Keith JonesMay 6, 2016

I was fortunate to be raised by a mother who taught me a strong work ethic and to change something if I didn’t like how it was going. I remember having to go to Mississippi during summer break to farm family land. I hated getting up early on the weekends to do this while my friends slept in. Now I am grateful that my parents created this opportunity for my younger brother and me. I am a hard worker and have appreciation for other people who give their best no matter what the task is.

We were latch key kids and often stayed home alone for a few hours until my parents got in from work. That time was spent doing homework and chores. All the assigned house work had to meet my mom’s expectations. If washing dishes was my job and she saw one glass that wasn’t cleaned, that meant all the dishes should be washed again. Her motto was “choose to do it right the first time or choose to do it again. You choose.” She never raised her voice, repeated herself or hit us. She simply gave us clear choices.

We didn’t get to complain either. If we said, “I’m bored.” She’d reply, “Then do something about it.” And if we expressed an opinion about something we didn’t like, she would say, “Are you just going to talk about it or do something about it?” With a mom like this, I learned to be in action early.

My mom is a force. She ranks ahead of my heroes Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr and Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the first person who taught me what Ghandi’s words “be the change you wish to see the world” really meant. She was my early inspiration for ToBeRe… and 2BeRe University. Everything I do that supports another person is because of her.

When I have experienced challenging times, she’s been there for me. I have always been able to share things with her that are deeply personal. Never one to enable or allow me to be a victim, she tells me what is necessary to forgive myself and others, learn from what happened and apply it to be better.

My mom and I are each other’s biggest supporters. All our talks are straight conversations. We have each other’s permission to thoughtfully tell the other person if their words or actions aren’t loving. We help each other be our personal best.

It is my hope that I continue to honor my mom by how I live life and contribute to the world. I know it’s not Mother’s Day yet, but it is on my heart to pay tribute to my hero Dora. I love you.

Keith