Amy Goober & Gwen Borden

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a world dominated by fleeting trends and youthful influencers, My Mother Always Says: 25 Lessons for Finding the Silver Lining offers something more enduring—a collection of life lessons from a remarkable 93-year-old woman and her daughter. Gwen Borden’s reflections, paired with practical insights from her daughter, Amy Goober, invite readers to not only connect with some of the most notable events of the 20th century but to reflect on their own lives and the lessons they’ve learned from the women who have walked before them.

Born during the Great Depression and a polio epidemic that struck her sister, Gwen’s life spans nearly a century of challenges and triumphs. From growing up amid World War II to navigating 9/11 and even the COVID-19 pandemic, Gwen’s experiences reveal how resilience, perspective, and determination can turn life’s struggles into opportunities for growth.

Each chapter shares a story from Gwen’s life, told in her own words, alongside a lesson she’s learned: 

• One man’s meat is another man’s cholesterol.
• You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.
• There are no bad experiences, only ones you don’t learn from.

Amy builds on her mother’s homespun lessons with her own reflections and practical tips for living with purpose and intention today.

Perfect for gifting, My Mother Always Says: 25 Lessons for Finding the Silver Lining is a tribute to the strength of women across generations and a reminder of the wisdom that comes from a life well lived.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Goober is an action and accountability coach for women, helping them to put themselves on their own to do lists. She is the founder of Drive Your Life, a small group coaching program that supports women to get into the driver’s seat of their own lives using a unique 5 step process to achieve their most sought after goals.

Amy received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cornell University. She is a multi-preneur and creator of Better Together® Events & Community and Wandering Women Travel. She and husband, Bob, have three adult children and live outside Boston.

Gwen Borden, a former teacher, designed and served as the director of a bereavement center on Long Island, NY, the first of its kind, before working in private practice as a social worker for many years, including during the 9/11 tragedy. She holds degrees from Hofstra University, the University of Michigan, and Adelphi University. She was an adjunct associate professor at Hofstra University. Today, at 93, she still speaks at events for women, sharing her insights and life lessons. She and her husband, George, live near Boston. 

TALKING POINTS

• How the mother-daughter relationship can inspire growth and connection in families
• How lessons from the past shape and guide our lives today, particularly in navigating personal and professional obstacles
• How older generations offer vital lessons for navigating modern life
• How to live with purpose and resiliency, even during challenging times
• How to work through a difficult relationship between a mother and daughter
• How to encourage your own parents and grandparents to share their life experiences with you, and to encourage deeper conversations about life between generations

TIMELY TIE-INS

October

• National Book Month
• International Day of Older Persons – 1

November

• National Life Writing Month
• National Authors Day – 1
• I Love to Write Day – 15
• National Family Week – 23-29

December

• Read a New Book Month (celebrated in September & December)
• National Communication with Your Kids Day – 5
• Look on the Brightside Day – 21