“We feature different authors every month,” inn creator and owner Marie Milton says, as she welcomes me into the suite’s well-stocked kitchen, which includes a few cookbooks by the stove. In the dining room, a wallpaper depicting a fantasy forest and matching hand-painted chairs help complete the immersive wonderland feeling. Fittingly, the inn’s three apartments are called The Foreword, The Prologue and The Epilogue, each seamlessly blending vintage charm with modern glamour, plus a pinch of serenity and magic.

The story behind the storybook inn

Milton created her unconventional inn as a tribute to her late mother, whose stage four stomach cancer left her only months to live. Yet, she proved doctors wrong, beating the odds for eight more years. “My mom was an immigrant from South Korea,” Milton shares. She “stood 4 feet, 10 inches tall, and she was 70 pounds of full, hard and sensational grit,” Milton says. “She wanted to stay alive as long as she could, to be here for her kids and her grandkids. Her oncologist was always shocked that she made it as far as she did.”

There was no standard treatment for such a late-stage cancer, so Milton’s mother joined clinical trials. For several years, mother and daughter regularly traveled from St. Augustine to Houston, where the treatments were administered. “We traveled out of state one to two times a month,” Milton says. Frequent travel like this can wear out even a healthy person, let alone a frail woman undergoing chemo. 

To get through, Milton’s mom imagined the two of them were going on a real journey. “Chemo makes you feel like shit, so I imagine like we’re going on a big trip all the time, just mother and daughter. Wouldn’t that be fun?” Milton says her mother used to say.

Learning to live in the moment 

Milton, who was a nurse raising two little boys with her husband who was still in school, in addition to being her mother’s sole caregiver, learned to move fast to get things done. Plus, while she traveled she was taking graduate courses online to advance her nursing career, so being fast and efficient was the only way to accomplish everything she had to do in a given day. Traveling with her mother changed her, though, with one particular moment that stuck with her forever. 

Milton was helping her mother settle for yet another round of chemo, once again rushing around, when her mother said, “Jeez, you always move so fast. Slow down. Take your time.” And while she didn’t explicitly say to cherish the moments we spend together, Milton realized she meant exactly that.

“My mom probably felt like the clock was ticking faster than she wanted, and by me moving fast, I did not want to make it seem like the world was moving fast for her either,” Milton says. So from that moment on, she started to slow down. 

“I made the most of our hotel journeys, stopping along the way for the beautiful skies, taking in the wide-open skies of Texas, with my little mama by my side,” she says. “The clock stood still for us, and we were in our world, mother and daughter, living, being ever so and eternally present.” The two went on to create the stories of their travels and form memories that would last long after one of them was gone.

Before she departed, Milton’s mother saw her daughter graduate with a master’s degree in nursing and celebrated her acceptance into the doctorate program. But then, the eight years of chemo finally took their toll, and her health worsened. “We made the most of the two-and-a-half months that she had left with us,” Milton shares. They celebrated her mother’s last birthday at age 66. “We took our time and loved each other, and time somehow, even then, stood still.”

The Three Stories Inn is born

During their hotel stays, Milton often thought how helpful it would be if there were places that provided overnight accommodations to patients. Using her graduate school training, she put together a business proposal for such a place and, to her surprise, won some funding. But then the pandemic happened, which changed patient care, and she had to switch gears. 

“I pivoted the business plan from not patients [but] to important life events like family reunions, anniversaries [and] weddings,” she says. She now knew better than anyone how fleeting these precious moments could be. She knew how important it was to make time stand still—and savor those moments.

Three Stories Inn grew out of that pivot, with the goal of giving guests a way to stop time long enough to enjoy spending it with those they love. “I went from the hospital to hospitality,” Milton quips, adding that the two concepts are close because both focus on people and connections. “Although this was different from the original business plan with patients, it did not mean it was less meaningful.”

Milton was thoughtful in picking the right property for her inn. She chose a historic building that was once home to Thomas Jefferson’s great-granddaughter, Maria Jefferson Eppes Shine. She remodeled it with utmost attention to the details, making sure the fantasy wallpaper matched the artfully carved furniture and plush throws. Even the wine coasters quote famous authors, putting one in a pensive mood. “There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all this sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well,” reads one by Nicholas Sparks, author of A Walk to Remember.

A literary passion project realized 

Milton filled the apartments with beauty and books to encourage the guests to create their own narratives in an almost magical setting. Whether novels or photo albums, books tell stories, inspiring guests to create their own. Charmed by the concept, a local chef partnered with her, creating a fine French restaurant on the ground floor, fittingly named La Nouvelle, a French word that describes a short work of fiction known in English as a novella.

“The idea of a storybook place was created to pull travelers away from the hustle and bustle of life, leave their cares behind and create intentional and meaningful stories of their own,” Milton says. Soon, she welcomed guests celebrating all sorts of unique moments, from wedding anniversaries to divorce to toasting to sobriety.

“Traveling with my mom, I learned that the time we spend exploring the world with our loved ones is priceless, and the memories we make are irreplaceable,” Milton says. “I want my guests, many of whom are mother-daughters or BFFs or couples, to make memories they will never forget. Our lives are simply too short to not do so. If there’s one thing my mother taught me, it’s that.”

Photo by Lina Zeldovich

The post Literary Inn Encourages Guests to Create Meaningful Memories appeared first on SUCCESS.

New Jersey pet owner Michele C. Hollow got a call from the company when she ordered half of her usual cat food order. One of her cats had passed away. After finding this out, the rep sent flowers the next day with multiple signatures from Chewy staff.

Chewy’s gestures above aren’t random or isolated incidents. Instead, they’re part of a cohesive and intentional strategy. “If you’re building for the long term, investing in customer experience isn’t optional—it’s essential,” says Diane Pelkey, head of communications at Chewy. “Customers remember how you made them feel. That emotional connection drives their loyalty and defines your brand.” 

Her company’s philosophy is backed by research. A 2024 survey from customer engagement experts Khoros found that 83% of consumers said that good customer service had the most important impact on their decision to buy. The survey also found that 86% of consumers became long-term buyers after a good customer service experience.

Here’s what top-notch customer service teams know about building loyalty that also improves the bottom line.

1. A complaint is an opportunity 

A 2023 report from Coveo, an AI search platform, found that only 56% of 4,000 consumers surveyed actually complained when they experienced poor service. The rest of respondents reported “ghosting” the company and using a competitor instead. Respondents shared it only took two negative customer service experiences to have them abandon a company.

When they do give negative feedback, that’s an opportunity, according to Lacy Eyre, director of client success at Aventus in Charleston, South Carolina. “A well-handled setback can turn a one-time buyer into a long-term brand advocate,” she explains. “Imagine this: A customer contacts your service team upset about a delayed order. The rep listens, empathizes, offers a quick solution and maybe even throws in a personal touch. Suddenly, that customer feels valued, seen and understood. This isn’t just a resolution; it’s an opportunity to wow them and turn a negative experience into a comeback.”

2. Pay attention to your customer service team 

“If you want to know what’s working and what’s not, look no further than your customer service team. They are the first line of defense when things go right or wrong, the frontline warriors who can take your brand’s reputation to soaring heights or drive it into the ground,” Eyre says.

“Every complaint, every suggestion is an opportunity to evolve. If you ignore this invaluable feedback, you’re essentially putting your business on autopilot. But when you embrace it, you’re setting yourself up for sustained growth and innovation,” she says.

3. Fun social media can make people loyal

Customer service isn’t all doom, gloom and aggravated customers. Meg St-Esprit, a Pittsburgh-based mom of four, found out McDonald’s is on its social media game, and was impressed by the brand’s customer engagement practices. After a representative from the fast food chain saw a tweet of hers, the brand reached out to send her kids McDonald’s swag. 

“When this box showed up, they were just bowled over. The box had all sorts of fun red and yellow paper confetti in it, a hoodie for each of them and some gift cards for us to get dinner that night,” she says. “I think they felt like YouTube stars with some type of brand partnership or something—for weeks they chose to wear their hoodies in unison like a little roving marketing team.” 

