Ayurveda’s Holistic Approach to Menopausal Wellness
A 4-Week Online Retreat
Our on-demand programs are great introductions to the healing power of Ayurveda. Discover the Ayurvedic Daily Routine, overcome insomnia, and more—whenever, wherever!
My
mother
was
my first country.
The first place I ever lived.”
—Nayyirah Waheed
As I get older and think about having my own children, I find myself thinking a lot about what motherhood means. I’ve been looking to the mothers that I know—my friends, my aunts, my husband’s sisters, and most of all, my own mother and grandmothers—and I’m beginning to realize for the first time that every mother’s journey is completely different, with its own unique challenges and triumphs.
No mothering experience is the same as another. Still, one thing is true: motherhood is an intense, challenging, beautiful experience that transforms your relationship with yourself and the world. No matter how you mother your children, unconditional love is the great motivator behind healthy, balanced motherhood.
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to only be about your biological mother. Reach out to your mentors, teachers, friends, or anyone who’s been instrumental in making you the person you are today. This can even be an opportunity to appreciate and love yourself. If you are a mother, you know how difficult it can be to always live up to the pressure of being a supermom. So take time to remind yourself of all the amazing things you’ve done for your children.
If you’re not a mother but are responsible for the care of other people, that’s something to celebrate as well. If you’ve had no choice but to be your own caregiver growing up—your own mother in a sense—that deserves recognition, too.
Some cynics say Mother’s Day is just a made-up holiday to sell greeting cards and flowers. But it’s actually a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and honor the women in your life who’ve raised you, guided you, and supported you. So this Mother’s Day, don’t just shrug it off as another meaningless holiday, but use it as an opportunity to express true and mindful gratitude to your mother figures.
While unconditional love is a crucial aspect of healthy motherhood, it’s also essential for mothers to prioritize their own well-being and practice self-care in order to maintain balance and avoid burnout. It’s not selfish to be healthy mentally and physically—it’s imperative!
Read Springtime Self-Care and spend some time on yourself!
Art of Living Founder and global humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “There is motherhood in each and every one of us. Motherhood is wanting the best for others and not expecting anything in return.”
Even if we are not mothers and are not directly responsible for children’s daily care and well-being, we still have the opportunity to nurture those around us every day. We each have the capacity for deep and selfless care and the capability to use it to touch the lives around us.
This upcoming Mother’s Day, May 14, volunteers in the United States will create and deliver bouquets to mothers in senior care centers and hospices, showing love and appreciation to mothers who may not otherwise be celebrated on Mother’s Day. Art of Living hosts this event annually in partnership with our sister organization, Care of Children. For every $50 collected, we can make and deliver five bouquets; a portion of the proceeds also go towards educating underprivileged children in India. Seeing the difference this simple gesture can make in a mother’s life is beautiful.
