Forget fancy trips—this Mother’s Day, reflect on these special places.

Every year, we find ourselves wondering about the best possible destinations or the most extravagant establishments to treat our mothers to. While there is nothing wrong with grand gestures to show our appreciation, not everyone has the means to do so. Let’s use this celebration to dwell on some of the special places we tend to overlook.

Where it all begins and ends

In the quieter side of the hospital, we find the nursing room where all the newborns sleep soundly. It’s the calming result of mothers who likely spent an agonizing amount of hours trying to bring them to the world, not counting the many months they take to form within. On another wing lies a more sorrowful tale, a place for those mothers who have passed on. Every family faces loss, but the passing of a matriarch tends to linger. For those who spent their final moments with their mother in the hospital, there is a lingering grief in these halls. Though for some, there is peace in knowing their moms have moved on to a better place.

Where the mind is formed

Schools are where we find our second parental figures. Teachers, despite being overworked and underpaid, persist through it all in hopes of enriching the minds of future generations. Chances are, among all the teachers you’ve had throughout life, there is at least one who has remained in your memories for the meaningful lessons they have taught you. There might even be teachers who leave such an impact that you might have mistakenly called them “mom” once during class.

Where our soul is fulfilled

In any place of worship, you’ll find it’s common that mother figures are held in utmost importance. We have known religious figures such as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Aminah, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad. Even pagans, such as those of Wiccan influence, hold mothers in high regard through their belief in the Triple Goddess, a deity described in the form of a maiden, mother, and crone.

Where memories are made

Lastly, take a good look at your surroundings. Wherever you may be in the world, there are likely tiny things or certain areas that you associate with your mother. Something as simple as a restaurant you two would frequent whenever you get picked up from school or a favorite yearly vacation spot could bring in positive memories. It could even be in the form of a token left for you to look back upon and remember happy days. Either way, you’ll find that appreciating these smaller things in life, you don’t need to venture far to feel the warmth of a mother’s love.