“Even given my previously positive opinion of the company, it certainly elevated my opinion of their team,” St-Esprit says. “They’re also clearly out there, on social media, connecting with customers. That tells me they are tuned in to what’s going on.”

Similarly, interactive calendar company Skylight shared that one TikToker went viral after she accidentally received three extra Skylight calendars in her shipment. According to Skylight’s PR team, the client returned them, “restoring everyone’s faith in humanity.” 

Skylight President Aviv Gilboa responded immediately and offered to send calendars to three of the client’s loved ones, hand-delivered her a new unopened calendar she was on the waitlist for and gifted her a free Skylight Plus lifetime subscription to thank her for her integrity. 

4. Show customers your sense of humor 

If you find yourself on hold at ItsEasy Passport & Visa Services, you’re in for a whole experience. Narrated by founder David Alwadish, the hold message features customer stories and educational content about passports and visas, interwoven with songs from classic artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Gloria Gaynor. 

“One of our executive customers was so inspired by the on-hold message that he wanted his entire staff to hear it—not only to better manage their personal and business travel, but also as a model for how to truly serve customers,” Alwadish says. “With this recording, we are excited to bring back the passion behind great customer service—something that’s been missing since the days Sam Walton was holding the door open for customers at Walmart.”

You can expect to hear lyrics to Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” as they detail passport woes, for example. The entire recording is 52 minutes, but luckily the company shares that customers are only ever on hold for a few of those minutes. “I got carried away with the effort because I had so much to share,” Alwadish adds.

5. Wow them with a personalized experience

In the digital age where you can bulk email millions of people at once, a tailored, personalized customer experience stands out. Recent research from Deloitte has found that companies that personalized the customer experience were 71% more likely to have customer loyalty and 48% more likely to have exceeded revenue goals.

“If your customers feel like they’re just a number, just another ticket to close, that’s when you lose. Poor customer service leads directly to churn, lost revenue and negative word of mouth,” Eyre says. “In a world where consumers have countless options at their fingertips, if your team doesn’t go above and beyond, they’ll simply move on to a competitor who does. With the evolution of e-commerce and the shift toward personalized experiences, people now expect genuine connections with brands. They want to feel like more than a transaction.”

GiAnna Orangio, vice president of The Dana Agency in Miami, shares a story of a couple who loved their trip experience so much, they named their child after the hotel they stayed at—Arlo. So, when the couple returned, they were met with balloons for the child’s first birthday and an upgraded room, demonstrating the “importance of thoughtful, personalized gestures in the world of hospitality,” she says.

Similarly, Erik Wright, founder and CEO of New Horizon Home Buyers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, remembers an “elderly widow” selling her 43-year-old home after her husband’s recent death. After his team noticed military decorations they learned her husband was a Vietnam War veteran. “At closing, we presented her with a customized shadow box containing her husband’s service medals, professionally restored photographs that we had printed from albums that she had pulled out to share with us and a donation certificate to a veterans’ organization in her husband’s name. She was moved to tears, subsequently referring three of her friends to our company, and she is still in contact years later.” 

Wright calls the cost of the shadow box “inconsequential” compared to the newly formed relationships and the additional business it brought. “We’ve since implemented a company-wide ‘meaningful memories’ program where sellers assign personal touches to commemorate each seller’s unique situation.”

So, whether it’s a shadow box, bouquet of flowers or a simple validating phone call with a human representative and not an AI bot, customer service might be your next key area of focus.

Photo by PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

The post 5 Strategies Customer Service Teams Use to Build Lifelong Loyalty appeared first on SUCCESS.

As Jan and I talked, we realized we shared the same thought: This rooftop was one of the best parts of our membership—so why wasn’t anyone else using it? Wouldn’t it be great if more members came up here and connected?

That day, we gave ourselves a new assignment. We’d host a monthly rooftop happy hour with snacks, drinks and no agenda, just an open invite to anyone who wanted to come. We initially envisioned this as a summer activity, but since our inaugural event in April 2024, we haven’t missed a month.

What started as a one-off idea has turned into something reliable, even anticipated. In the process, I went from anonymous to familiar in the workspace. People know my name and where I’m traveling next. As it turns out, being part of a community was the missing ingredient in my solopreneur work-life recipe.

A space designed for connection

Jan and I both expected more organic networking when we joined this coworking office. While our community managers create ample opportunities to mix and mingle, members are often wired in and working. 

“It just didn’t happen,” he says. “After we talked, it [was] like, ‘OK, if us two feel like this, there’s probably quite a few other people at that same space.’” So we decided to be the spark.

That initial conversation was unguarded. Neither of us had our laptops, and we weren’t trying to work—or even connect. We were just two people who happened to like sitting in the sun. 

“It felt like, ‘Oh, I’m not disturbing you,’” Jan continues. “I can just stir up a conversation and see what happens.”

There’s something about the openness of the rooftop space that makes conversation easier. “There are no walls,” Jan points out. “People just go up there to relax. And so if somebody’s up there, they’re [probably] going to… be open to discussion.”

Routine—but with room to flex

At first, we chose a recurring date—the second Tuesday of the month—to make it easy to remember. We liked the rhythm of it. It gave us structure.

“We can plan around it,” Jan adds. ”We can put it on our calendars.”

Eventually, we experimented with different days and found that a little flexibility attracted different people. Sometimes we see 15 people, other times 25. There are always snacks and something to sip, and that’s enough. Because the format is informal and lightweight, it’s easy to pivot.

Even when winter came and we moved indoors to our workspace’s break room, the vibe stuck. It’s just a casual couple of hours once a month where people can stop by, have a drink and talk to someone they might not otherwise meet.

From playing host to being part of the community

Early on, it was mostly Jan and I holding the space, welcoming people, making introductions and playing hosts. Now, Jan says, “every time we’re up there, more people know each other.” They jump in, make introductions and follow up on past conversations. It’s not just on us anymore. And that’s how we know it’s working.

Chris Hannan attended his first happy hour about a month after joining Life Time Work. Before he’d poured his second drink, he’d volunteered to host the next one.

“I thought it was valuable and fun,” he says. “We work hard, and just an hour or two out of your day once a month is [worth it]. There are a lot of like-minded people… [but] if you don’t get out of your comfort zone sometimes… you won’t get a chance to meet [them].” 

He also reflects on the broader value of connecting with others in our coworking space. “Everyone’s story is a little bit different,” he says. “You [see] a lot of successful people, but everyone’s doing [things] a little bit differently, so it’s fun to network and learn that.”

A commitment to conversation

Jackie LaLonde, who’s been a member longer than I have, shows up often, even if it’s just for a few minutes. “I love people, and I love community,” she says. “And I think the more we interact with others and make more friends, the better our world is.”

She also finds the happy hour format conducive to practicing her conversation skills. “It’s good practice for me to get out and talk to people… in an environment where I don’t know people,” she says. ”I want to be a good example for [my kids].”

Both Chris and Jackie offered to co-host a happy hour without being asked. For her part, Jackie simply said, “You guys always do it…. Why should everything be on you? That doesn’t feel fair.”

Other members occasionally volunteer to take the lead, but Jan remains the anchor. He’s the reason we’ve never missed a month—and that consistency matters. “A lot of people know each other, and we feel good that it’s because of us,” he says.

As we rotate hosting, we also play with timing and location. While the rooftop draws the biggest turnout in warmer months, the break room also has its perks. People tend to hover around food, and the island counter creates a natural spot to mingle. Sometimes people who are just walking by decide to stop in, which leads to an easy, organic vibe.

Seen and supported

Pauline Roussel—Berlin-based co-founder of Coworkies, an organization that helps people build careers through coworking, and co-author of Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces—has visited more than 570 coworking spaces across 70 cities. “Member-led events are usually more popular than the ones led by the coworking team,” she says. “Members want to support members.”

