As we enter fall, I wanted to write a column in praise of motherhood, together with some thoughts about my mother. This is a tribute to mothers in and outside of Korea for the love they showed even before we were born, and the love they continue to provide as an example to us all. In many cultures, including Korea, mothers are at the center of a family, and while they support and nurture their spouse and children, they are the source of life's energy. I cannot imagine a world without my mother in it, and as I grow older, I am drawn to understanding how that world can and cannot exist, as a positive message for my family and me. As we reflect and plant in our minds and spirits how our mothers taught us to be who we are, and how we carry those gifts with us in all that we do, there is great consolation. There is a strong basis for learning and sharing what we learn. There is a basis for the great chain of being: Life is love. Mother, thank you for bringing me into the world. A world so big, with so many possibilities and challenges, is no small gift. The gift of life and your example of