Son wrote down every word his mom told him before her death — and those notes now keep him going

Darby Hudson (@darby_hudson), a writer, may have lost his mom in 2019, but she continues to live through him, his memories, and the quiet moments they shared before she passed. To honor the beautiful soul, Hudson, her son, collected all of her quotes in a book, "DARBY, LOVE — Alive Things Mom Said to Me Before She Died," sharing the parts that mattered the most.

His mom definitely knew how to enjoy the present and make every moment worth living. For instance, when Hudson's mom once saw the CCTV camera at a supermarket, she decided to stop by and have some fun. "Darby, love… let's watch ourselves on the supermarket CCTV for a few minutes before I buy smokes. Aren't we just magical?" she asked. The lady who never took life 'too seriously' had once confessed to her son that she had been reading obituaries every day. "What a relief to have the weight of a life reduced to one sentence," she added. In life, we're always busy, so occupied that we forget to compliment little things that make the world beautiful. Emphasizing it, Hudson's mom had told him, "When you go for a walk, remember to tell the things you love them aloud. Trees, clouds, fire hydrants... Tell all the things that you love them." You don't often see people who talk about death so openly, but Hudson's mom was built differently. Before she died, she had, in fact, told her son what song he should play at her funeral. "I want the song 'Gloria,' by Laura Ann Branigan, played at my wedding. I mean funeral," she said.

Hudson's mom always focused on positivity, despite the challenges. Once when she lost her car keys, she said she wasn't frustrated; in fact, she was thrilled. A good joke isn’t for everyone — unless they're someone who wants to make the world laugh. "I was in a bad mood, so I went for a walk, but the sun was so bright that I scrunched my face, and it looked like a smile, and people were smiling back at me, and I felt a lot better," Hudson's mom had shared. In another slide, the poet shared a heartfelt life lesson that his mom had shared. "Life is a walk in the park, but with rabid stray dogs and someone to mug you. But on a beautiful day, of course, and that's all that matters," she said.

Hudson's relationship with his mom changed after her death, but it didn't end. Why? Because the influence she had on his life continues to shape his identity. Now, this very notion aligns with what Dennis Klass, Phyllis Silverman, and Steven Nickman proposed in their "Continuing Bonds Theory." They explained that grieving isn't about severing ties with the deceased, but it is about finding new ways to maintain a connection. Echoing the sentiments, @alphabrainwaves commented, "Why do I seem to hear her voice with an English accent in these words? What a blessing to have a mother with such a lovely spirit, so funny yet full of wisdom. My favorite: 'Darby, love, I often get the feeling that there's something very wrong with me, and then another feeling comes rushing in from behind saying there's something very right with me.' That says it all about her personality. Thanks for sharing! She must be tremendously missed, but you're keeping her essence alive!"

@fatbabybakes confessed, "I am heartbroken that I never got to meet your mother. I think I have fallen a little bit in love with her. She had the most amazing and inspiring approach to life. You were very lucky to have her. I wish I had written down all my mother's tidbits. Perhaps I wouldn't be so lonesome for her had I done so. Thank you for sharing your wonderful mother with us all."

You can follow Darby Hudson (@darby_hudson) on Instagram for more such heartwarming quotes. 

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