Remembering My Mom on her Fifth Anniversary of Passing

For the fifth anniversary of my mom's passing, I thought I would share a few of the best lessons that I learned from her. 💕

1. Just Have Fun.
My mom never met a party she didn’t like, and she was a true extrovert. Something that gave her a lot of peace when she got terminally sick was that she had enjoyed her life fully and had a lot of fun over the years. She didn't denied herself a good time and she modeled living in the moment well.

2. Go For It.
My mom was big on not overthinking everything and moving from ruminating to action. She was a doer and prided herself on that strength. She encouraged us - her kids - to travel, try new things, try out internships, experience new environments and cultures, pursue our passions, make mistakes, learn from them, and move on, and above all else - to just go for it - professionally and personally.

3. Over-communicate & Follow Up.
My mom spent all of Saturdays on the phone catching up with everyone in her life near and far. She was in constant communication on text, email, phone, etc, which made people feel included and cared for. She was especially incredible at follow-up, sending thank you emails, and celebrating other people’s wins.

4. Center on Family & Friends.
Our extended family is very close because of the foundation that my mom built, and she prioritized these relationships with laser focus. She organized and planned countless family gatherings with so much love, and held an epic Diwali party for my parents’ friends and family for 20 years.

5. Work Isn’t Identity.
My mom liked working and was proud of having a meaningful career, but she never defined herself by work. She felt work was a part of life, but NOT her entire life. A value many of us could benefit from embracing. She did a great job getting her work done efficiently and then unplugging. Not using work as her source of validation allowed her to focus her energy on what she cared most about: connection, community, family, and fun.

Celebrating her life, lessons, and legacy today and every day…and of course, following her footsteps and enjoying the ride with some Thai food and chocolate cake tonight. ❤️