May is Maryland's Poster Child

The month of May, as the name positively projects, is a month of growth. Here in the Old-Line State, May is a kaleidoscope of deep and rich colors. From the verdant farmlands and rolling countryside to the crisp green and blue ocean vistas, and the colorful urban cityscapes, May is a celebration of natural beauty in Maryland.

But May has many things, with important official days of professional recognition and personal well-being, and we celebrate them all.

But the biggies are Mother's Day and Memorial Day. 

According to some, the month of May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, the goddess of growth. She is the mythological representation of motherhood and nurturing. Her son Hermes was the Olympian god of herds, travelers and hospitality, trade and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language, and writing. In other words, he was an entrepreneur and the original god of small businesses, you might infer.

May is an annual month-long national moment of promise, potential, opportunity, and remembrance. Grammatically, you use “may” in a way that suggests that the best possible future outcome is likely, you would then use the word “might” when it is likely less so. What may come to pass versus what might have.

The month of May is fertile ground for optimism and re-investment, for doubling down, for recognizing the fundamentals that have made us who we are, and what we have inherited. We are all the sons and daughters of our mothers, and the courage and the sacrifices of all the mothers and fathers whose optimism and investment have made the here and now possible.

With MarylandSaves we are creating opportunities for all workers in Maryland to invest in their futures, and the futures of their families. Saving for the future is hard, it means that you may choose to have less right now, with the knowledge that a lifetime of small sacrifices begets a more secure financial future. We know that Mother’s Day is a moment to cherish the love and support we received, and Memorial Day is a reminder that we have the responsibility to make good on the sacrifice that the generations of service, past and present, continue to make to give us all the opportunity to do ever more.

The lesson of May is to nurture the people in your world, forge a better future for your family, and honor those that have given so much to cultivate this garden of possibility.