At the end of the summer, I finally tried paddle board yoga.  I learned they call it SUP Yoga – Stand Up Paddle Yoga.  Last summer, my daughter and I taught ourselves how to paddle board on a lake in Pennsylvania.  It is still new to me, but I am working on not shaking as much when I am standing.  When I started to paddle out to the class, I was terrified! I was not dressed correctly, (because as usual I was focused on my daughter being prepared to visit her friend’s house and not myself) and I had no formal instruction. 

But, guess what – I did it! 

I paddled to the where on the water the class was starting…and promptly fell off the back of it.  I laughed at myself as I fell off the board two more times before the end of the class.  My feet were shaking most of the class out of fear and lack of balance.  However, I did it.  I didn’t give up.  I conquered two goals in an hour.  One goal of finishing the class and the second goal of trying something difficult and completely out of my comfort zone by the end of the summer.  

I was soaking wet, slightly disappointed because I wasn’t perfect, but feeling mostly accomplished.  And that was the moment when I did something I shouldn’t have.  I called my mother.  Now I fully recognize that mother daughter relationships are complicated and that the conversation was mostly positive.  Then I told her about one of my new goals that was really important to me, and you know what she said?  Her exact words were, “Maybe you should lower your expectations.” 

I was looking through the windshield of my car and at that moment my view turned red.  I literally felt my blood boil.  I couldn’t believe it.  I continually tell my daughter to reach for the stars – and I mean it.  I honestly believe she can do anything she puts her mind to – really anything.  If she wants to just make enough money to live and then rock climb all over the world more power to her (I mean, I might be a worry wart, because I am still am her Mom…) However, if she decides she wants to cure cancer, there is not one doubt in my mind that she will.  If she wants to be worth $26 million dollars while juggling being a rock star, mom, geneticist, actress and veterinarian; there is no question in my mind that she will make it happen.  I will support her and be her champion. 

Maybe my Mom though that she didn’t want me to be disappointed, but it still felt like an arrow through my heart and my dreams.  Like the time in my early twenties when she told me she would never “do yoga.” This was as I literally doing a yoga pose and getting certified to teach yoga. I remember it clearly like it was yesterday,  I was in a warrior pose on the back deck and my Mom said from the hot tub, “I will never do that.”  What is interesting about it is that here we are 20 years later and correct me if I am wrong, but not only has she done yoga; she has done it with goats.  WITH GOATS!!! 

It is funny how our viewpoints on life and money can be so different – even within one family…it can be frustrating and debilitating.  If you let it, it can define you.  Not me though, unlike the last time I am not going to let it bother me.  I am going to do the opposite.  My husband and I try to live our lives to the fullest, we try to live through experiences, and I want to continue to do that. 

I am going to be positive.  This month – I am going to Heighten my expectations and reach for the stars being as positive as possible…why you ask? 

Because –

• I deserve it!!!
• My daughter deserves to see me happy and fulfilled.   
• When my daughter says something similar to this to me in the future, I will be her rock. 

I will be my daughter’s champion that helps her accomplish her goals.  I might act as the devil’s advocate a time or two, but I will let her know that I am doing it.  I will help make her question her goals just enough to verify if she is making a good choice or not, but not squash her dreams. I will just be positive; because after all sometimes things are taken out of context.  I will try my best to just be positive and in the moment for the both of us. 

What about you?  Have you had any advice lately that empowered you to do better or tried something new that made you feel empowered?