In life, it is inevitable that friends will come and go. We lose friends we never imagined our lives without, but we also make friends with people we never imagined our lives with. Even though some friendships in life may come and go, the friendship you share with your mother will be one that you will always have, and cherish.

Throughout my life, my mom has taught me many significant life lessons that have brought me to where I am today. Honestly, every lesson she teaches is significant to my life in some manner, but from my 21 years of life, here are five that have left the most impact on my life this far.

1. You may go through unpleasant situations in life, but it makes you better when you arrive at where you should be.

Not everything in life is all sunshine and rainbows. You will experience things in your life that will feel like the end of the world. What matters is how you approach the situation, and with the understanding that this will help prepare you for where you need to be in life.

2. Stay strong and have faith.

My tattoo is a constant reminder of this one. It is a reminder to stay strong in the toughest of times, and to have faith that everything will work out the way it is meant to in the end.

3. It’s OK to be selfish for yourself sometimes.

For the longest time, I struggled with always trying to make everyone else happy, and not allowing myself to be happy in the process. My mom taught me that it’s OK to take time for yourself and focus on your own happiness. It’s apparent that in life we cannot always please everyone, but we can always make sure that we are happy.

4. Never settle for less than you deserve.

She’s been there for me through the heartbreaks, tears, drama and awful guys. As unsettling as it is for her to see not only me, but my sisters, endure these situations, she constantly strives to remind us to never settle for less than we deserve. Someone out there will appreciate all the love we have to give, and will stop at nothing less to return to us the same.

5. Always be proud of who you are.

Always remember who you are, and that every situation you have endured this far in life has brought you to where you are today. Everything happens for a reason.

Mom, thank you for being my greatest supporter, and my most significant role model. Thank you for always being there to lift me up when I fall, and help me put back the pieces together when I couldn’t do it myself. Thank you for laughing with me until tears were falling down both of our faces and for always laughing at my jokes even though they usually aren’t funny. Thank you for helping me realize what’s most important in life, and for showing me how to be strong in times I wanted nothing more than to just be weak and give up. Thank you for showing me how to be courageous in times when I was scared, and for showing me faith will always help me make it through.

Thank you for listening to vent sessions on the phone even though I’m usually just overreacting about something dumb. Thank you for telling me I’m not always right in situations, even though all I wanted to hear was that I was right. Thank you for teaching me to always be the bigger person, even when that’s the last thing I want to do at times. Thank you for picking me back on my feet when a boy broke my heart, assuring me there would be a man out there some day who would deserve all the love I had to give, and would give me just the same in return. Thank you for always being a phone call away when I’m away at school.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do, I can’t ever seem to thank you enough. I can only hope to be half the woman you are someday, mom. Thank you for being the best mom out there, and thank you for being you. Most importantly, thank you for giving me life and for experiencing life with me. Thank you for being my best friend, always. I love you mom, to the moon and back.