Roussel also shares an anecdote about a member who needed teaching hours for her yoga certification and asked if she could provide free classes. She told the member, “’I would love for you to do it,’” but warned her that they had tried a few times and it had never worked. “You cannot imagine how people showed up when she posted it on the Slack. There were so many people coming,” Roussel says.

Later, Roussel asked members why the turnout was so different than when the team had previously offered yoga. Because this woman was part of a community, people wanted to support her. “We know her,” they told Roussel. ”We want to help her.”

Roussel’s words echo what I’ve felt but hadn’t quite named. When I started attending these events, I felt more visible, seen. Now, people notice when I’m not around—and when I am, they take the time to pause for conversation. 

From isolated to connected

Originally, I didn’t set out to build a community—I just connected with someone I didn’t know while sitting on the roof deck. But that small decision made my coworking space feel more alive, more mine.

Our monthly happy hours continue. They’ve turned a shared office into something far beyond what it once was: a community that is entirely unreplicable.

Photo by Gorgev/Shutterstock.com

The post The Power of Organic Networking in Building Relationships appeared first on SUCCESS.

What is a DISC assessment and why does it matter?

DISC stands for our different primary personality styles. Dominance (confident and results-oriented), influence (enthusiastic and relationship-focused), steadiness (dependable and cooperative) and conscientiousness (detail-oriented and analytical). “DISC assessment is one communication tool that helps people to understand why we communicate, either similarly or differently from others,” Larsen says. “It gives us some insight into what drives our behaviors, why we do what we do and how we do them.”

Larsen was drawn to the potency of the DISC assessment thanks to its simplicity (four profiles make for easy memorization) and its cross-cultural applicability. “Doesn’t matter what language you speak, we can see behavior everywhere,” she says. 

Larsen also appreciates how, even when she was working at the University of Phoenix, she could see how readily it made a difference in building a mutually beneficial relationship. “I got to see firsthand how effective it could be in any relationship, environment or situation.”

What’s behind team tension? 

While every team has a unique set of challenges, the same communication setbacks tend to arise. The biggest issue that Larsen encounters is that we assume everyone will think, act and behave just as we do, which feeds into how we interpret others daily, whether it’s their tone, how fast they speak or work, the amount of detail they provide, the behavior or emotions they express and more. Our perception doesn’t necessarily align with their intention, and that leads to miscommunication. 

“If you are breathing, you have a personality, and if you have a personality, you’re likely to have personality conflicts,” Larsen laughs. “DISC is one element of our personality that can help us to understand what we’re about…. The most common tensions we see are often created by a distinction or a disparity in pace or priority.” 

The power of knowing your style 

Fortunately, there are plenty of success stories after teams start to understand that conflicts aren’t personal; it’s just DISC structure. Larsen relayed an anecdote about a team whose communication patterns shifted remarkably after an organizational shift initially sent the team into disarray. 

“We looked at building a structure where everybody could have their voices heard, where the quick decision makers were able to sit through a thorough and deep discussion to reveal risks and questions,” she says. “We made sure that every team member had a voice. Even if there was nothing that could be done about it, they were able to share their perspective and ask questions. 

“Every voice was then heard, even if there wasn’t an agreement, and every team member felt valued for being able to predict and or to provide their perspective on their role,” she says. 

Great communication doesn’t happen overnight

The real strength of determining communication styles is in the long game. Larsen explains how that same team, several weeks later, shifted again. This time they weren’t just looking at making all team members heard but also focused on actively leveraging the strengths of each member. “Not only did they start to see that there was diversity, they started to value the diversity in the room rather than fight against it,” she says. “And that was a huge win.” 

The results speak for themselves. “One client that I recently worked with told me that, as a result of our session, they had seen a 20% decrease in project delays simply because people had communication tools to be able to work through miscommunication and misunderstandings in ways they couldn’t before. Another client had a 30% drop in internal conflict reports.” 

That doesn’t mean that Larsen is free from encountering skepticism regarding the DISC assessment. However, the skepticism tends to be geared toward resistance about appearing vulnerable rather than about the process of the assessment itself. “Most people recognize that there’s a benefit in strengthening relationships, which is definitely what DISC is all about: understanding of self and then knowing how to interact and work more effectively with others.” 

The best leaders prioritize good communication 

Larsen advises leaders looking to improve their team’s communication to get curious first and foremost, even before they look to tools like DISC assessments. “Ask a lot of questions, invite candid feedback, really listen and practice empathy and compassion, even if you can’t change anything,” she says. “Be aware of what’s going on with the people around you, offer support in whatever ways you can, but be open to creating a space of curiosity that is safe. When leaders can create a space of curiosity where people can speak openly and they feel like they’re genuinely heard and acknowledged, communication starts to naturally shift.”

As for what makes a good communicator? “The best communicators don’t just express themselves well. They listen and they adapt to how others prefer to connect,” Larsen says. “They’re vulnerable and they show humility. They ask questions, they engage in curiosity rather than judgment. They pay attention and they want to understand how to build their great communication to even greater [levels], and I think, while DISC is an amazing tool to help foster and create those relationships… I think [the best communicators] remember that we’re all just people trying to figure it out. 

“The world is messy and complex and fascinating, and people are all of those things, too,” she says. “There’s no one right way to get it done. What DISC does is… it gives us a common language to be able to share what’s important to us in a way that works with the others around us. So it’s not about who’s right. It’s about what works.”

If you’re ready to become an influential leader, join the SUCCESS® Leadership Lab, where Larsen presents “Communicate to Influence,” a lesson in the DISC framework, your default communication habits and developing the flexibility to meet your team where they are. Larsen is one of 10 experts in this 18-day virtual course for rising leaders who want to lead with clarity, influence and confidence. The hybrid experience combines expert-led lessons with live coaching to provide you with practical tools to build trust with your team, navigate chaos and crises, shape a healthy, driven work culture and more. Click here to register.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Larsen

The post It’s Not Personal, It’s Behavioral—How DISC Assessments Help Teams Thrive appeared first on SUCCESS.

Navigating a relationship with a friend is similar to navigating other relationships in your life. You may have to figure out how to deal with specific issues, face certain obstacles, work on how you can be a better friend and communicate how your friend can have a better relationship with you.

Feelings of worry or inadequacy, known as friendship anxiety, often stem from past experiences, social dynamics or personal insecurities. Understanding where these feelings come from and learning how to manage them can help you maintain healthy relationships.

Find out more about friendship anxiety, where it comes from and how you can manage your anxiety to build fulfilling friendships in this article.

What Is Friendship Anxiety and Why Do I Feel Anxious Toward a Friend?

Friendship anxiety often answers the question, “Why do I feel anxious toward a friend?” by uncovering hidden triggers and past experiences. Defining it and learning what it involves can help us manage it. 

Understanding What Friendship Anxiety Is 

Friendship anxiety is a type of anxiety that triggers feelings of worry, inadequacy and anxiousness related to platonic relationships. It can be similar to social anxiety or social phobia for most people. However, where social anxiety symptoms generally manifest in any social setting, friendship anxiety is tied specifically to relationships with friends.

Friendship anxiety isn’t typically considered a specific “diagnosable” condition like social anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). While many people who experience it may have other types of anxiety disorders, feelings of friendship anxiety can happen to anyone.

Signs and symptoms 

Some of the most common symptoms and signs of friendship anxiety include:

• Trouble fully trusting family or friends
• Physical reactions, such as a rapid heartbeat, when thinking about an interaction with friends
• Worry that you don’t have enough friends or that your worth is dependent upon the number of friends you have
• Distorted thinking patterns that have you constantly replaying and overthinking conversations or interactions with friends
• People-pleasing and avoiding friends in an attempt to avoid rejection or conflict
• Seeking constant reassurance from friends, such as regularly asking, “Do you hate me?” or “Are you mad at me?”

Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in someone’s predisposition to anxiety. In addition to general anxiety factors, friendship anxiety is often tied to a lack of meaningful in-person interactions.

