Who sacrificed so you could chase your dreams?

We laid my beautiful Mom to rest last weekend. She passed on October 6th, my parents’ 44th wedding anniversary, after a brave fight with uterine cancer. We finally laid her to rest in her hometown in Huntington, WV.

Naturally, I’ve spent the past several weeks reflecting on everything she’s meant to me and the impact she’s had on my life. It wasn’t until recently that I considered the magnitude of her impact on my career.

I’ve always considered my Dad as the influencer of my career (and he is) - consistently ready with advice, speaking from experience from his own successful career. But we can underestimate the power of that special someone who is taking care of everything and everyone in the background so that we can go and chase our dreams.

My Mom would work here and there, but her primary job was raising my brothers and me and making sure my Dad was supported in his career. Whether it was through an encouraging word, a meal and a conversation, or stepping in to help with our own homes and families, she influenced us in the simplest, yet most impactful ways.

Whoever it is in your life that makes sacrifices so you can chase your dreams, I encourage you to take a moment today to let them know how much you appreciate them.