Live your best life

Memoirs and autobiographies are quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. I love being able to see into these women's incredible lives and I'm grateful that they chose to share their stories. Here are some amazing and inspiring quotes from 4 great memoirs/autobiographies to motivate you this week

 "I will claim myself for myself."

"I told a student today: You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Praise yourself as much as you fuss at yourself.' And I could have been talking to myself. And I was. And I will."

"I'm just really into walking in my purpose and saying yes to life right now. Ya know?"

 

"Change was in the air like a cloud and it was finally raining on me."

"Don't let anyone else take away your joy. If they don't want to be with you or around you, let them go. Pick up your shit and keep going. You came into the world by yourself, and the next person's lungs don't help you breathe."

“Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions, which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.”

 “Don't do anything that you think is wrong. Do what you think is right, and then be ready to back it up even with your life.” 

 

"Read everything. The more knowledge you have, the less a man can use you for poppy-show" 

 "I go from place to place spouting the gospel of courage and survival. I encourage victims to take hold of destiny and chart it for themselves."

Ain't I A Woman

In 1851 at the Women's Right Convention in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered her famous "Ain't I A Woman?" speech and it is still a very important part of our culture and history. This speech is still highly celebrated, shared, and taught. We're still having conversations about who women's rights are for. Sometimes when we're talking about rights we forget that our identities overlap and therefore the rights we're gonna fight for should overlap as well.

Ain't I A Woman is always a great read. Unfortunately there's no way to see these words being read by Sojourner Truth herself but many women have recited them and there is so much beauty and power in all of their performances. I posted some of my favorites below. Enjoy!














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"Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say."

-Sojourner Truth

Be Inspired: Phenomenal Woman

This is so beautiful. I hope it brightens your day.

Find out more about the Because of Them We Can Campaign. 

It's phenomenal.

Mom & Me & Mom

It's no secret that I love Maya Angelou. I feel that she's guiding me through life. I'll jump at any chance to read more of her words and learn from her. I've already shared quotes from this book on my blog. This book really spoke to me. It was so intimate and personal. I loved it.

Favorite quotes:

• "Love heals. Heals and liberates."
•  "I may never be known as a philanthropist, but I certainly want to be known as charitable."

 Must read for all my Maya admirers!

Happy Motivation Monday!

“Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.”

-Maya Angelou 

I found this lovely quote in Maya Angelou's book, "Mom and Me and Mom." I haven't finished reading this book yet but I'm so in love with it. It brings me joy every time I open it. I love this quote. It's a reminder that love is a very powerful force. Love does heal. 

Learning to love yourself is one of the best things you can ever learn to do. That loves helps you learn to forgive yourself and to be kind to yourself. It's a daily process and its worth all the work you put into it.

Believe in love.

Have a great week!

I Am Human

"I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me."

-Maya Angelou

Dear Dr. Maya Angelou

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou was a precious gift to us all. She was truly a phenomenal woman and an inspiration to all. I find comfort in knowing that her words will live on forever. Her voice, like her words, were magical. I delighted in listening to her speak, watching her interviews and speeches, listening to her recitals, and using that as motivation to work harder and to do better.

In 11th grade I kept her words and her pictures on my English binder to remind myself that I was beautiful, unique, and phenomenal. Her words reminded me that even though I felt sad and lonely,  I was definitely worth something and I deserved to feel good about myself. In those moments during my freshman year of college when I felt defeated and alone, her words on my room wall were a daily reminder that I was going to make it through this and that I had the power in my to stand strong and rise against what I thought were my biggest challenges. When I graduated, her words decorated my cap and my graduation announcements. He words have helped me as I learned to accept and love myself. Her words allowed me to be okay with celebrating me and I know that her words and her legacy will continue to nourish my soul for the rest of my life.

 Dear Dr. Maya Angelou,

I'm so thankful for your words. Thank you for inspiring me and being a constant source of motivation in my life. Your precious words have helped me get to where I am today. You have helped me learn to love and appreciate myself. I'm glad that your words will live forever. I will continue to live by your words. To rise against my fears and stand strong. Thank you for sharing your spirit, your stories, your smile, your knowledge, and your words.  May you always be celebrated and may you rest in peace.

Black Excellence Month: Day 16

Maya Angelou 
Poet  Novelist  Activist  Educator  Producer 
1928 - 2014

"Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage, you cannot practice any of the other virtues consistently."

-Maya Angelou

“A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself, and only herself.”