Common Causes or Triggers 

There are multiple things that can impact friendship anxiety, including our past experiences and current social norms. Common triggers of friendship anxiety include:

• More digital interactions and fewer in-person meetings
• Frequent use of social media and smartphones
• Past experiences, such as those related to unhealthy relationship dynamics or related to rejection or conflict

Some research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to social anxiety. Though there is more limited research specifically on friendship anxiety, the pandemic could be a contributing factor. Lockdowns, cancellation of events and a move toward digital interactions left many people with fewer in-person relationships. This lack of in-person interaction can strains relationships, and many people are still recovering.

Likewise, society’s modern obsession with social media and technology could be contributing to feelings of friendship anxiety and the fear of losing friends. For example, if you see a friend post an Instagram story of dinner with another friend, it could make you feel left out or wonder if they’re mad at you. While you might logically know that the dinner was just a chance for two friends to catch up (just as you might do with someone else), seeing it on social media can trigger friendship anxiety symptoms.

Finally, people who’ve faced rejection or high levels of conflict in the past may be more at risk for experiencing friendship anxiety. For example, someone who was bullied in school or treated as an outcast might have trouble accepting that their friends like them for who they are.

5 Tips to Overcome Friendship Anxiety and Help Your Friendships Thrive 

Friendship anxiety could be harmful to your mental health and your relationships with friends. Luckily, there are several ways to cope with mild anxiety and friendship that you can put into practice right away. Getting past these issues could potentially help you have stronger friendships. 

If you’re asking, “Why do I feel anxious toward a friend?” these tips can provide a starting point for managing and reducing those feelings.

1. Challenge Negative Thoughts

Anxious feelings are commonly rooted in emotions, which can be unreliable when working through a problem.

If you’re feeling friendship anxiety, a first step might be to take a step back and look at a situation logically. Putting an objective lens on your interactions with friends and challenging any negative thoughts can help you identify when your anxiety is taking control, so you can push back mentally and challenge those negative thoughts.

2. Be Open and Honest With Friends

One of the best ways to cope with friendship anxiety is to be honest with your friends about how you’re feeling. This can lead to open conversations about anxiety and how you and your friends can support each other in the relationship. Being vulnerable can have many benefits and can even strengthen relationship bonds. 

Ultimately, having honest conversations with friends about your anxiety struggles could help you build trust and connection with others.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care

Anxiety can to leave us feeling overwhelmed by things we can’t control, such as overanalyzing past interactions or worrying about what will happen in the future. Try to practice mindfulness to help counteract the effects of friendship anxiety.

Some ways to practice mindfulness include meditation, journaling or going for walks to give your mind a rest or a reset.

4. Define Your Friendship Values

Part of reducing friendship anxiety is defining and living according to your friendship values. Start by asking yourself questions such as:

• What kind of friend do I hope to be?
• What do I want to offer to my friends? What do I hope they offer me?
• What does the relationship stand for?

Answering these questions can help you better understand what you want out of a friendship and what you can offer your friends in return.

5. Build Your Self-esteem

In some cases, friendship anxiety can come from feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt. Working on your self-esteem and building your confidence could help you reduce friendship anxiety.

Try these methods for improving your self-confidence:

• List the things you love and admire about yourself.
• Practice saying “no” to others.
• Set challenges to step outside your comfort zone.
• Try a digital detox and step away from social media.
• Start each day with a positive conversation with yourself.

If Anxiety Is Harming Your Friendships, Consider Professional Help

Are you trying to manage your feelings surrounding the question, “Why do I feel anxious toward a friend?” but nothing seems to work? It might be time to reach out to a professional.

While the five methods listed above can help you cope with some aspects of anxiety, it can be helpful to speak to a professional if the anxiety persists or interferes with your daily life. In fact, most mental health professionals advocate for therapy or related mental health services even if you’re not diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

A mental health professional, such as a licensed therapist who specializes in relationships, can help you work through friendship anxiety triggers and develop a management plan.

Face and Overcome Your Friendship Anxiety

It’s important to have friends, so find ways to identify why you worry about your friendships or ask, “Why do I feel anxious toward a friend?”.  

Remember that some options may work better than others for your particular bout with anxiety, and those strategies could be different depending on each relationship with a friend. Look at factors that affect your particular views of friends and find ways to adjust your mental load, including getting professional help if you need it.

FAQs About Friendship Anxiety

You may still wonder, “Why do I feel anxious toward a friend?” Here are some answers to common questions. These can help you better understand why you have friendship anxiety and how you can handle it in your life.

Why do I feel anxious toward a friend even though we get along?

Even positive relationships can give you friendship anxiety, so it’s good to explore your personal insecurities, past experiences or social dynamics to see if you can find the origins to your anxiety.

Spend some time focusing on yourself to see if you can adjust your own attitude and views of your friendship to have a more positive relationship.

Can past experiences contribute to friendship anxiety?

Your previous friendships may have included past rejections, conflicts or negative social interactions that could influence your current anxiety about losing friendships.

Try to identify these issues in your past relationships and use them to inform your current views of friendship anxiety so you can move forward with solutions that could help you alleviate your anxiety.

Why do I feel anxious around certain friends?

Each friendship is different, and you may only have friendship anxiety with some friends but not others.

Think about why you have the fear of losing friends in some cases, as that could help you get a better grasp on why you’re having these feelings in some circumstances with some friends but not others.

How can I know if my friendship anxiety is part of a larger issue?

While being proactive and following some helpful tips can be beneficial, you may wonder if there is more to your anxiety surrounding your friendship. Talking to a credentialed therapist or mental health professional is the best way to help determine if your friendship anxiety is part of a larger issue, such as generalized anxiety or another mental health concern.

This article was updated June 2025. Photo courtesy of Cookie Studio/Shutterstock

The post Why Do I Feel Anxious Toward a Friend? Understanding & Managaing Friendship Anxiety appeared first on SUCCESS.

Father-daughter duo Peter and Nicole Wen get to experience this ideal scenario. In addition to their parent-child relationship, the two are colleagues at AT&T, where Peter Wen is director of technical sales and Nicole Wen is principal project program manager. Peter has worked at the company for over 26 years, and Nicole started working there in 2019. Although they report to different departments at AT&T, the two have “lunch-ins” together to share advice with each other, and Peter says his daughter has helped bring him out of his shell and taught him the importance and value of networking.

Q&A with Peter and Nicole Wen

We spoke with Peter and Nicole Wen about how carpooling to work together and meeting for lunch dates has helped them both evolve personally and professionally.

(This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.)

SUCCESS: What prompted the idea for you to start meeting for “lunch-ins” together during your workday?

Nicole Wen: We started having casual “lunch-ins” early on when I first started at AT&T. At first, it was just to check in to ensure I was getting my footing at the company and share what we were working on, but as they continued it became a meaningful way to connect and learn from each other professionally.

Peter Wen: When Nicole joined the company, I was thrilled—it’s rare to get this kind of overlap with your adult child. We make time to connect whenever our schedules align to talk about work and life. Being able to speak the same “work language” even though we work in different departments on different projects has made us so much closer, and I’ve learned so much from Nicole since she started at AT&T.

S: Nicole, what advice has your dad given you during one of your lunch-ins that has helped or inspired you? 

NW: Professionally, my dad has shown me the importance of staying focused on building your expertise in your career. Our approaches might differ, but we share that same core value. During our lunch-ins and carpool rides together, I’ll often ask, “How would you approach this?” and he gives practical, balanced advice I can apply in my own way.

Personally, I’ve learned from his calm, thoughtful approach. He told me to never say no to an opportunity, big or small. This is something that has stayed with me and I remind myself from time to time when new opportunities arise.

S: Peter, as the parent of an adult child you may not get to see as often, I imagine it’s so special getting to spend your lunches with Nicole. Please share how Nicole has helped bring you out of your shell.

