Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud
What a beautiful quote. Every time I read it it brings a tear to my eye. It is so simple and yet so poignant. This was said by the truly remarkable Maya Angelou.
Maya Angelou died peacefully in her home this morning in North Carolina, USA. Tributes have been pouring in from all over the world and on social media.
She is one of the leading figures in American literature and was a true inspiration to people who had suffered hardship. Many people compared her to Nelson Mandela. She was an author, teacher, activist and poet. You can read more about her in this BBC article.
I remember reading her 1969 memoir “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” many years ago. The book dealt with the trauma of her upbringing in the Deep South against the background of racism and segregation.
There have been a number of books that have dealt with these themes but what has always struck me about Maya Angelou is her deep sense of spirituality and her ability for forgiveness.
From this there have been some truly inspirational quotes 10 of which I’d like to share with you in this post. I have taken all these quotes from Maya Angelou’s Facebook Page.
1. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
2. “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
3. “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
4. “Nothing will work unless you do.”
5. “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
6.
7. “Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence, neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish it is an imponderably valuable gift.”
8. “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.”
9. “You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.”
10. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
Thank you, Maya Angelou for your wisdom, humility, generous spirit and inspirational words. You lived a long life and achieved much in that time. You will be missed but never forgotten. RIP.
Have you ever read Maya Angelou’s books or poetry? What is your favourite quote?
Ciao for now.
Shanthi
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