This piece was written in celebration of Women’s History Month I felt safer knowing that she was in the world, a woman so rich in grace and resilience that she mixed with elite circles spreading her messages of forgiveness, advocacy, and class. She was an elder; people of influence respected her and also listened. We lost an important voice that day. I built an altar in her honor (much like the beautiful altar’s of Dia De Los Muertos) and my friend and I threw a party in her honor and read her short stories in a circle of close friends. Her death, as deaths often do, offered a time of reflection. Her life, work, and most notably, her spirit has inspired me in a deep way. I’d like to share a few of her words of wisdom and poems that have inspired me to keep building this crazy business that I love and to keep trying to push my mission and work forward, no matter how difficult the circumstances. My most cherished Maya Angelou quotes: “I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water.” “You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.'” “Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin – find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.” “At fifteen, life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.” Catch this amazing video of Miss Angelou and Dave Chapelle sharing wisdom. If you don’t have time for either, do yourself a favor and enjoy her buttermilk voice reciting my favorite poem, Phenomenal Woman. The mantra I live by, and that is infused in my business daily, shared via Miss Maya: “I’ve learned that people will never forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This quote reminds me that grace is always more powerful than anger and my actions can make or break someone’s spirit. I walk with my head higher and my heart open thanks to her legacy and the reminder that we all desperately need each other. __________________________________________________________
My generation asked their parents, “Where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot?” This was a passing so sudden and heartbreaking that the whole country stopped to mourn; mourning as if they knew him intimately. That’s how I felt when I heard of Maya Angelou’s passing. I’ve read every book and poem she’s ever written, everything short of her grocery lists and disposable post-it notes (although if given the chance, I’d read that, too). I was in the gym when I opened my phone to read of her passing and it shook my whole world.
Skyler McCurine is a personal stylist and Founder of Le Red Balloon. Her love of female entrepreneurship, storytelling, and exploration is the inspiration behind her love of blogging and writing. Skyler is also a contributor at the Next Women, Patch and guest blogs about style, entrepreneurship, and whatever else inspires her. Connect with Skyler!
[March 2015], an observation which pays tribute to generations of women whose commitment to bettering society has made immeasurable impacts.