PW: Lunch-ins with Nicole have made us so much closer and it’s been incredible to see all of her success in such a short amount of time at the company. She’s masterful at connecting with people from all backgrounds.

Her personality has always let her branch out easily, and seeing this at work has really inspired me to come out of my shell. When Nicole joined and eventually took a leadership position in our employee group InspirASIAN, she encouraged me to participate more and get involved. I had been a member but never really participated before she joined. I started going to the meetings and engaging with other members— even mentoring some—and this has really shown me the value of connecting with colleagues at work. 

S: Peter, please discuss how Nicole has energized your focus on networking. What networking tips has she taught you that you could share with us?

PW: Nicole’s generation really understands networking in a way mine didn’t. Back when I was building my career, you stayed in your role for many years, kept your head down, and let your work speak for itself. I was so focused on becoming a subject matter expert, and networking was less of a priority then. But Nicole showed me that building relationships is just as important and can even help you hone your craft.

She’s intentional about connecting with people—understanding what they do, finding ways to collaborate and creating space for mutual support. This is something I wish I did more of earlier in my own career.

S: Nicole, what do you think we can learn from your dad’s generation about work and life?

NW: His generation has a lot of valuable advice for those who are just starting their careers. I think my generation should learn to connect with tenured professionals they work with more often to gain this perspective and new insights. They’ve navigated the corporate world and have decades of experience problem-solving different challenges and working with all different kinds of personalities. He’s taught me the value of being thoughtful and intentional, even when everything around you moves quickly.

S: Peter, what do you think we can learn from Nicole’s generation about how they navigate work and life?

PW: They’re incredibly open to change. Nicole has already held several roles in just a few years, and she embraces each one with curiosity and confidence. When I was just starting my career, there was less of a priority placed on networking. Her generation isn’t afraid to speak up, explore new paths or ask for what they need—which is a real strength.

S: Peter and Nicole, what do you each feel is the best thing about getting to work together?

NW: It made joining a large company like AT&T much less intimidating. Just knowing he was a hallway or a call away gave me confidence. And it’s fun—we talk about work, bounce ideas around and even used to carpool karaoke on occasion!

In addition to my day job, I also support our AT&T employee resource group, InspirASIAN, as the vice president for the Dallas–Fort Worth chapter. Prior to me joining the company, my dad wasn’t too involved in any extracurriculars. I joined to make friends outside my organization. I mentioned to my dad how awesome the group is, all the charity work and scholarship fundraising, and encouraged him to join. And now it’s another thing we do together. Our favorite event is the Lunar New Year event, a big celebration with food, music and dragon dancing, and it’s very special to do together.

PW: Watching Nicole thrive in her own career is the best part. I get to see her in action, building relationships, solving problems and growing into a leader. And I get little moments—lunches, quick chats—that I wouldn’t otherwise have now that she’s out of the house. It’s a gift.

Photo from Nicole and Peter Wen

The post Father-Daughter Co-Workers Give Each Other Career and Life Advice During Workday ‘Lunch-Ins’ appeared first on SUCCESS.

It’s important to keep in mind that you are not obligated to invite anyone you don’t want to. However, we understand that this can lead to some awkwardness within the workplace. To help you navigate these tough situations, we’ve consulted wedding and etiquette experts so you have one less thing to stress about before your big day.

So, do you have to invite your co-workers to your wedding?

According to Sarah Schreiber, the founder of Sarah Schreiber Consulting, a brand agency for luxury wedding professionals and a former editor at Brides and Martha Stewart Weddings, you do not have to invite your co-workers to your wedding.

“I’d argue that you aren’t obligated to invite anyone you’re on the fence about to your wedding—so if you don’t feel particularly enthusiastic about including your colleagues on your guest list (or need to cut a group of people to bring your estimates back to a more comfortable number), you certainly don’t need to,” says Schreiber. 

She says this may be especially important if you prefer to keep your professional and personal lives separate. 

“Unless you have deep-rooted, long-standing relationships with your co-workers outside of the office, they likely won’t even expect to receive an invite—which means no harm, no foul in leaving them off the list,” she says.

Do you need to invite your boss to your wedding?

If you’ve been sweating whether you should invite your boss to your wedding, take a deep breath: There’s no etiquette rule that says you have to. 

“Unless you share a somewhat close relationship to your boss, meaning you are friendly and have a long-standing history with them, it’s not necessary to invite them,” says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert at The Protocol School of Texas.

Mariah Grumet Humbert, the founder of Old Soul Etiquette, says that since everyone’s wedding has a different budget, style and size, each couple’s guest list will differ, and for that reason, you should feel no obligation to invite your boss, and they will likely understand if they don’t receive an invite.

What if you are the boss?

If you are the boss, it’s important to be extra cautious about who you invite, so you don’t get accused of favoritism. To avoid any accusations and awkwardness within your team, Schreiber suggests not inviting anyone you manage. 

“If you’re the boss, it’s best to send invitations to colleagues whom you don’t manage (think lateral and above) whenever possible. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all piece of advice, but it’s important to intentionally consider the (power) dynamics of your team, especially if you are the one in charge of it,” she says.

If you do want to invite a subordinate, it’s best practice not to exclude anyone. While you don’t have to invite everyone below you on your organization’s hierarchical chart, you should invite all direct reports—not just one.

What to consider before adding co-workers to the invite list

Before inviting co-workers to your wedding, it’s important to think critically about your relationship with each one and how you’d feel on the day with them there.

“I believe it is a completely personal decision between you and your partner as to whether or not you want to invite co-workers,” says Humbert. “You will want to consider your relationship and decide if you have a close enough relationship with them beyond work that warrants them to enter a very personal day for you.” 

To decide whether you should invite a certain co-worker to your wedding, Schreiber offers a couple questions to ask yourself that may clarify the situation.

Do I feel comfortable with being the version of myself that I want to be on my wedding day in front of the people I work with?

“If the answer is yes (and you have the room!), go ahead and pop their invitations in the mail,” says Schreiber, “but if the answer is no (perhaps you don’t want your direct reports to see your more emotional side or you feel a little funny about cutting loose on the dance floor in front of your boss), you have full permission to hold off.”

If you were to take another job or get laid off, would you still text, call, email or see this person regularly? Would you still have things to talk about should your work environments no longer be the same?

“If the answer is yes, I would invite them—if the answer is no, take a beat and think it through. The answer might not be don’t invite them, but at the end of the day, they might not be someone to prioritize,” she says.

How to navigate awkwardness after sending out the invites

Whether you decide to invite some of your co-workers or not, experts agree that the best way to make sure nobody feels left out is to not talk about your wedding at the office, especially around those who aren’t invited. 

“If you plan on inviting just a few co-workers, keep the wedding talk to an absolute minimum at work to avoid ruffling any feathers (and ask those you have invited to do the same). What you do on your lunch break is your business—but it’s probably not good form to talk about the epic band you just booked at the top of that quarterly retro meeting, especially if not everyone in the room will be invited to enjoy it,” says Schreiber.

While it’s unlikely someone complains (at least to your face) about not getting an invite to your wedding, if you do receive a complaint or someone feels left out, it’s important to communicate clearly and briefly about why they didn’t get an invite. 

“You do not need to overexplain why this person was not invited or shed light into your whole planning process,” says Humbert. “I would recommend simply acknowledging their disappointment, let them know that you had very difficult decisions to make based on your budget and venue capacity and you are grateful for their support and excitement around your wedding plans.”

Photo by PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.

The post Do I Need to Invite My Co-Workers to My Wedding? Experts Weigh In appeared first on SUCCESS.

“Why doesn’t my dad just get it?”

“I definitely can’t tell them THAT. They’ll freak out.”

For 10 years, I taught junior high and high school. And for 10 years, I heard these phrases, and others, daily at class change, and overheard stories kids would tell their friends while they worked on assignments. As teachers can attest to, there’s something about venting at school that just seems like a relief to kids. It’s where they share—whether you asked for it or not—what they need from their parents, and what drives them nuts.

