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My drug of choice is writing––writing, art, reading, inspiration, books, creativity, process, craft, blogging, grammar, linguistics, and did I mention writing?

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Maya Angelou in Memorium

I woke up this morning and turned on my iPad to check my mail and Facebook from bed. (Yes, I'm that guy.)

I knew the minute I started scrolling through Facebook what had happened. Too many Maya Angelou quotes by too many people who don't know each other. I also knew she missed a recent engagement due to health concerns since I follow her Facebook page.

I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in high school not because we had to but rather because I didn't. It wasn't on my school's curriculum (except for an excerpt in our English books) and I wanted more of that lovely writing. I fell in love, and never fell out.

Her activism and poetry have always moved me, even before I really understood or appreciated either, and it is not an exaggeration or hollow eulogizing to say that her words have very literally made me want to be a better human being, have often made me strive to be, and I hope have sometimes even helped me to succeed.


One of the greats of our time. She was the best of us.

As I noticed three, four, five of her quotes on my Facebook wall, my heart gave a cry and broke a little. The first news article was just a perfunctory period at the end of a sentence that had already been written. I knew.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.
― Maya Angelou

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.
― Maya Angelou

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style
― Maya Angelou (and did you ever!)

And perhaps my favorite with the possible exception of the macro up above...

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you. 
― Maya Angelou


3 comments:

  1. Ah, she was one of the greatest women of our time. She left so many beautiful words behind her, all I can think to say to her big soul is "Thank you, lady. Thank you."

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  2. I choked up when I saw the news. My son asked me about it so I read one of her poems to him. Could not get through it without the thickened voice. Sadness.

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    Replies
    1. The room may have gotten a little dusty where I was too.

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