Listen to Your Mother! Those words began as treasured gift, wrapped in a loving nudge from my mom, artist Carol Eacret Simmons, and became a radiant watercolor mantra for better living. I credit my parents for the person I am today. Strong, creative, opinionated, and yet perhaps a little stubborn. It would take me a few decades of life to be able to hear and appreciate those words, and her wisdom.
I love you Mom!! Who taught me so much in life is possible by honoring our creativity, caring a little less what others think, and leaning in to managing my own learning, creative process and living.
The Art of Everyday Encouragement
Artististic treasured collection “Listen to Your Mother: The Art and Wisdom of Carol Eacret Simmons,” each watercolor, a painted affirmation reveals courage and compassion drawn from her life and meant as the words of wisdom to uplift her somewhat headstrong daughter. Through gentle color and heartfelt words, she reminds us that art heals, hope endures, and happiness can be chosen. Every stroke invites us to slow down, breathe, and remember that a mother’s voice—spoken or painted—can still guide us toward gratitude and grace.
🌿 Introduction – A Daughter’s Heart, A Mother’s Legacy
“Listen to Your Mother!” began as a playful reminder from my mom, Carol Eacret Simmons, and became the heartbeat of my story.
She gave me this hand-painted book of watercolor affirmations on my birthday while I was fighting the grips of Long-Covid.
It was more than a gift—it was medicine for the soul.
Every brushstroke whispered, “You are stronger than you think.”
💜 Art Inspired by Family, Courage, and Faith
As the daughter of U.S. Army veteran Richard Eacret and wife of veteran Mahlon L. Simmons, Mom understood strength, loyalty, and sacrifice.
She also understood beauty—and how to create it from struggle.
Art was always her dream. Life often delayed it, but never destroyed it.
When she finally picked up her brushes again, she proved that creativity is timeless and courage is contagious.
Her story reminds me that dreams don’t have expiration dates.
Standing in your truth—especially when the world doubts you—becomes an act of leadership.
Carol Eacret-Simmons was a Phi Theta Kappa honoree at Heartland Community College. She completed her Bachelors in Arts from Illinois State University after raising all 3 of her adult children.
“You are too old for that, what are you going to do with a degree at THIS age? “
She completed her Masters in Fine Art in Kansas State while most of her peers were retired and sleeping in. She and Dad celebrated with a trip to Scotland to enjoy art and living in a castle. Then she returned to work her dream job, an Art Instructor and Gallery Director at Dickinson College in North Dakota.
We are proud of Mom, and the many people that are inspired by all she has done and continues to do to encourage others!
🌈 Watercolor Affirmations: Hope, Healing, and Heart
Each piece in Mom’s collection “Listen to Your Mother!” carries a life lesson.
These watercolor affirmations are more than decorative art; they’re emotional therapy—healing through art and faith.
Mom painted the quiet heroism that represented our midwest rural roots, but were presented globally. Her passion for the arts inspired our family. All of her grandchildren pursuing their passion and dreams. 2 of her granddaughters are artists, her grandsons, one pursuing healing arts, one a published poet, working also in IT. In fact, her one granddaughter curates a store for Carol Eacret Simmons art gallery – Etsy
Through her beautiful mind for creative expression, I learned service can be creative, and healing can be colorful. Today, as a I am a fine artist, woman in tech and leadership, I see her teachings reflected in every decision I make — to stay kind under pressure, to keep building beauty out of chaos, and to never give up.
💜 “Listen to Your Mother!” — A Legacy in Color
Her first piece — awash in violet light — says everything: Listen to your mother!
I grew up doing exactly that. When I lost direction, Mom’s words pulled me back to purpose.
She painted this as both command and comfort. For her, wisdom was never loud; it was practiced.
For me, it became survival — a compass during long nights of rebuilding my life, from career setbacks to recovering from illness.
Her painting reminds me daily that the voices of love — especially a mother’s — are often the ones that rescue us from silence.
🌈 “Stay Positive” — Finding Light in Every Shade
Mom’s Stay Positive glows with color — oranges, pinks, greens — optimism that refuses to dim.
During years when I battled illness, heartbreak, and cognitive fog, her colors became medicine. “Stay positive” wasn’t empty advice; it was her strategy for living through adversity. She had seen her father return from service with quiet strength and knew that attitude can rebuild what pain destroys.
Now, when I coach teams or lead women through change, I hear her voice behind my own: positivity is not naïve — it’s leadership through uncertainty.
❤️ “Don’t Give Up” — Resilience in Red
Painted in the boldest crimson, this one feels like a heartbeat — steady, unrelenting.