This all happened as I was having and raising five babies/toddlers along the way, so I was taking careful notes of what to do and not do as a future parent of teens. While it might seem like a bunch of pubescent kids just spouting off—and sometimes it was—it also pointed to a deeper issue. I realized how essential it was to stay connected with teens during some of their hardest years, especially as mental health concerns for kids and teens spike. Pew Research reports that four in 10 U.S. parents are extremely or very worried about their children struggling with anxiety or depression. Yet, I realized as a teacher, some teens aren’t communicating about the barriers keeping them from a close relationship with parents. Others are, but it’s not working.

“For me, it’s really about the relationship that a teen has with their child. We can’t ask our teens to share with us, if we haven’t been fostering a relationship with them in which we show them that we value their thoughts and options throughout their life,” says Dr. Erica Miller, a clinical psychologist at Connected Minds NYC in the Manhattan area. 

Here are the most common gripes, both serious and trivial, from teens about their parents—and what teens hope for instead.

“I’ll never be good enough.”

Teens today have immense stress. If they don’t get perfect grades, they think their future is doomed. If they get perfect grades, they spend entire evenings shut in their room doing homework—not a great start for work-life balance, including movement, sunlight, friends, family and rest. If they are student athletes, they face pressures to win, get the scholarship, make the team and stay in excellent shape, even before their bodies and minds have fully developed. A little under half of teens feel pressure to fit in socially.

And finally, teens carry the other expectations their parents share outright, or subtly, be it about body image and looks, how they dress, where they go, who they hang out with and more. Teens in my class complained that parents were always “on their ass” or “wouldn’t leave them alone.” I believe what they were saying is they couldn’t get enough space from their parents’ expectations to create and attempt to live up to their own expectations for themselves—even if those were different from their parents.

Try this: Everyday, share some way that your teen is meeting your expectations, or even exceeding them.

“I can’t tell them that.”

I had a student who had been sexually assaulted, but was terrified to tell her mother—after all, she was at a party she wasn’t supposed to be at. I had students who were addicted to vaping and had no idea how to stop. They wanted to ask for help, but couldn’t bring themselves to share that not only had they broken all the rules and standards their parents set, but they were suffering the real-life consequences. These are just a few of the toughest things I’d overhear as a teacher (and of course, sometimes have to act on). 

Why do kids feel they can’t share these things? See point number 1—they love their parents, typically, and are terrified to disappoint them. Lorraine Connell, teen leadership and empowerment coach and founder of Peers Not Fears, a leadership development program, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, shares this from her son, Bradyn Connell: “Vaping kids don’t know how to quit. I wish vaping wasn’t a thing, and it sucks that it is targeted to kids [and] looks cool, but it’s not and we aren’t taught anything about it,” he says. 

Try this: This is a strategy I used with teens in my classroom that worked frequently. I’d find a letter or note on my desk almost daily. “Mrs. Frost, I’m having a hard time,” one might read. With no other details. But it was a window, a glimpse and an invitation. Aurisha Smolarski, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, also recommends encouraging teens to write you a letter. Some parents keep a back and forth journal, email chain or text chain going, too, which comes in handy for those conversations that are tough to speak out loud. “For example, they might write, ‘Dear Dad, I get that you want to share all the things about your successes as the soccer team goalie, but when you do that, it makes me feel like I have to be like you and that you aren’t happy with what I am doing. Can you just ask about me instead of telling me about you?’” Smolarski suggests.

Bradyn Connell also suggests, “Parents could open up to kids and let them know they will help you. Help them figure out ways to quit. Open up and tell us what you’ve done. Put yourself in their shoes. Getting mad doesn’t help. Usually it’s because it helps you fit in or helps with anxiety.”

“They just won’t listen.”

Like anyone, teens sometimes don’t want a solution. Instead, they want a great listener. “Nothing turns a teen off more than a parent who turns every conversation into a lecture, who talks too much or who over-explains,” says Smolarski

A 2024 report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that only 27.5% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age reported receiving the social and emotional support they need from their parents. So, consider the impacts of listening and validating, versus fixing and suggesting, though it’s hard to do.

Try this: Miller says, “To empower teens to talk to their parents, we must show them that we care and value their opinions, that we believe them and their experiences and that we are curious—their thoughts matter to us.”

“I’m just not my sister.”

Teachers who work with multiple kids in one family through the years at the same school come to notice family dynamics. One common thread? Students pointing out they are not like their siblings, for better or worse. Like anyone, kids want to be individuals. “You may be tempted to compare your teen with other kids as a way to motivate them; however, this will only erode the self-esteem they are trying to build and is likely to backfire,” Smolarski says.

Try this: Eliminate all language that involves one child and another in the same sentence, such as “Well your brother never…” or “Your sister usually…”. While you’re at it, refrain from talking about your kid to other adults or family members as kids hit their teens, Smolarski says. “They find that embarrassing. They would prefer to do the talking themselves or have the option not to share.”

“I have no privacy.”

This one is a toughy, for teens, parents and teachers alike—you want to respect a teen’s personal space, especially digitally, to message friends, write the next bestselling rap song or look up things on the internet. But you also have to be an involved parent, with so many threats to teens online, from scams to strangers to potentially harmful content and behaviors. Along the way, teens can feel like their own privacy hangs in the balance, a vital part of teen development.

Lorraine Connell’s 14-year-old son, Elliot Connell, says his top parental complaints are coming into his room without knocking, no privacy on his phone and not letting him get certain apps. 

Try this: Instead of passing down commands and rules, talk to your teen about dangers online, and work together on a reasonable expectation of privacy versus freedom in real life and on devices, so there are no surprises. “As parents, we make the final decisions, but giving our teens a voice in the conversation makes all the difference,” Lorraine Connell says.

“I’m so done with chores.”

Aren’t we all, my young friends? Zoe Johnson, 15, daughter of Jenn Johnson, certified clinical hypnotherapist at The Salt Water Effect in Newburyport, Massachusetts, hates chores. “She would rather not have to do anything and I support that to a certain extent but believe that kids should have some tasks to support the household,” Jenn Johnson says.

Students I worked with griped from the typical standoffs with their parents about cleaning their rooms, to heavier workloads like always being in charge of laundry and dishes. They seemed most distraught when they thought it was an unfair load, compared to parents or siblings, or something that they had no say in. As a parent, it made me wonder—is my room clean? Am I on my phone too much? And other double standards. “If you reprimand your teen about something, but they then turn around and see you engaging in the same behavior, they will be justifiably annoyed,” Smolarski says. “Teens look to their parents to model behavior. If you don’t set a good example, it will undermine your efforts as a parent, and your teen will likely notice and point it out.”

Try this: “I guess the way to empower her is to have her be part of choosing what she should do for the week. Allow her to choose and help from a list instead of demanding the same task over and over again,” Jenn Johnson says.

And one out-of-the-box idea to get on the same page

Zoe and Jenn have an annual review, “like you do at work,” Jenn Johnson says. “We check in and discuss our strengths and our weaknesses and we give each other feedback on what we need from each other. I give Zoe the space to speak honestly and freely without worry in a safe environment and she gives me true feedback on how I can help her and support her in the way that she needs it, not just the way I think she needs.” 

Zoe Johnson adds, “When I was younger I thought these reviews were unnecessary and they weren’t beneficial to either of us. Now I can realize that my mom is giving me a safe space to share my thoughts and concerns, and these can really help both of us and keeping our relationship healthy and transparent. I also feel empowered to say this is a time to listen and not a time that I need constructive criticism on my actions.”

Reviews could be monthly, quarterly, a few times a year or annually.

Regardless, as Jenn Johnson says, give yourself a break. “I always think like this…this is the first time I have ever been a mom of a 15 year old and it’s the first time she’s been 15.”

Photo courtesy of fizkes/Shutterstock.

The post Here’s What Teens Say Bothers Them About Their Families appeared first on SUCCESS.

