Dear Mom

#173: Mother's Day Letter

Dear Mom,

Thank you.
Thank you for raising us up as dreamers - people who create visions. I can see far into the horizon because you encouraged us to discover new oceans and taught us how to lose sight of the shore. That was one of your favorite quotes. And I remember you using that to inspire us, and then to make us eat weird vegetables.

Thank you that as we were growing up, you peppered dinner discussions with talks of Kaizen and how that Japanese principle of continuous improvement in Production Operations can be used in our lives. I continue to reach higher because there will always be room to grow. Thank you for Zero Defects as well. I listen in class now and chuckle to myself because our grade school projects would always have a little sermon on "Doing It Right The First Time. All The Time." How much are you paying now to have me listen to this in my MBA class?

Thank you for opening the world to us. For letting us see that there is life outside of our country. You'd fly off to Korea or Japan or Germany or Finland to learn about the most advanced production systems in the globe and come back with the most amazing stories about how different things are in worlds that work. I am in love with travel because of you.

And also, thank you for teaching me to be tough. To have a core that few can hurt. For teaching me that the guy has to love the girl more and that the girl always has to keep her dignity intact. And that beauty has to be accompanied with brains and that mind has to rule over heart. You've raised me to be smart in life. Please teach me how to deal with love.

Because Mom, I love you. I cannot say it as easily or as frequently but in this tough, driven and determined dreamer's heart, I do.