From sex and fiber to golden rules, it’s time to give credit where it’s due. Herewith, ten random lessons that I’ll always take with me.
1. Treat others as you’d like to be treated.
Sometimes I feel like if I hear my mum say this one more time I’m going to punch her in the face. But then I’d be afraid she’d punch me in my face. So obviously, repetitive verbal conditioning works.
2. Keep on truckin’!
I remember the first time mum ever said this to us-I was about 17 and the whole family was horrified. Mum just looked at us sideways and said, very convincingly, “What? That’s my motto. I’ve always said that.” Many years later, I still say things like, “Don’t worry mum, I’m truckin’.” This also taught me the power of thought-if you believe in something enough (for instance, that “keep on truckin’!” is your lifelong motto, even when you’ve never said it before in your life) it will become a reality.
3. “It’s OK, don’t be shy, you can tell me. I look like Sandra Bullock, don’t I?”
When people meet my mum it almost always culminates in them turning around wide-eyed, lightbulb flashing above their head, pointing at me with a vigorously shaking finger and exclaiming, “I understand now!” Most of the time mum is joking when she says she looks like Sandra Bullock, just like when I say “people always mistake me for Beyonce.” But I know there’s a half-truth in it somewhere, so I think this particular lesson has something to do with self-esteem. Or maybe just that being crazy and delusional is more fun than not.
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