This Mother’s Day, show her and other motherly figures how much you care. Whether it’s your grandma, aunt, niece or friend, celebrate with these 70 Mother’s Day quotes that express the beauty and magic of motherhood.

Happy Mother’s Day Quotes to Express Appreciation for All She’s Done

Using a special “Happy Mother’s Day” quote can help show your appreciation for your mother or another mother figure in your life. You can use it in a card, as the start or end to a letter, in a social media post, or in another way to remind her how much she means to you. There are many quotes about mothers voiced by notable people, ranging from musical artists to political figures. Browse our list to find one that expresses your feelings toward mom. 

• “God could not be everywhere, and, therefore, he made mothers.” —Rudyard Kipling
• “I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is.” —Oprah Winfrey
• “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” —Abraham Lincoln
• “My mother is everything to me. She’s my anchor, she’s the person I go to when I need to talk to someone. She is an amazing woman.” —Demi Lovato
• “In the heavens above, the angels, whispering to one another, can find, among their burning terms of love, none so devotional as that of ‘Mother.’” —Edgar Allan Poe

• “Over the years, I learned so much from Mom. She taught me about the importance of home and history and family and tradition.” —Martha Stewart
• “Mothers were the only ones you could depend on to tell the whole, unvarnished truth.” —Margaret Dilloway
• “My mother was very strong about my doing well in school and living up to my potential. Two things were important to her and she repeated them endlessly. One was to ‘be a lady,’ and that meant conduct yourself civilly, don’t let emotions like anger or envy get in your way. And the other was to be independent, which was an unusual message for mothers of that time to be giving their daughters.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg, My Own Words
• “My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.” —Wilma Rudolph
• “You can feel when your mom’s proud of you, you can feel the love, and know she doesn’t go away.” —Jimmy Fallon

Related: 75 Joy Quotes to Fill Your Day

Quotes About Mothers for a Touching Mother’s Day Message

A touching message for Mother’s Day can help convey the deep emotions for all mom has done in your life. The years she sacrificed and spent caring for you, the lessons she taught you along the way and every unspoken way she encouraged you through hard times—all these add up to a lifetime of love. Share one of these heart-touching Mother’s Day quotes to celebrate all she is. 

• “When a mother sees her child in danger, she is literally capable of anything. Mothers have lifted cars off of their children and destroyed entire dynasties. A mother’s love is the strongest energy known to man.” —Jamie McGuire
• “I loved my mother like I love the moon—for just existing. Despite all her scars and changes, despite her cyclical darkness, she couldn’t help but mirror the light of life itself.” —Robin Brown, Glitter Saints
• “There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” —James E. Faust
• A mother is the truest friend we have. When trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” —Washington Irving
• “Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There’s no bond so strong in the entire world, no love so instantaneous and forgiving.” —Gail Tsukiyama
• “I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty, but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world.” —Rose Kennedy
• “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” —Princess Diana

• “A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” —Dorothy Canfield Fisher
• “Womanliness means only motherhood. All love begins and ends there.” —Robert Browning
• “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.” —Maya Angelou
• “A mother is the one who fills your heart in the first place.” —Amy Tan, Saving Fish From Drowning

Related: 60 Loving Quotes About Family

Some of the Best Mother’s Day Quotes for All the Ladies

Relationships with mothers can be complicated. Maybe some of these quotes work for your own mom, or maybe there is another figure in your life you want to share them with. You might also want to say “Happy Mother’s Day” to a friend or other person in your life who you know is navigating the ups and downs of motherhood. You can use these inspiring Mother’s Day quotes to say thank you or wish any mom you know a fantastic day and make her smile. 

• “No one is ever quite ready; everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you. And you open your eyes, look at what you’ve got, say ‘Oh, my gosh,’ and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It’s not a question of choice.” —Marisa de los Santos
• “It’s the job that I take most seriously in my life and I think it’s the hardest job.” —Debra Messing
• “I tell my kids, ‘I am thinking about you every other minute of my day.’” —Michelle Obama
• “I can pinpoint that as the single happiest moment of my life, because I realized then that Mom would always have my back. It made me feel giant. I raced back down the concrete ramp, faster than I ever had before, so fast I should have fallen, but I didn’t fall, because Mom was in the world.” —Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette
• “I like my body so much better after I had kids. Is that a crazy thing to say? I’m more womanly. I feel sexier.” —Reese Witherspoon

• “The best part of having two babies at once, a son and a daughter, is mostly everything. You’re just having that feeling of love inside you all the time and motherhood is such a fulfilling place to be. I kind of wish it would have happened to me earlier in my life.” —Jennifer Lopez
• “I don’t know if I feel like a bad mom, but at the end of the day I’m always plagued with, ‘Did I do enough? Should I go in a different direction?’ But I also know that my entire life revolves around [my son] Louis.” —Sandra Bullock
• “They’ve been safe inside your belly for almost 10 months, and now they’re in your arms. Intuition kicks in, where you will do anything for them and you have all the tools inside of you to take care of them.” —Hilary Duff
• “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” —Agatha Christie, The Hound of Death and Other Stories
  

Unique Things to Say to Your Mom on Mother’s Day 

If you’re looking for things to say to your mom on Mother’s Day, you might want to share something truly unique. You can use one of the simple Mother’s Day quotes below, which are original sayings written by SUCCESS® contributors, or be inspired to come up with your own heartfelt or funny message. Think about your mom’s personality, what has meant the most to you over your life and what might help her feel truly cherished to choose what to say on Mother’s Day.  

• “Mom spelled backwards is still mom.”
• “I love you, so I got you your favorite flower: Mums.”
• “It took a lot of courage to raise me. It still does.”
• “You don’t need to earn the title ‘World’s Best Mom.’ You’ve been one since the day I was born.”
• “Mom, you’re the chicken to my waffle.”
• “Mom, you’re the hidden strength behind everything I do. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams.”

• “Saying ‘thank you’ or ‘I love you’ doesn’t seem to be enough for all the lessons you taught me, the wounds you helped heal and the sacrifices you’ve made. Thank you for giving me more than words can express, Mom.”
• “You have helped me see all the beautiful colors of the world and shaped the person I’ve become. There is nothing more powerful than being a mom. This Mother’s Day, I just want to say thank you for all you’ve done.”
• “From diapers to heartbreaks, you’ve been there every step of the way. Thank you, Mom.” 
• “When I was little, you would catch me when I fell. Then you taught me what to do when there was no one there to catch me. Thank you for helping me learn to find my own way in this world, Mom.” 
• “Mom, thank you for believing in me—and teaching me how to believe in myself. Happy Mother’s Day.” 

Short & Simple Mother’s Day Quotes

Short Mother’s Day quotes can still have impact and meaning. If you’re looking for a sweet, simple and short quote to share this May with your mom, try one of these to express your love and appreciation. 

• “My mom is cool and my mom will treat you right.” —Sam Hyde
• “Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.” —John Steinbeck, East of Eden
• “The best place to cry is in a mother’s arms.” —Jodi Picoult, House Rules
• “Moms are as relentless as the tides.” —Steve Rushin
• “I see myself as Mom first. I’m so lucky to have that role in life.” —Angelina Jolie
• “When you’re in the thick of raising your kids by yourself, you tend to keep a running list of everything you think you’re doing wrong.” —Connie Schultz
• “The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” —Jane Sellman

• “A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled.” —Emily Dickinson
• “If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother.” —Booker T. Washington

Witty Mother’s Day Quotes

Some moms have a great sense of humor and can really appreciate the power of a few witty Mother’s Day quotes. Does your mom love to laugh and find the humor in life’s ups and downs? Sometimes the lighthearted and funny sentiments make the best Mother’s Day quotes. These can also make great options to share on Facebook or Instagram, too.

