Momma always said…

The other day, my friend said to me: "I like your blog better than I like you".

I think it was a compliment but I’m not sure. “Human nature being what it is, perhaps it's not surprising there are more words to convey negative feelings than positive ones." said one expert at publisher Oxford University Press.

In the English language, insults outnumber compliments by almost 10 to one. The revised Oxford Dictionary of English contains 350 words to hurt - and just 40 expressions to praise.

But the comment did start me thinking about my mom. She used to say "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". I fell back on that advice with my friend.

Mother’s are wise creatures. Take Forrest Gump's mom for instance. She had lots of useful wisdom:

• Momma always said “life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.”
• Mama always said, “dying was a part of life.”
• My Mama always said “you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.”
• Mama said “not to be taking rides from strangers.”
• Mama always “had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.”

My research also shows that even the mom’s of famous people often had profound and interesting proclamations:

Michelangelo's Mother:
"Mike, can't you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?"

Mona Lisa's Mother:
"After all that money your father and I spent on braces, Mona, that's the biggest smile you can give us?"

Columbus' Mother:
"I don't care what you've discovered Christopher. You still could have written!"

Napoleon's Mother:
"All right, Napoleon. If you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, than take your hand out of there and prove it!"

Paul Revere's Mother:
"I don't care where you think you have to go, young many. Midnight is past your curfew!"

Custer's Mother:
"Now George, remember what I told you - don't go biting off more than you can chew!"

Abraham Lincoln's Mother:
"Again with the stovepipe hat, Abe? Can't you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?"

Humpty Dumpty's Mother:
"Humpty, If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times not to sit on that wall. But would you listen to me? Noooo!"

Goldilock's Mother:
"I've got a bill here for a busted chair from the Bear family. You know anything about this, Goldie?"

Albert Einstein's Mother:
"But Albert, it's your senior picture, Can't you do something about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something?..."

Babe Ruth's Mother:
"Babe, how many times have I told you? Quit playing ball in the house! That's the third broken window this week!"

Superman's Mother:
"Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we've decided you can have your own telephone line. Now will you quit spending so much time in all those phone booths?"

Barney's Mother:
"I realize strained plums are your favorite, Barney, but you're starting to look a little purple."

Wisdom sometimes prevails and you certainly learn from your experiences. As such, I believe I’d rather have a comment like that from my friend than none at all.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” – Dr. Suess