When I was recovering from Long COVID and other health crises, Don’t Give Up became my mantra.
Her letters seemed alive — fierce and forgiving all at once.
This is more than art; it’s inheritance.
The same persistence that kept my grandfather steady in uniform and my father disciplined at work now fuels my persistence as an innovator, writer, and advocate for women finding their voice again.
Every time I see this painting, I remember: survival is its own art form.
💙 “Don’t Stop Until You’re Proud” — The Power of Presence
The calm blues and storm-soft grays of this piece echo my mother’s patience. I have made a good many poor decision earlier in life. And yet still I lived, my purpose continued as still I live. Caring a little less what other’s thing, and focusing more on what you are creating and being present for your expression is the most authentic.
She never rushed her art or her advice. “Don’t stop until you’re proud,” she’d say when I tried to finish fast — a reminder to create from integrity, not approval.
It’s the principle that shaped my professional ethos: to lead with excellence, not exhaustion.
Today, I mentor others to pursue depth, not just deadlines — because Mom was right. Pride is not vanity. It’s peace.
💫 “Be Creative” — The Sacred Call of Imagination
This painting — lavender sky, silver stars — feels like home.
“Be creative,” she’d urge, handing me scraps of paper and paintbrushes when I was little.
That freedom became foundation. It’s why I design data systems with artistry, write stories that heal, and find meaning where others see noise. Mom taught me that creativity isn’t an indulgence — it’s the realization that hope is sometimes a discipline of practice.
Whenever I build something new, I realize I’m finishing her sentence.
☀️ “Choose Happy” — Joy as a Daily Decision
Bright yellows and coral pinks — this one radiates her spirit.
After decades of challenges — illness, loss, rebuilding — I learned what she meant: happiness isn’t found; it’s chosen. Each day I wake up and remembering it is a decision to “choose happy,” even when it’s work, recovery or trauma, even when joy feels fragile. Compassionate choice is still a great art. Is this choice supporting my happiness?
This lesson has guided me as a leader and survivor alike. Happiness is courage in color.
💚 “Spring Is in the Air” — Renewal and Hope
Remember a world green with lush potential, and I remember to heal. Once, my seasons stretched on—grief, then exhaustion, then recovery. Mom kept a vision with painting spring while winter stayed. Believe in creating new beginnings. Each project becomes as a new air of spring planting. With time and patience, roots hold; meanwhile, branches learn to bend. And eventually, hope buds again.
Despair was a battle in my Long Covid Miracle of Survival followed by some other life issues that my own seasons felt endless — grief, exhaustion, recovery. But Mom painted spring even when winter lingered. She believed in beginnings, even when endings hurt.
Every project I start, every new season of growth, I think of her resilience — rooted but flexible. That’s how she taught me to live.
💖 “Do What You Love” — A Life Lived in Color
A turquoise glow, simple words: Do what you love.
Art was love made visible- in our favorite color turquoise. For me, “it “Do what you Love” became a manifesto — one I live by every day. Doing what you love isn’t selfish; it’s how you stay authentic in a world that rewards imitation.
Whether I’m designing IT solutions, mentoring other women to rise up, or writing stories like this one — I’m honoring her instruction.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CarolEacretSimmons
🌹 Closing Reflection — The Art of Her Voice
Listen to Your Mother!
Those words echo through everything I do. My mother’s brushstrokes a reminder to reflect on how to see — not just art, but grace in hardship, beauty in imperfection, and faith in the unseen.
Her artistic talents, my father’s musical talents, their creative spirit formed the woman I am today. As stubborn as I was, as a child, all those messages, as prayers or affirmations or creative thoughts did get through a reminder to stay strong, resilient, whispering:
“Stay positive. Don’t give up. Be creative. Choose happy.”
A life philosophy — created in love, sealed in legacy.
Other Listen to Your Mother!
- Artist | Artfacts Carol Eacret-Simmons
- Celebrating Carol Eacret Simmons
- Be special, be anything but mediocre
- Etsy– Carol Eacret Simmons Art– curated by Carol Eacret Simmon’s Granddaughter, also an artist.
- Frontiers in Printmaking Exhibitions | Normal Editions | Illinois State
- Global Executive Women’s Network
- Interpretations of work offered by art students
- Love of art leads to career
- Teaches art of happiness
- Inspiring Global Education IELTS best practices and Study Abroad
- International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction
- Jobs n Career Success Network
- Progressive Proof: Illinois State University Printmaking Alumni Exhibition | Illinois State
- Top Regional News: Art walk to show local talent
