Today I depart from discussion of things related to young women lawyers to remember a remarkable and inspiring woman, Maya Angelou, who left us too early yesterday. She was an inspiration to so many as she taught us how to fend off insult and assault and to go bravely forward to create a better and more understanding and forgiving world. She embodied the resilience that the rest of us only can hope for.
I will never stop hearing her regal voice and her measured cadence as she recited her poetry in a style that was unique to her. Hearing it was like listening to a favorite and comforting lullaby that lead to beautiful dreaming.
Maya Angelou was a national treasure, and she leaves a void that few will be able to fill. The best way for me to remember this remarkable woman is to share with you some of her words and thoughts. Here, from Maya Angelou, poet, dancer, actress, producer, playwright, director, teacher and so much more:
A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
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.
We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.
The happy heart runs with the river, floats on the air, lifts to the music, soars with the eagle, hopes with the prayer.
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.
God bless Maya Angelou. May she rest in peace, as she brought peace of mind to so many along the remarkable journey of her life.
