It was half a lifetime ago that I read the six volumes of Maya Angelou’s autobiography, some time in my 20s. I well remember how immediately she touched me and made a difference to how I viewed life, how to overcome whatever life throws at you. I’ve saved the books for my children to read, not just my daughter, and of course for me to read over, as I’m doing this summer.
Her books are classics, not just for African-Americans, not just for women, not just for writers but for the whole world. Everyone should read them; what Maya shares is important – equality, tolerance, peace. We can all learn something and will continue to do so.
Her body may no longer be with us, but her spirit lives on – look at how much she still gives us. What a gift from which we can continue to grow, understand, open our eyes to all the beauty in the world and in people, to what can be.
All of her writing and works are treasures and of course the many, many quotations that give us hope, joy, or just a nod that someone else “gets it”.
We need more people like Maya Angelou. More of us to not be afraid to just be the change.
Thank you, Maya – Phenomenal Woman
Some of my favorite quotations:
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”
“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass”
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”
“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”
“Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.”
Please share yours too…
I too am a huge appreciator of Maya and her inspiring work. Indeed, what a woman and I for one am grateful for the legacy she left us. Thank you for reminding me again.