Maya's Wisdom

 

"If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you will look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully.” ~ Maya Angelou

My 2022 reading list includes a read through of all of Maya Angelou’s works in my collection. She was an American poet, writer and civil rights activist who lived on this plane for 86 years and departed 8 years ago. I discovered her works starting with the first of her 7-part autobiography and fell in love with both her content as well as her style. This week I was going through ‘Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now’ (1993) and found some gems I’d love to share with you and hope you ponder on as you go about your week.

On Passports to Understanding. . .

“I encourage travel to as many destinations as possible for the sake of education as well as pleasure. Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try to understand each other, we may even become friends.”

On The Sweetness of Charity. . .

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. The giver is as enriched as is the recipient, and more important, that intangible but very real psychic force of good in the world is increased. If we change the way we think of charity, our personal lives will be richer and the larger world will be improved. When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”

On New Directions. . .

Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads which lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well.”

On Style. . .

“Content is of great importance, but we must not underrate the value of style. That is, attention must be paid to not only what is said but how it is said; to what we wear, as well as how we wear it. In fact, we should be aware of all we do and of how we do all that we do. It is wise to take the time to develop one’s own way of being, increasing those things one does well and eliminating the elements in one’s character which can hinder and diminish the good personality. Falling into entanglement with brutes will usually result in nothing more conclusive than a stimulated nervous system and an upset digestive tract.”

On Death and The Legacy. . .

“When I think of death, and of late the idea has come with alarming frequency, I seem at peace with the idea that a day will dawn when I will no longer be among those living in this valley of strange humors. I can accept the idea of my own demise, but I am unable to accept the death of anyone else. I answer the heroic question “Death, where is thy sting?” with “It is here in my heart and mind and memories.” When I sense myself filling with rage at the absence of a beloved, I try as soon as possible to remember that my concerns and questions, my efforts and answers should be focused on what I did or can learn from my departed love. What legacy was left which can help me in the art of living a good life?”

Certainly not the totality of her wisdom, not by a long shot! Just snippets from my current read that had me in a reflective mood all week. Pick one and see where it leads you; the journey is often times more enjoyable than the destination.

“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.” ~ Maya Angelou