-Maya Angelou

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Maya Angelou Book List:

• I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings
•  The Heart of a Woman
• Letter to My Daughter
• Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now
• On the Pulse of Morning
• Gather Together in My Name
• All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes
• Life Doesn't Frighten Me
• Mom & Me & Mom
• Even The Stars Look Lonesome
• I Shall Not Be Moved
• Just Give Me a Cool Drink A Water 'fore I Die
• Graduation
• Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes

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Recommended Reading:

• How to Write a Poem
• 2013 Oprah Interview
• At the Table With Maya Angelou 
• Master Class Quotes
• 20 Teachable Moments from Dr. Maya Angelou 
• Voices of Our Time: Maya Angelou
• Growing Up Maya Angelou
• How I Write
• An Interview With Maya Angelou
• The African-American Grandmother in Autobiographical Works by Fredrick Douglass, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou

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Recommended Watching:

• Love Liberates
• TIME: 10 Questions for Maya Angelou
• The Revelation that Changed Dr. Maya Angelou's Life
• A Tribute Poem for Nelson Mandela
• If You Don't Laugh, You Will Die
• Merv Griffin Show 1982
• And Still I Rise
• Conversation With Maya Angelou
• The Powerful Lesson Maya Angelou Taught Oprah
• An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou
• Maya Angelou and Common
• Introducing Ms Calypso 
• Book TV: Letter to My Daughter
• I'm A Rainbow in Somebody's Cloud
• Phenomenal Woman
• Heaven and Earth Show Interview
• Sesame Street: My Name
• In and Out of Time
• On the Pulse of the Morning
• Global Executive MBA Commencement 
• Poetic Justice
• How To Make An American Quilt

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“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” 

-Maya Angelou

Rise and feel Phenomenal

Listen to the words. Feel empowered by their strength and beauty.
Phenomenal Woman
Maya Angelou

And Still I Rise

This is very beautiful and empowering. Sit back and feel the power of the words. Have a beautiful day. Sending all the positive energy and love your way.

Sources of inspiration: 2011

Well, some of them

• Born This Way by Lady Gaga


• Not Alone by Darren Criss


• Fuckin Perfect by P!nk


• Harry Potter!


• Demi Lovato


• Skyscraper by Demi Lovato


• Darren Criss


• Dianna Agron


• My fellow feminists


• The love of demoracy


• seeing people fight for what they believe in


• Self-love and body love campaigns


• Movements like SlutWalk and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes


• people who are dedicated to helping others recover and heal


• happy people


• people standing up for themselves


• Jordin Sparks


• Maya Angelou


• the poem Still I Rise


• Beautiful Flower by India Arie


• The Help (novel)


• Tales of the City (novel)


• Looking for Alaska by John Green


• Winnie the Pooh


• A Thousand Splendid Suns (novel)


• Neil Patrick Harris


• Pretty/Unpretty by Dianna Agron and Lea Michele


• Jesse Tyler Ferguson


• Quote Blogs


• Christmas


• Winter

This isn't a complete list but it's accurate to the things and people that I found inspiration in.

Our Inspiration #1

We are celebrating the women who inspire us. I've been asking as many people as possible so that I can have wonderful icons of inspiration to share with the web.

I'm posting everyone's answers with pictures of who inspire them and why these people are so special! It won't all be in one post.. you can also add to if you would like to! :)

I find inspiration in a lot of places. The women in my life who have inspired me are my grandmother, my mother and my Auntie Jackie. They all share an absolutely gorgeous smile and big beautiful eyes that I've been blessed with and they are fighters! I'd like to think that I learned from the best.

My Famous Icons of Inspiration include Maya Angelou, Meryl Streep, Zora Neale Hurston, and Lorraine Hansberry among others.

Maya Angelou:

The Phenomenal Woman. Truly beautiful and amazing. I used to keep a copy of her famous poem "Phenomenal Woman" in one of my high school binders. I Love her. She has taught me how to appreciate all kinds of beauty. She helps me see that times may be hard but we can overcome hard times and difficult backgrounds and still, we rise.

High school was a very hard time for me and I kept her poem Phenomenal Woman on my binder. I took that poem with my every where. I can honestly say that reading it daily is one of the reasons I didn't completely lose it in that environment. She teaches me the importance of constantly loving yourself and thriving. Her Poem Still I Rise is so important to my life now and I think it always will be. For me, that poem reminds me that not only am I great but that I come from greatness and greatness is all around me and together with all that power of strong and empowered women, we can do anything.