“God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us- in the dreariest and most dreaded moments- can see a possibility of hope.”
This was among many things said tonight by Maya Angelou. A woman I thought I couldn't possibly look up to more than I already did... until I had the opportunity to be in the same room as her and listen to her stories - both of struggles and triumphs. She told stories about her past, and shared her philosophies on life. The message that I felt most connected to was that we are ALL capable of achieving things. No one is "more capable." The difference is being willing to dedicate yourself to what you want, and above all, believing in yourself. "Be the rainbow,' she said time and time again.
There were many things that Maya said, and a lot of what I loved about her was for very personal reasons. So I would like to share some of the quotes I heard tonight as a way of retelling my experience. Enjoy!
“Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself... 'How did I get through all of that?”
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
Also, this wasn't said word for word tonight, but it was on a site and I was inspired by it:
“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it
seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that
you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things:
a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that
regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're
gone from your life. I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as
making a life. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both
hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I've learned that whenever
I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've
learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that
every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or
just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
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.”
