Wisdom from Maya Angelou

Tis' the season for wisdom from famous people. Last week, we had ten lessons from Steve Jobs. This week, we feature eleven lessons from Maya Angelou, an American autobiographer and poet extraordinaire.
In April, Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. She talked about it as exciting and amusing, especially all the physical changes which seemed to be occurring day. The audience laughed so hard they cried as she talked about the different parts of her body which were sagging in a seeming race to her waist. She is a plain-spoken and honest woman, with much wisdom in her words. Consider these life lessons:

1. I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
2. 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.
3. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
4. I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.
5. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
6. 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.
7. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
8. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
9. 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.
10. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
11. 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.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you make people feel? What would people learn about you by watching how you handle a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights? What would it take for you to start making a life? How could that be more wonderful and life-giving?

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