My Mom and I have always been close. Even when I was a shitty teenager and pretended to hate her for a while. (Its embarrassing how much you learn when you “grow up” and your head is no longer up your butt.) She is usually the first person I call if there is a crisis because she knows everything and she knows exactly how to calm me down. Now that I’m a Mom we are even closer, something I didn’t think was possible.

I spent some time this morning thinking about some of the things that she’s taught me over the years and I thought I’d share my favorite piece of advice. She’s told me this before almost every major event in my life and some minor ones that I was freaking out about. She may get embarrassed when I share it but I doubt it, she has a great sense of humor and clearly puts up with my crazy self.

She first said it to me before my very first dance competition. I’d overheard a dance mom from another group berating her child and it made me really upset. I was so afraid of messing up and not succeeding. This delightful phrase was her answer.

“Don’t pick your nose, don’t pick your butt, just smile and you’ll do fine!”

It makes me laugh every time. It reminds me that as long as I do my best then no matter what happens I can be at peace with it because I’ll know that I did what I could. It also conveniently applies to every situation. First date? Yep. Job interview? Yes Queen! Wedding? Of course! Emergency C-Section? Definitely don’t pick your nose or butt during that!

Life is too short to tear yourself apart over every detail and make yourself sick worrying. (Not that I don’t do both of those things.) Sometimes you have to remind yourself that 1) there is always something to laugh about (even if its just your mom telling you not to dig in your booty) and 2) a positive attitude will get things going in the right direction.