Day 12 of Gratitude Month.
Somewhere in my travels, I've read that we should be grateful for all teachers, even those who cause us pain. I don't know that I'm evolved enough for that yet, but I do acknowledge there have been a few of the painful variety. Maybe right now it's enough that I be willing to be grateful for them.
There have been many more teachers of the loving varity though, for which I'm grateful. The main one is Maya Angelou. Though she's not aware of it, since I first read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in junior high, she's been a heroine to me. I thought if she could not only survive, but thrive & be fabulous, then I could too.
Any part of my path that has been successful, I owe in large part to this blessed soul. When faced with major life questions or even just everyday decisions in which my basic character is called upon to reveal how high or low I can go, it's her beautiful face before my mind's eye & me asking, "What would you do, Maya?" She's never failed to give me bold, audacious, kind & wise guidance. I don't expect to ever have the blessing of meeting her face to face to thank her for saving & enriching my life, so I'll say it here.
Beautiful Grandmother, wise & a little naughty, gentle & fierce, what would I have done without you? No doubt I would have lived, but in a cruder state. For all my faults, I do possess fine qualities which would probably not have survived to see the light of day. You taught me to seek the highest expression of love, you taught me to evolve. I owe you so much, a debt of love & gratitude. I pray that I may someday be able to repay what I owe by being a shining light for some young trembling woman as you were for me.
May the Universe continue to mightily bless & keep you.
All my love & gratitude, Neasa.
Isn't she wonderful? She was the first to make me aware of how silly it was for me to want my body to look like the ones in the magazines.
Posted by: Kikipotamus the Hobo | Monday, November 12, 2007 at 06:24 PM
What a lovely post! Her writings have impacted my life as well. She is amazing.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I agree with you that that we owe a lot to those who taught and still teach us.
Posted by: Princess Haiku | Friday, November 30, 2007 at 12:15 AM
I agree with you that that we owe a lot to those who taught and still teach us.
Posted by: Princess Haiku | Friday, November 30, 2007 at 12:16 AM
I agree with you that that we owe a lot to those who taught and still teach us.
Posted by: Princess Haiku | Friday, November 30, 2007 at 12:16 AM