1. Be an eternal optimist.

As the Dalai Lama says, “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” Now, I’m not saying my mom is the Dalai Lama, but she did want to be a nun when she was younger (true fact!), so I think she knows what’s up by living with this motto.

2. Remember, you’re living someone else’s dream.

Just the other day I was feeling discouraged that I wasn’t further along in life. Really I called to get the good ol’, “I’m proud of you- blah blah blah” type of praise all of us children expect, but instead she said something very profound. She told me that while it’s great to want to be the next Ryan Seacrest or Cat Deeley (aka have goals), I need to remember that at this moment, with all my travels and incredible gigs, that somewhere out there I am living the life someone else is dreaming about. I feel like she should trademark that quote.

3. You’ve got good genes.

Breaking news! Women are first judged on their looks. Women judge other women on their looks. And in Hollywood, you can be hired or fired based on your looks. Do you see my mom? She’s over six decades old, never touched one thing on her face, and doesn’t have a wrinkle on her. Thank you Mom, because plastic surgery is expensive.

4. In wine, there is happiness.

When all else fails, my mom encourages me to drink a bottle of wine. Well, she really just says, “Why don’t you open up a bottle of wine and have a hot bath?” I usually take that as drinking the entire bottle and ordering in cupcakes, but, well, you get the gist. There is nothing better than parental approval for imbibing.

5. Experience > Money.

I feel so grateful to come from a Midwestern family with Midwestern values. That is, you bring people into your life based on who they are, not what they can get you. Growing up, there was no such thing as designer bags or sports cars. In our house, you worked hard, you did well, and you were rewarded with what you needed or wanted within reason. Instead of giving us things, though, my mom gave us opportunities to follow our passions, whether that was athletics, traveling or pursuing higher education at a very expensive private university. This built more self-esteem than anything you can buy in a store, and I’m eternally grateful for this life lesson.

Happy Mother’s Day!