Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
On this episode, I sat down with a dynamic mother-daughter duo – Amy Goober and Gwen Bordon. They teamed up to write a heartfelt and deeply insightful book titled “My Mother Always Says: 25 Lessons for Finding the Silver Lining.”
Our conversation explored the beauty and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, how wisdom is transferred across generations, and the ways we can preserve meaningful life stories.
Here are my Top 3 takeaways from our conversation:
Number 1 – You can’t have impact without contact. Gwen emphasized the importance of physically showing up for loved ones. Whether attending a grandchild’s recital or sharing a meal, consistent presence strengthens relationships in ways that virtual communication simply can’t match.
Number 2 – There are no bad experiences, only ones you don’t learn from. Gwen, now in her 90s, has weathered personal trials with unwavering optimism. Her resilience is a powerful reminder that even our most difficult seasons can offer valuable life lessons, but only if we’re willing to learn from them.
Number 3 – Everyone has a story, and it’s worth telling. Amy and Gwen encourage families to capture and preserve their living history – whether through video, audio or written reflections – so that future generations can benefit from the wisdom of those who came before them.
Amy and Gwen’s joint project, “My Mother Always Says,” is more than a memoir. It’s a celebration of perspective and resilience.
Structured around 25 life lessons, the book seamlessly blends Gwen’s lived experience and signature sayings with Amy’s modern reflections as a daughter, mother and entrepreneur. Their collaboration highlights not only how wisdom is passed down, but also how it evolves through the lens of each new generation.
While Gwen brings the wisdom of nearly a century, including powerful stories of overcoming early adversity, Amy offers the relatable viewpoint of a woman in her 60s navigating business, family and purpose.
Together, they model how generations can coexist not only in love, but in collaboration that brings different strengths to the table.
Their story also serves as a gentle, but firm nudge, to those who haven’t yet taken the time to capture the stories of their own parents or grandparents.
Both women also offered encouragement for people struggling with less-than-ideal relationships. Gwen, who had a complicated relationship with her own mother, said time and empathy helped her reframe her perspective, especially after understanding the difficult circumstances her mother endured.
On the other hand, Amy reinforced that we don’t need to get all our wisdom from one person, rather from many mentors, teachers and neighbors who step into that role throughout our lives.
Their message is ultimately one of hope in knowing that even fractured relationships can be healed with intention, that stories matter more than we realize, and that the most important legacy we leave might be the lessons we model through our lives.
If you’d like to connect with Amy or learn more about their book, you can visit www.amygoober.com. “My Mother Always Says” is available on Amazon and in other bookstores. Amy also welcomes messages on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, all under her name.
If you’re looking for inspiration to repair, record or reflect on your own family stories, this episode is a great place to begin.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you order Amy and Gwen’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.