• “Even as a small child, I understood that women had secrets, and that some of these were only to be told to daughters.” —Alice Hoffman, The Dovekeepers
• “Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.” —Tina Fey
• “Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” —Robert A. Heinlein, Have Space Suit—Will Travel
• “A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” —Sophia Loren
• “It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that.” —Judith Viorst
• “I’m a guy and I love my mom. So shoot me. I’m man enough to hug her without feeling like a mama’s boy.” ―Nyrae Dawn, What a Boy Wants
• “I’m still amazed at how my mother emerged from her lonely early life as such an affectionate and levelheaded woman.” —Hillary Clinton
• “Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.” —P.J. O’Rourke, All the Trouble in the World
• “It’s a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.” —Roald Dahl, Matilda
• “There is no influence so powerful as that of the mother.” —Sarah Josepha Hale

• “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” —Milton Berle
• “It is not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.” —Dorothy Zbornak, The Golden Girls

Beautiful & Inspiring Mother’s Day Sayings

There is incredible joy and beauty in being a mom—and the love of a mother is unlike anything else in life. These beautiful sayings can be used as appreciation Mother’s Day quotes that help express all they’ve done and they are in a fresh way. 

• “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.” —Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
• “But kids don’t stay with you if you do it right. It’s the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run.” —Barbara Kingsolver, Pigs in Heaven
• “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.” —Fred Rogers
• “Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world, a mother’s love is not.” —James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
• “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” —E. M. Forster, Howards End
• “To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home, to my first love, my mother, on whose knee I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome.” —Christina Rossetti, “Sonnets are Full of Love”

• “I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.” —Mitch Albom, For One More Day
• “The one constant, faithful, inviolable, holy love of loves, the love of your life, is not your wife or your lover—it’s your mother.” —Sandra Cisneros

Celebrate the Mothers in Your Life

However you choose to honor Mother’s Day, think about how you can make this person feel special. Whether you use any of the quotes on a card or to reflect on how special mother figures are, the thought you put into showing you care will go a long way. 

Photo by Ground Picture/Shutterstock.

The post 70 Mother’s Day Quotes to Express Your Love and Appreciation appeared first on SUCCESS.

For the Sporty Mom

If your mom builds time on the court or on the bike trail into her schedule, consider supporting her in those interests by gifting her equipment or apparel to make that time efficient and beneficial—for both her physical and mental health.

• Caraa Tennis Duffel in Court Green: If your mom takes to the courts after work, consider this duffel bag as a way to make participating in her favorite hobby easier. The color is bright and fun and can hold a variety of products, including racquets, balls and water bottles.

• Athleta Avenue Romper: Rompers aren’t limited to her kids, so give mom her own with this lightweight, quick-drying style. It can be dressed up or down for a variety of spring and summer activities, including evening walks, Saturday morning farmer’s markets or even an evening out with friends. For moms who spend their days on Zoom calls, the top is all business while the rest of it is easy to run out to the store or for a playdate with kids.

For the Sentimental Mom

Does your mom still treasure the thank you card you wrote her in 4th grade English class? If sentimental gifts are your mom’s love language, here are some options that are sure to fill up her emotional cup and can be taken to work.

• Dune Jewelry: Moms love memories, and this female-founded jewelry brand can turn sand from family vacations, petals from a wedding, and other fun memories into jewelry. It’s a fun way to relive the memories made with family!
• Handwrytten: Moms often have the perfect things to say, and, with Handwrytten, she can send heartwarming sentiments from her computer—whether it’s baby showers or employee appreciation. You could also consider sending your own mom a Handwrytten note this Mother’s Day to express how you feel about everything she does and is to you.
• Cahve Heirloom Impression Jewelry Kit: This jewelry kit gives mom the opportunity to create heirloom jewelry such as the print of a tiny newborn’s finger or toe. Everyone, from newborns to the family pet, can be included in the creative process, and it’s a sweet gift for a new mom headed back to work to carry the thought of her new baby with her there.

For the Momager

Moms can be taxi services, registration gurus and household managers. But no matter what role they’re playing at home and at work, they often find themselves on the go for those they love. Consider making the mom in your life’s hustle and bustle a bit more manageable.

• Vita Isola Leather iPhone Pouch: Amidst the chaotic schedules and the never-ending mental load, it’s easy for mom to misplace her phone—and add more stress to her day. This leather pouch is the perfect option to keep mom’s iPhone safe and nearby. It has a removable strap to wear crossbody or as a phone holder inside your handbag.
• Artful Agenda: She’s the master of schedules, and this digital calendar reminds us of a paper planner with the integration of multiple calendars in a single household. Plus, it can be customized with digital covers, stickers and colors to create a truly personal digital agenda.
• UVI Self Heating Lunch Box: This lunch box doesn’t require a microwave, just an electric power source, and will heat mom’s meals almost anywhere she is.

For the Mom Who Needs Her Own Space

Moms often share their spaces with the whole family, so why not make her office space at home or at work a place that is fit for just her? Here are some options that will bring a sense of empowerment and peace to her office.

• Olive & Cocoa Wherever She Wants Pillow: Moms are great at uplifting those they love and care about, but sometimes even they need a bit of a reminder that they’re also worthy. This fun pillow is the perfect way to empower mom and remind her of her importance too.
• Society6: Does your mom have an appreciation for the arts? Society6 has a variety of typography wall art to help make her office space (or any space) feel her own. Does she prefer more nature-inspired pieces? The business also has other styles, including this Orchid Print.
• Ruggable: Their new collab with Sanderson is whimsical and can add a nature-filled pop of art for her home or work office floor. Best of all, Ruggable rugs are washable which means her gift can continue to look new—no matter who or what spills on it.
• Jen Simpson Design Guided Journals: Give mom the gift of decompressing with these guided journals. The line includes happiness, travel and breathe journal options to improve personal well-being and help manage stress. Plus, it has mini options to take on the go.

For the Foodie Mom

Snacks aren’t just for the toddler mom’s purse—mom likes snacks, too! For the mother that keeps a not-so-secret snack drawer in her desk or behind the canned peas in her pantry, consider these options to get her through the 3 p.m. slump.

• Sprinkles: These premium desserts can be shipped nation-wide and offer gluten-free options. With a variety of seasonal cupcakes, cookies and even unique customization options, mom will feel celebrated for the wonderful person she is. And knowing moms, she might even share with you.
• Dible Dough: Cookie dough is perhaps the best part of the cookie-making process and these edible cookie dough bars are made from natural ingredients, free from eggs and preservatives. The company is woman-owned and founded, and its options include bars that can be stored in the refrigerator or shelf-stable.
• Just Spices Bestseller Bundle: Working moms on the go still love food that isn’t boring. This set of spices, premixed by cuisine or dish, makes it super easy to season tonight’s dinner without much mental energy.

For the Mom Who Needs Some Self-Care

Moms might not always take the time for relaxing massages and pampering, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy it. So, consider giving her the ability to quiet her tired feet and body at home at the end of a busy day. If your mom enjoys feeling put together or styling her hair outside of the “mom bun,” give her some fresh options to feel her best.

• Reveal Ottoman Massager: For moms that enjoy foot massagers, they can often be an eye sore in her space—no matter how great they might feel on tired feet. This ottoman actually transforms into a foot massager, meaning her feet can feel less tired at the end of the day and she doesn’t have to stare at an obnoxious piece of furniture.
• Peach Cosmetics: If your mom always has an intern or student following her around at work, she might love supporting an innovative teen’s endeavor. This cosmetic company was actually created by a 13-year-old, and one dollar from every product sold goes to the KY Humane Society. The lip colors scream spring and mom can look her best while supporting a non-profit.
• Calista: This company has a variety of hair tools and products that will give your mom the ability to change up her look any day she’d like. My personal favorites are the mini tools, which are great for vacations or on-the-go styling. I also love the wave styler and texturizing spray—which leaves you feeling a bit like you’ve enjoyed a day on the beach in the sun—without the excess sand.

Photo from ORION PRODUCTION/Shutterstock.com

The post 18 Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom appeared first on SUCCESS.