One of the sayings my mom always told me was, “The first step is always the hardest.” I remember vividly how the phrase rang true when we moved to a new area, and I had to start a brand-new school. It was the first year the school was opening, so everything felt unfamiliar. But my mom knew how to ease the anxiety and make the unknown feel a little more exciting.

One of the sayings my mom always comes back to is, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” Growing up, I didn’t always appreciate it. I’d hear it and feel like she was expecting the worst-case scenario, as if she didn’t believe in the good things that could happen. At the same time, it felt like a warning to brace for disappointment, and honestly, I didn’t always understand why she was so cautious. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize how much truth there is in this simple phrase–and how much love and care it really holds.

One of the sayings my mom always told me was, “Healing starts with a calm heart.” I remember hearing it most clearly when I was in elementary school. I had broken my ankle while skipping down the stairs (classic kid move, right?) I was in a lot of pain, but as soon as my mom showed up at school, she stayed calm, and told me everything would be okay. She didn’t panic, and that made all the difference for me.