Guest MINDSETTER™ Gianna Contillo: The Best Mother’s Day Gift
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Mother’s Day is one of the most special, yet stressful days of the year for me. My mother gave me life, she gave me strength, she fuels me with unconditional love, and she is my hero. Each year, I struggle trying to find the best way to fully demonstrate how grateful I am for her love and support. I struggle because I feel like no matter what I do on Mother’s Day, nothing will ever compare to what she has done for me. Have you ever felt this way on Mother’s Day?
The lessons my mother has instilled in me are invaluable. She taught me how to love, to be strong, to never give up, and to work hard. My mother also taught me the importance of health. In doing this, she introduced me to my passion and life’s work. As a global health activist, yoga teacher, and health coach, I live my passion, and share the gift of health with others. On Mother’s Day, I am filled with gratitude for my mother’s influence on my life. However, I am also sadly reminded of the children around the globe that will never have the chance to experience this connection with their mother. Although progress has been made, the heartbreaking truth is that 5.9 million children still die from preventable health related diseases, before their fifth birthday.
My mother had the tools and resources to educate me on the importance of health, while mothers in the developing world struggle with limited resources as they try maintain their right to health. They struggle to keep their children healthy and alive. We cannot let this go on without taking action; it is simply unacceptable. Together, we need to use our voices to make sure every mother and child has the right to health and the opportunity to survive and thrive.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWe can do this by taking concrete action today. Congress has come together, Republicans and Democrats, to support mothers and children through the Reach Every Mother and Child Act (H.R. 3706 and S.1911). In celebration of the moms all over the world, we should join them. This is a bipartisan bill that was introduced this past summer with the goal of ending preventable maternal and child deaths by 2035. Are you ready to join them?
In Rhode Island, Representative Cicilline and Representative Langevin have both signed on to this bill. I thank them for their leadership. However, Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse have yet to sign up with their support, I respectfully request that they both move to take action now on this bill in honor of their mothers on Mothers Day 2016.
This Mother’s Day we have an incredible opportunity to take action for mothers and children all over the world. We can do this by ensuring that all of our members of Congress in Rhode Island support this bill and that they urge House and Senate leadership to move the bill forward. Join me by urging Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse to support this bill. Call them, email them, or send them a Mother’s Day note via Facebook.
Although I may never feel like I can fully repay my mother for all she have done for me, I hope to make her really proud by standing up for other mothers. You can do this too by taking action to give children and mother’s a shot at life and a shot at experiencing the same bond we have had the opportunity to have.
Happy Mothers Day to all of the mothers and influential women across the globe, your strength is greatly admired and appreciated.
Gianna Contillo is a Global Health Advocate at RESULTS Rhode Island
Related Slideshow: 10 Free (or Almost Free) Things to do for Mom on Mother’s Day Weekend
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