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I still remember vividly: one day, I was mad at my mum. She didn’t let me go to a birthday party, the first in Year Eight.

My world collapsed.

The next day, my mum went to the hospital.

Four days later, she was gone forever.

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Today, I’m 46.

• I have three children.
• I miss her every day.
• Half of my heart is still empty, although it’s full of love.

I feel loved, respected, nurtured, and cherished by my kids and my husband. Growing up, I also felt love from my father and brother and from friends and family.

Still, nothing could replace her.

Children shouldn’t grow up without their parents.

Still, it is full of love for her.

Still, I cry often. Imagine how my life would look different, how my kids would have a grandmother. They never had any. My husband’s mum also died very young.

I was so mad.

Mad at her.

At God.

At destiny.

I spent countless hours trying to find answers.

Why did she leave me?

How was that possible?

How could I, a teen, be a mum to my younger brother, who was eight at the time…

Later, I had been trying to stitch some patch on my broken heart.

Nothing worked.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

I know.

I grew up to become a strong, independent, strong-willed and incredibly persistent woman.

But it’s fucking brutal.

Your roots to hold on.

I have them: my husband and my three beautiful children. They’re my strength, my love, and my dopamine.

But they’re not my mum.

It didn’t hit me so hard until I turned 40. My mum died at age 41.

So, suddenly, I became painfully aware of my mortality.

My brain played games with me.
My fears rocketed.

• “I have an unfinished job.”
• I’d say to God.
• My kids are 13, 10 and seven.
• They need me.
• I don’t want to die young
• So, the decision has been made.

I wasn’t aware of that fully before one conversation with my new personal trainer happened a few years ago.

• I had been exercising for years.
• Eating fairly well and healthy.
• Having normal weight.
• Going regularly to health checks.

“ Why do you exercise?”

She asked me.

• Not to be the hottest 40-year-old.
• Or to be skinny.

It’s to be healthy for my kids.

That’s my primary motivation.

Yes, I have a big dream: to grow old and see them grow up.

I’m a girl of many dreams. But there is one dream that gives me a completely different purpose:

I will be there for them as long as they need me.

To die wrinkled, full of experience, taking with me all the precious memories we made together.

They’d be sad even then.

But they wouldn’t be devastated. The world won’t collapse.

Dear friends, this is not a story about me losing my mum. It's a story that connects to all people who want to stay healthy and exercise for their kids.

Because stories are the most important sales tool humans can possibly have.

Send a reply and tell me:

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Enjoy your weekend.

Big hug,

✨✨ Angelina, Marketing Fairy ✨✨