Inspiration

I just received a long letter from my Mom listing all the things she worked, learned, trained and studied over her life, as well as hobbies she enjoyed. 

From childhood, helping her mother with her work, 
- decorating candles, folding boxes, knitting and stringing beads,
- to her first housekeeping degree, 
- winning prizes for best in her grade, 
- working in the local automated factory handling double cylinder knitting machines, 
- doing an apprenticeships as certified retail sales person, 
- music teacher (6 degrees in teaching, folk music, common, old music, new music and rhythmic), 
- certification as food handler, 
- farm hand for cherry harvest, Bodensee,
- opening a toy store,
- property manager for our apartments rentals,
- courses on many major toy brands (Playmobil, Lego, Ravensburger, Hasbro), 
- courses on model making, knitting, stitching, clay working, whittling, crafting with fimo, straw,
- crafting workshops with UHU,
- music teacher certification for early development,
- special training on Orff Instruments, African & Arabic drums, dulcimer, flute/recorder, guitar
- held classes for playing the harmonica,
- founding a music school and choir,
- learnt how to build a harp, 
- mushroom identification class,
- courier service for tax adviser office,
- shipping service for a paint company (temp job),
- bookkeeping for a cattle dealer,
- Sales Rep for Cambridge Diet,
- running a vacation apartment
- board member of the local tourism association,
- 15 years as certified public accountant,
- trained on reproduction for photography and photo development,
- computer courses,
- countless conventions on tourism, toy market (ITB Berlin),
- backing with spelt,
- creating and painting hand puppets, 
- gifts and balloon wrapping classes, 
- drawing classes on tempera and water colors, 
- being an extra in the movies: 'Filserbriefe' and 'Stahlnetz'
- learnt English, Italian, Russian and Spanish,
- First Aid/CPR,
- Volunteer for a school for Japanese Orphans,
- certification for gymnastics trainer,
- working as gymnastic trainer in Gruenwald/Munich,
- certification as in-house day care provider/nanny,
- bus driver for a montessori school,
- Promotions Rep for Fissler,
- Sales person and cashier for Mueller Drogerie Markt,
- Cellagon Sales Rep, 
- certified Cellagon nutritionist,
- instructor for Schafkopf, a trick-taking Bavarian card game,


I counted 15 professions, countless jobs, 37 classes/training, partially degrees and continued education, many temporary jobs and volunteer positions in between, 21 hobbies on top of running her retail business for 35 years, being an accountant for 15 years and doing a fabulous job on her most important work of all, raising my brother and me.

If you ever wonder why I am doing all what I am doing, she is my inspiration and the answer to the question. ;-)
She is my role model and showed me how it is done. Let's honor and celebrate all the great Moms out there that do work beyond their limits and often miss out on recognition and praise.

Here is a little wisdom my Mom sent with me with her life time list:

Know that every time something ends, you are attached to, is a chance for personal growth.  
In every new beginning lives a special magic and it's up to you to discover it. 
Change gives us the opportunity to change our behavior and our experiences. 

Never begin to stop and never stop to begin.