Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis presents:

“If we are lucky enough to have a wonderful mother—I was— it’s easier because you’re inspired and you already have their wisdom within you. Obviously, some of us have had really tough relationships with our mothers.

I have my moments, but, I’ve been blessed in that way.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

This week on our long-running “Walk the Talk Show” podcast and video series, Waylon rallies for community-inspired love for the mothers and mother figures in our lives—including the mother of them all, big mama, Mother Earth herself.

“Let’s talk about a mindful Mother’s Day from Elephant Journal! I’d love to hear your ideas… really, please leave them in the comments. I’ll reply.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

Let’s celebrate not just our mommy, but the big mommy—Mother Earth:

“Who wants poison with their flowers? That’s crazy. It’s bad for our environment. And our environment is Mother Earth, so let’s celebrate a Mother’s Day that is good not only for mommy, but for the big mommy, for Mother Earth.

Because if there’s anything that good moms and dads, parents everywhere, want more than anything, it’s to give their children a good life on a stable planet with clean air, clean water, and the health of their children. 

So my first thing would be no cut flowers. Instead, get a little potted plant.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

Can’t watch the video? Why not listen?

“My mom always said, ‘I don’t really care what you get me. I just want to spend the day with you.’ And she meant it. She was and is that kind of mom. So I think my take on presents has always been that it’s less about what you do, or what you get…and more about how you do it, how much love or thought is behind it.

I think that’s what means so much to our moms: put some thought, and love, and care into it. And make it silly, and make it fun, and make it sweet. Really show your heart.

Give them a break if they have a lot on their plate. Try to take something off their plate, at least for a day. Because the good moms out there, the moms who are trying, do so much.

So much. Same with the good dads and the dads who are trying. This is a day for our dear mothers: let’s give them some well-deserved love.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

It’s not just people mommies:

“ I love the breakfast in bed stuff. At least on this day, try to make breakfast vegan.

Why? Well, I have a cotton kitchen towel that I bought at a vegan event one time that says, feminists shouldn’t participate in exploiting or hurting other females.

I think by the same token, on Mother’s Day, we don’t want to be hurting mommy cows or participating in taking their children away—which is what happens in the dairy and meat industry. That’s my particular take, as like an organic, eco, plastic-free vegan. If you combine all those letters, you get L.O.V.E.: local, organic, vegan, eco.

And that’s what it’s all about.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

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Need a few more mindful gift ideas? We polled our Elephant Journal team and came up with some wonderful suggestions!

Shanon said, “a puppy and an alpaca blankie!” and she wasn’t kidding. A rescue puppy can brighten lives, together or apart. And who doesn’t need a good fairly-produced, natural, plastic-free cozy blankie that helps a community continue on?

She also suggested:

>> Take a class together: cooking, pottery, etc.
>> A trip to a museum (some have free nights, or events!).
>> An old movie and popcorn night.
>> Plant a tree together in both of their names.

Molly had a few ideas as well:

>> Local flowers. Try asking a neighbor. Her mom’s favorite flowers are lilacs, so she asked a neighbor if she could havea  few off their bush!
>> Write a handwritten letter (need help getting started? Waylon’s course is 50% off until Mother’s Day!)
>> Make her a homemade brunch, or any meal. Give her a much-needed break! 
>> Rather than buying something new, try looking in thrift stores or used bookstores. My mom and I regift to each other, too, if we’re done with a book and know the other will love it. 
>> Take a moment to “smell the flowers” and take a walk together. Slow down. Enjoy each other’s presence. 
>> For funsies, have a little selfie photoshoot because she (most likely) hates her own photos, but she’ll thank you later!

And, just a reminder from Molly: there are so many folks “mothering” and “nurturing” their way through life, whether that’s as a mother, a step-mother, a childless mother, a mentor, a caregiver, an aunt, a cousin, a grandma, a nanny, a dogwalker, a volunteer—the list is endless. Thank your mama, but also, thank those who exude “mother” energy in your life.

Katie has been working on a Mom’s Day project for the moms in her life. They’re gifting recently clipped and repotted plants:

Yay!

What ideas do you have for the moms and mother figures in your life? Share them in the comments for our community, we’ll reply.

Miss it? Listen to last week’s Walk The Talk Show Episode: 

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You make what we do sustainable.

“What I am requesting is participation. Elephant has 13 million fans on social media and millions of readers, but we are only able to bring folks together around caring, fact-based conversation—people who disagree but can do so agreeably or respectfully—if you participate and right now independent media is getting killed by Facebook, etcetera.

They smother and suppress links. So when you go to elephantjournal.com, when you go to elephantjournal.com/best and get our free newsletter, when you go to elephantjournal.com/post and write something and share it—you keep independent media live, but more importantly, you keep respectful conversation, community, and caring facts alive.” ~ Waylon H. Lewis

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