the contrary, it means investing in yourself, making sacrifices for better tomorrows, perfecting yourself in your vocation, in your goals, in your behavior with others, knowing that your freedom ends where another's begins. You have a lot to offer the world.

You Are Solely Responsible for Your Professional Calling – Be true to your divine spark, that is, your purpose, what God created you for. This doesn't mean drowning in idleness in the name of a passion. While waiting for your passion to bear fruit, find a means of livelihood to meet your needs and even to finance your passion. If you have the means, make your passion your vocation and your livelihood. You will be happier, more fulfilled, and you will contribute to the advancement of humanity.

Nothing Meaningful or Lasting Is Achieved Without Effort and Discipline – If you want to bring to life a project that is dear to you, you will need to do so according to a plan, follow it, and know how to face obstacles. Like water that doesn't stop at anything, that continues on its path despite all odds, you must move forward. If you believe in it with all your heart, acquire all the necessary knowledge, create the best plan, follow it, and learn from your mistakes. Never give up. The seed you planted yesterday must follow the laws of nature. It must crack open underground, make its way, emerge from the earth, grow, before bearing fruit. Discipline is the water that irrigates this seed, constantly; it is the fuel that will lead you to the summit of your ambitions.

If You Control Your Thoughts and Emotions, You Can Face Anything in Life – People close to you or situations in life will hurt you, sometimes when you least expect it. When that happens, withdraw and don't chase away the emotions that will visit you. Emotions—both positive and negative—are just messengers that inform you of what works for you and what doesn't. If someone deliberately hurts you and you feel the need to communicate it, do so, but no more than once. If they do it again, withdraw for good. As for thoughts, don't dwell too much on what they try to make you believe. Too often, we create a thousand and one scenarios about a situation because our ego wants us to stay in the past or project ourselves into the future. When we succumb to this, we seek to control everything. However, only God is in Control. Let go of a thought when it pushes you to a controlling action or brings up negative emotions. Thoughts are the fruit of your imagination. They are neither you nor God. Cultivate detachment: love everything and everyone, but never think that a person or thing will never leave. Nothing is eternal. "Detachment doesn't mean you own nothing, but that nothing owns you." Reflect well on this adage, and detach yourself from the outcomes of your efforts. Do your best in everything and leave the rest in God's hands.

Choose Your Life Partner Wisely – One day, I hope you will want to start a family. The person you choose will not necessarily be the one you are most physically attracted to or who, according to society, is perfect for you. This person will first be your friend. Friendship is essential for respect, healthy communication, complicity, and lasting love. Always choose someone with whom you share the same vision of life but with whom you do not get bored. This person must not be mean, they must respect your values, and they must be able to accompany you throughout life.

Choose Your Friends Wisely – Just like with your life partner, choose your friends carefully. These are the ones who will give you the space to blossom, to spread your wings. We surround ourselves with those whose destiny will be the same in five, ten, fifteen years. If you choose friends out of self-interest, they will abandon you when life gets tough. If you choose truthful, constant, present, and above all, selfless friends, friends of principles, your world will change for the better. Never dwell on people's appearances or achievements. We always have the impression that some people are moving forward while we are falling behind. This is never the case. Everyone has their seed that grows according to its season, its environment. Stay with those who align with you and who, when you feel like you are "falling behind," will remind you that your harvest season is not far off.

Honor Your Parents – One day, you will be a parent, I hope. To become the best parent possible, start by observing your parents and, above all, always respect them. You should have immense respect for those who loved and raised you without ever asking anything in return. Providence will reward you for this respect. And above all, always listen to your parents' advice. You will never find, anywhere on Earth, a person who loves you more than they do, and when your time comes, you will understand why I wrote these words...

Mom