Happy Mother’s Day to Everyone.

Happy Mother’s Day to every one of you. I want to share with you how many people I’ve known who mother. And not all of them are what you think of as “mothers”. Many do the work of caring for those who haven’t been mothered. Many of them are men. The roles that come to mind when we invoke the word mother can be filled and are filled by any kind of person of any age. They are sometimes professionals, teachers, addiction treatment specialist, therapists, advocates for the homeless and survivors, sponsors, mentors, and the list goes on. A few years ago I participated in a Sri Vidya puja, a tantric Hindu ritual. The woman who was performing the ritual told us that everyone is Mother. Everyone and everything we see. It sounded strange at first, but since then I’ve allowed myself to see the world that way. Every time someone checks to make sure I ate lunch they are Mother. Every time someone witnesses my pain with kindness, every time I’m soothed, supported, advised I’m am experiencing Mother. And I try to do and be that for others. So if you are in the world doing and being that you are Mother and every time you receive it you’re being mothered. Today I’m here as Mother as I am every day. And you are here as Mother as you are every day. Happy Mother’s Day to every one of you.