The Truth About Mothers' Day
Robin Cohen
The yamas are the first of the eight limbs of yoga and are the behaviors we seek to incorporate into our lives. The second of these is satya, or truth. We know that truth means not misrepresenting fact when speaking with others, and this, of course, is important not only for ourselves but for those with whom we speak. But equally important, though often not recognized as such, is the misrepresentation of fact to ourselves. Self-delusion is an entryway to unhappiness.
It's easy to allow self-delusion to come into play when Mothers' Day rolls around. An oftentimes unnecessary merchants' holiday, Mothers' Day can be a means for assuaging guilt for those who maintain incidental parental relationships throughout the year. A lovely gift and a couple of hours spent together are not what love of parent is all about. But it's not the recognition of Mother on this day that's worrisome. It's the self-delusion that promulgates the belief that one's "duty" has been done when the celebration of mother on this "special day" has come and gone.
Satya on Mothers' Day is a wake-up call for self-reflection. If you can truthfully tell yourself that the celebration of Mothers' Day is not just a one day event, then the holiday itself becomes insignificant. And your satya, your truth with regard to your mother, remains intact. Parental love doesn't need a holiday.